Country primitive is popular for a reason. If you’re going for a homey welcoming feel in your home then primitive country style is definitely for you. Primitive country decor makes use of worn items that look as if it has been handed down through the generations. Most of the decor items we associate with the trend were everyday things used back in ‘the good ole days,’ when things weren’t so cheap and, well, plastic.
Handmade and natural were once required in our everyday lives and even preferred over store-bought. Primitive country brings that time and way of life back, if only in decor. It gives a gracious nod to the simple life and a time when reducing, reusing, and recycling was a way-of-life, not just a slogan.
This guide to primitive country decor can help you create a welcoming and stylish primitive country themed home.
We’ve found dozens of great country primitive decor ideas that are affordable to buy or easy enough to create yourself. We’ll cover the definitions of primitive country decor and how it differs from shabby-chic, the best color palettes, the most popular decor items, affordable DIY crafts, and show you beautiful room inspirations.
The term ‘primitive’ can include many different things. Ask 10 people to describe primitive country or prim country for short and you’ll likely get 10 different answers. There are certain words that are often used, those include:
The website, Goodbye City Life, has their own definition if primitive decor, “primitive decorating is part flea market finds, part shabby chic, part ‘make-do” and we think that is a perfect description.
Wikipedia defines primitive decorating as a style of decorating using primitive folk art style that is characteristic of a historic or early Americana time period, typically using elements with muted colors and a rough and simple look to them…….designed to have an old or antique look but created using new materials. Examples of antiquing techniques used by primitive folk artists include tea or coffee staining and sanding down paint to create a worn, aged look. The style is sometimes referred to as country style.
The Carver Junk Company has a great article titled Primitive, Rustic, Antique, Vintage – What’s the Difference? that puts the different styles in a better perspective.
The following descriptions best fit each term:
Primitive country is defined as the most simple of designs, a truly homemade piece made by mostly untrained artists. Carver Junk Company shows their definition of primitive versus rustic with the following images of furniture.
Notice the primitive style furniture is very simple with basic construction. The rustic style piece has a more complex construction though it has been made to look old.
Related: What’s Your Style: Shabby Chic, Primitive, Country?
Color is the easiest place to start when trying to convey a certain decorating style. There are a few colors that are best suited for the country primitive style. Darker, muted, and warm colors are the best matched for the primitive country decor:
If you’re going to decorate your home in primitive country you’ll need to acquaint yourself with the following must-have decor pieces. These items invoke the style perfectly (just click on the tutorial link, images belong to each tutorial source):
Pip berries are the little seeds that swell from the branches of the Wych elm (Ulmus glabra), Willow trees, and other flower trees. Pip is also defined as the seeds of a fleshy fruit such as oranges and apples. In primitive decorating pip berries are used often in garlands.
Crudely shaped, elongated 5-point barn stars are used extensively in primitive country decor. The shapes originated as markings of the barn builders, a kind of primitive logo, that was hung on barns. MetalBarnStars.com reveals the history of barn stars:
The meaning of metal barn stars in Amish country can be traced back to the 1700’s, and to at least the 1820’s in Pennsylvania. On many older barns one could see a large decoration in the shape of a star mounted on the face of the barn that represented the trademark of a specific barn builder.
From there they were used as decorations that many thought could bring luck, much like a horseshoe, and meanings were attached to the color of barn star you used:
Black: Used for protection. Black is sometimes used for binding or blending elements together.
Red: Red is used to show emotion. These emotions can include passion, charisma, lust, and creativity.
White: Normally used to show purity. Describes energy of the moon and allows energy to flow freely.
Blue: Blue has several meanings varying mostly by the shade used. Examples would include protection, peace, calmness, and spirituality.
Green: Green is used to show growth, fertility, and success. Used also to stimulate ideas and dreams to grow.
Yellow: Show health in body and mind. Love of man and sun. Connection to god.
Brown: Used to show connection to mother earth. Variations in meaning could also indicate brown to mean friendship and strength.
Orange: Gives added energy to projects or matters needing an extra push. Gives abundance in career.
Violet: Gives protection or signifies something sacred.
There are tons of great tutorials to make your own barn stars out of several different materials. Here are three that uses soda cans, cereal boxes. Get free barn star templates and printables here.
You can’t have a primitive country home without gingham!
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a primitive country styled room without gingham fabric used somewhere. Gingham is a simple woven cloth of cotton fabric that is pre-dyed, giving the fabric the same color on the front and back. Typical colors are blue and white and red and white. Gingham’s history is a bit checkered (lol) because so many different countries claim it was invented in their respective lands. Learn the extensive history of the fabric here.
A fun and easy craft that’s perfect for the entire family is gingham fabric garland. All you need to do is rip the fabric in narrow strips and tie them to a string lights. Learn how to make a gingham fabric garland.
Just like the gingham fabric garland you can make a matching wreath. This is such an affordable and easy Christmas craft! Learn how to make a gingham rag wreath.
Candles are imperative in primitive country decor. They were the only means of light back in the good ole days, after all! You can make electric light bulbs look primitive with this DIY tutorial.
Candles are as primitive as you can get. Turn a store-bought candle into a country styled work of art using this tutorial.
Turning a modern battery -operated candle into a primitive spiced candle is another great light craft. Spiced candle tutorial.
Turn small light bulbs into candles with the silicone dipped bulb how-to.
Sheep are a popular symbol of the primitive country decor, especially on painted wood boards.
You can make a simple work of art by framing this free sheep printable.
Here’s another French Country Sheep Printable.
Willow trees are often used in primitive decorating, especially on signs. Here’s a template found on Etsy that you can use to make your own sign.
Words painted on wood is perfect to add primitive country decor into your home. Templates and stencils can help you! Here’s a great tutorial that shows you how to make a distressed sign.
Saltbox homes are popular in primitive art and even the not-so-artistic can paint them. here’s a primitive saltbox house template.
Create a miniature lighted saltbox with these plans.
You don’t have to have a lot of experience to make your own wooden saltbox house craft.
Handmade dolls made of tea stained muslin in a great craft that is used in primitive decor. Luckily, we have fabric glue so those that aren’t apt at sewing can still create their own primitive dolls. Dolls can come in various designs but angels and ragdolls seem to be the most popular.
Here’s another great garland craft that’s perfect for the holidays. See the ragdoll Garland tutorial.
Primitive dolls were popular toys. Learn how to make primitive rag dolls.
Distressed furniture is the most used element in primitive country decor for good reason – it’s a simple project that uses old pieces of furniture. Affordable and easy are the best kinds of DIY crafts! How To distress furniture using vinegar.
To get a real primitive look in your home you’re going to need distressed furniture. Learn how to distress furniture.
Here are 7 more ways to distress furniture.
It doesn’t get much more country than chicken wire! Chicken wire is a great way to add texture to your home. Learn how to make a chicken wire bulletin board.
A chicken wire DIY cloche is perfect for your porch or deck.
One of our favorite mobile home kitchen makeovers involves chicken wire.
Wooden spoons have more uses than just stirring yummy foods. There are several ways to use them in primitive country decor such as window hangings, garlands, and colorful displays.
Our Georgian country mobile home feature had a great wooden spoon garland. All she did was drill holes in the handles and thread a strong yarn through. She tied gingham fabric strips to fill in the blank space between the spoons.
The homeowner also created a colorful spoon display.
Here’s another DIY for a country spoon craft.
A different take on the painted wood spoon garland.
Reusing old things is a big part of the primitive style movement. Old building materials such as windows, shutters, ladders, and doors are easily found and because distressed is the name of the game, the more damaged the better! Here are dozens of great ways to incorporate old castoffs in your primitive decor:
Another homeowner featured here on Mobile Home Living used an old window in her primitive decor.
Here’s a DIY for using an old shutter for your wall decor.
Mason jars and old tin cans are always a great addition to a primitive space. They can hold just about anything, too. How to make a mason jar soap pump.
How to make rusty cans with paint.
Learn how to make a cute primitive country farmhouse lamp.
See how one creative blogger made a kitchen light using mason jars and old pallets.
Organize your bathroom with this need mason jar craft.
If the craft tutorials weren’t enough, here are some of our favorite primitive country homes that have been featured here on Mobile Home Living. Primitive Country Manufactured Home Decorating
These great tutorials and decorating ideas will help you create a gorgeous primitive country decor in your home. Do you have any great primitive country decor in your home? We’d love to see it!
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