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Country black decor: accents and accessories to transform a room

If you think of black decor as dark and depressing, we’re here to change your mind! The country home decor universe is full of charming black accents and accessories that add depth and contrast to the decor around it.

The Spruce suggests thinking of a black room as you would a little black dress: “It’s a great foundation but you need accessories to give it life. Plan your room as you would an outfit. And HGTV says decorating with black is authoritative and dramatic.

But don’t be intimidated! Black decor is actually a really easy color to coordinate– you can easily mix and match prints to make a bold statement without overwhelming the eye.

Tips for decorating with black: 

  • Use an accent piece to add contrast.
  • Iron accents can add a sense of ruggedness.
  • Black accents to contrast with, and soften the impact of brighter colors.
  • Many people think of black as a modern decor color, but the color can work just as well in a cozy, country cabin as a metropolitan townhouse.
  • Mix it with cream and earth tones for a cozier look, or with bright florals to liven things up.

Try these country black decor items:

Richman black window treatments paired with Carrington black quilted bedding.

RIchman Black curtain panels - country black decor Carrington quilted bedding - country black decor

Buffalo plaid has country charm no matter what shade. If you’re looking for some of those creamy earth tones to coordinate with black accents, this is a delightful option.

Black star accents are one of our favorite ways to add country charm. For the kitchen: Star Vine and Country Star ceramics offer a clean, simple look that looks at home in any farmhouse kitchen.

Star Vine black star ceramicsCountry star ceramics - country black decor

For anywhere in the house: it doesn’t get more country than metal barn stars. (Other colors available too!)

Metal barn stars - country black decor

We love to hear from you! What are your favorite black accent pieces and how do incorporate dark colors into your decor?

Country decor origins and how to bring them home

Today we’re exploring country decor origins (in case you’d rather focus on the past instead of all the things you need to do today!)

When you hear the words country home decor, what comes to mind? Is it Americana woodwork? Miniature windmills and roosters? Maybe the words evoke images of earth tones, natural fabrics, distressed wood, and galvanized metal.

Country decor origins

 

According to SFGate Home Guides, American folk art gained a following with art collectors in the 1920s and 30s:

The style features a relaxed arrangement of furniture and accessories with a homemade sensibility. The use of salvage and craft-inspired pieces can make decorating a fun scavenger hunt or afternoon project for antique lovers and artistic types.

 

And Hunker.com says the look isn’t just for homes in the country. “It’s an adaptable style that can skew more towards an industrial or even boho look. At its core, it’s a simple yet elegant look that creates a cozy mood.”

Like many styles and practices we now embrace, early farmhouse and country decor originated more out of necessity than aesthetic. People used whatever they had available to them.

Candlewicking

 

As we mentioned in an earlier post, the Candlewicking style originated from a 19th century American style of embroidery method that made use of the colonial knot. This knot required less thread, was sturdier, and held up to heavy use and washing.

Candlewicking country swag

Braided rug and quilting origins

 

As you might already know, early braided rug patterns made use of whatever scraps were available; often, wool and cotton left over from old clothing (source).

The Valley Forge Rug Braided Guild traced the term braided rug back to Massachusetts in 1822. But they noted rugs of any sort were rare at that time, and no records document Colonial era braided rugs. It was not until the early 1900s, the Guild says, that the use of braided rugs became widely documented.

Blackberry braided rug

Too, quilts of any kind were rare in New England in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Womenfolk.com notes textiles did not become widely available to settlers until the 1840s.

What about those applique curtains we adore so much? 

 

After reading about early American settlers using rugged fibers and fabric from scraps of old clothing, it probably comes as no surprise that the use of the applique method in America also had humble beginnings.

According to Sew Daily, applique was a long-established custom used centuries earlier in African and Native American cultures. In early America the technique was used as a way to strengthen or patch worn areas of an item to extend its lifespan, and evolved into an artform much later.

Bingham Star Applique Swag

A brief history of plaid

 

Plaid as we know it today has origins in Scotland, so how did it come to be associated with Americana and country home decor? Stitch Fix says Scottish immigration at the end of the 18th century likely contributed.

According to Blue Ridge Outdoors the origins of our beloved Buffalo Check is in 1850 Pennsylvania, when Woolrich introduced the iconic two-tone pattern. Plaids continued to gain popularity into the 1900s n America, emblematic of pioneers and the working class carving out a new frontier.

Black Buffalo Check shower curtain

 

What country decor origins do you want to learn more about? Shop for your country decor favorites at primitivehomedecors.com

4 killer braided rug and quilt combinations

There are few things more ‘country’ than a braided rug paired with a collection of traditional quilted bedding, so today we’re bringing you our favorite braided rug and quilt combinations.

Park Designs Black, Red, Tan and Cream + Shooting Star

The black, tan and cream coordinate well with the black and cream in the Shooting Star pattern, and the red adds a pretty delightful splash of contrasting color.

Or if you really want to go nuts with the black star theme, coordinate it with a Black Star hooked rug.

Personal favorite! Capuccino+ Grain Sack in oat and black, shown below. Cocoa Bean and Coffee (picking up a theme here?) both feature earth tones that coordinate well with Grain Sack too. (Find the entire Grain Sack collection here.)

If the rustic reds are more your thing, we love the Chesterfield Check paired with our Cider Barn Jute Braided Rug. The Country Star jute braided rug is also one of our best selling rugs.

And while many of us don’t often think of the color black as one associated with country home decor, our Marshfield Jacquard bedding in Black pairs well with our Black Ultra Durable braided area rug.

We love to hear from you! Tell us about your own braided rug and quilt combinations! Which one here you love the most!

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