Primitive Accents
Often it's the smaller accents that add the finishing touches in primitive or rustic decor. The metal and bubbled glass Onion Lantern Night Light features a textured finish and is inspired by antiques and primitive lighting.

Other ways to show off a primitive style include items that appear to be homemade, such as a wool appliqued pillow or a braided chair pad, such as the Black Stair Chair Pad, shown below.

Primitive Furniture
Early American colonists would make sure that their furniture had a functional purpose. Characteristics of primitive style furniture include: distressing techniques within the paint application, rubbed or "worn" edges, exposed metal hardware and fine attention to craftsmanship. At Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, we have numerous primitive style furniture pieces, but one of our customer favorites is the USA-made Huntboard. Huntboards were traditionally used as a display after a hunt or serving meals. This furniture piece has distinctive rubbed edges that give the wood an antiqued look.

Domestically Primitive
The quilting revolution gained hold on the American public after sewing machines were mass produced throughout the 1840's and 50's. The machine allowed fabric patterns to be created more quickly, allowing quilters to show off their true talent. Seen here to the left is our York Star Quilt, which boasts an attractive, traditional design that would enhance your primitive decor. This particular quilt is characteristic of the primitive style. It appears to be homemade and combines traditional patterns of checked fabric with country elements, all in a muted color palette.

Primitive Rug Styles
In the early American home, the living room or "main room" was the heart of those who lived there. To accent this high traffic space, a nice braided or hooked rug was commonly used. Floors were typically stained dark to hide the dirt, and they often matched dark paneled walls. Rugs made of hooked fabrics or braided methods gave a sense of coziness to an area frequently used for gathering around a fire. At Sturbridge, we are known for our exquisite braided rugs, most of which are made in the USA. Regardless of the material, think about primary colors or rich, natural colors for your primitive area rugs and accent rugs. 

Primitive Storage
Pieces considered primitive in style must provide ease of use and practicality. Our selection of primitive cupboards and shelves do both, including our classic Punch-Tin Cupboard and decorative Embossed Star Metal Bread Box, both unique storage options for your primitive home. The Punched Tin Cupboard features a traditional design inspired by antique style. These pieces are crafted from solid knotty pine and proudly made in the USA. Another primitive style storage option is our Pinewood Plate Shelf. This plate shelf is classically primitive and offers a great way to display decorative plates or other display items in your home. 
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