Primitive Home Decorating

You may be wondering, "Can I Decorate My House in True Country Style?"

That's nearly as silly as asking yourself "Am I creative?" as far as I'm concerned.

Of course you are! We all are! And when it comes to our own living quarters, all that counts is that 'we' like the colors, the accessories, the art prints, etc.

What matters is not is it creative enough to be seen in a magazine?

Decorating creativity can be very subtle and you should never feel as though your ideas and designs won't quite 'cut' it. Designers have been at the business of decorating for years and not everyone can afford one for any room in their house, much less an entire house and garden! Your own eye for country decor will grow over time as your tastes in home design changes.

Although creativity is an important quality to have when considering interior design as a hobby or a profession, most of it is dependent on originality - not on matching a room to a page in a magazine. You'll be happiest with your own rooms (as will your clients or friends whose houses you decorate) when you offer a look that nobody else has.

A Few Tips to Finding Your Own Country Decor Muse

Begin by looking at what you have available and turning those items into something new - a conversation piece perhaps or a work of art. Here are some tips:

Through a color change. Color and creativity helps you to set one color against another. Sometimes all this takes is new color on an accent piece, new pillows coverings, just one wall painted to contrast existing walls. Color can also be moved throughout the house.

Speaking of accents... Adding new accents to a room can change the room's mood. Art prints, decorative collections, or flower vases of varying sizes are just a few examples.

Changing With the Times in Country Home Decor

As with everything in life, decor trends are constantly changing. Whether you're decorating your own home, or friends' and familys' homes, or if you have decorating clients - you'll find that a finished room seldom stays that way for long.

Changing with the times, being aware of trends in home decor, and staying versatile (such as making a primitive decor room into a farmhouse decor room) are definite musts. And, since decorators are expected to be ahead of the pack when it comes to the newest trends, your ability to alter your current design ideas will be critical to your success.

Think of it this way...most home-owners will hire decorators to keep them ahead of the trends in home decor, but that's not the only reason versatility is a necessity when designing other people's rooms. You'll often be called upon to introduce colors or styles into a room that go against your personal tastes and sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised how it all worked out in the end - but if you stuck to your guns you'd not only lose a client or a friend you'd also miss out on discovering a new decorating idea.

After spending considerable time with clients, friends and in designing my own living space I've come to realize that primitive home decorating is a task that always seems to be 'under construction', but lovingly so.

As you grow and change and discover your personal style, your home changes with you - room by room. You may find that you have naturally created a French country decor in your bedroom, a farmhouse primitive look in your kitchen and so on. Even though a verbal description makes your decorating style sound unpolished, such is not the case on a walk-through.

Primitive home decorating encompasses, blends and matches many similar styles and gives your home uniformity. A uniformity that matches your distinct tastes and styles.

This is not a decorating style you want to overthink. Being somewhat spontaneous and eclectic, you just need to set out on your mission and allow the rooms to change and evolve as you discover unique pieces. Furthermore it is neither work or challenging - and if it were it would be a labor of love.

Of course, like most people, you are probably wondering whether it is the right choice for you.

Shaping rooms, halls and entire houses by primitive home decorating is a brilliant lead-in to a job in interior design. Once you've discovered your own expression you can easily apply the ability to other people's expression of self. Interior design can be a very rewarding and lucrative sideline for the right person. As an Interior Designer you'll create, organize, and design commercial or residential properties.

These properties are not limited to one person's home. They may also include:

  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Store interiors or Window Displays
  • Summer homes, cottages

As an Interior Designer with primitive decor skills you'll do more than just re-decorate a room. In some cases you'll be assisting in the addition of extra rooms, patios or complete restorations.