A Primitive Place
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Primitive & Colonial Inspired Homes
Primitive & Colonial Inspired Bedrooms
This page was last updated: December 23, 2009
Historical Note: Taxes were levied on rooms, closets were considered rooms because they had doors. The more rooms -the more taxes you paid. Early homes did not have closets because of that. After obtaining our independence, American homes began to have closets with doors—Which were NOT taxed. Hence the reason we have closets today rather than a wardrobe.
Photo Below: Colonial window coverings were generally pretty simple and were often handmade out of inexpensive materials such as calico or gingham. Consider adding simple panel curtains in a light color to the windows of your colonial bedroom. This will keep the room light and open and not detract from the detailing on the walls.
Quilting was a popular hobby and the finished works were often hung on the wall, used as cushion covers, bed covers and displayed with pride.
Submitted by HomeOnTheHill 2009
Decorating tip: Consider placing a few braided rugs on the floor to add color and help to keep bare feet warm. These rugs give a nostalgic, homey style feel to a bedroom and are usually easy to find at a good price.
Submitted by prims4me 2009
Decorating tips:
Add an antique blanket chest at the foot of the bed and a wooden stand with an old pitcher by the side of the bed and you have a classic colonial look. A few well placed candles and a few wrought iron lanterns or lamps will complete the colonial style design.
Interesting fact:
Back in the 1500's, beds used to consist just of a frame & matress. The matress was not held by a box spring and boards, but instead heavy ropes were tied across the frame of the bed to hold the matress in place. So, each night before a person would lay in bed, they had to take a hand hewn wooden winder and tighten the strings of the bed so it wouldn't sag throughout the night. Hence the saying, Good Night, Sleep tight.

Submitted by primlover63
Submitted by primlover63 2009
Submitted by primlover63 2009
Interesting fact:
Back in the 1500's, there was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
Submitted by Humble Hearts & Homes 2009
Submitted by Behind My Red Door 2009
Submitted by Maggie's Farm 2009 (Taken at Banazaville, W. Fargo)
Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo
Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo
Decorating tip:
Using old linens, quilts or throws can be a great way to add color and texture.  Placed on an old bench, on top of a trunk, in an old cupboard or placed across the end of a bed.  Try to add like colors but an occasional "unmatched" piece can throw in additional color.
Submitted by primlover63 2009
Furniture in colonial homes was generally quite sparse. A simple wooden bed with four posters covered with an antique quilt and soft, fluffy pillow shams will give a snug, cozy feel to your bedroom.
Submitted by primlover63 2009
Submitted by primchick 2009
Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo
Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo
Submitted by Behind My Red Door 2009
Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo
Submitted by prims4me 2009