In this post, we’ll look at 20 of the prettiest primitive fall decorating ideas to bring some country charm into your home design this autumn!
Published: 06/14/2024
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There was a hot minute there where all of the trends for home decor included buying shiny new things.
Everyone (or at least it felt like everyone) wanted gray color pallets, stainless steel features, and industrial metal designs throughout their space.
As someone who has always wanted life to feel like I’m living in a rustic cabin in the woods or maybe a cozy cottage on a countryside, this style wasn’t for me.
I’m so happy to be noticing, though, that the rustic and lived in look is returning to popularity in interior design.
I think we all are feeling nostalgic for simpler times and the cozy textiles, natural materials, and lived-in feel of primitive decor emphasizes a simple life.
You may be asking, what even is primitive decor and how does one achieve it?
What is primitive home decor?
The meaning of the word primitive is to essentially preserve the character of something’s history.
In regards to home design, people use the word primitive to describe decor that is simple in nature, can be made or found at home, and resembles a historic lifestyle where everything was preserved or recycled.
This looks like using a lot of things found in nature as decor such as pieces made from wood or dried flowers.
When it comes to fall decor, it means a lot of the practices of the farming harvest are used to decorate our homes! For example, displaying winter vegetables and produce like pumpkins or corn husks.
It’s kind of hard to explain in words so I’ll keep it short and let the pictures and homes below do the talking!
20 Primitive Fall Decorating Ideas
Related to Primitive Fall Decorating Ideas:
- Rustic Cottage Living Room Ideas for a Fairytale Home
- 17 Primitive Kitchen Decorating Ideas
- Primitive Wall Decor Ideas for Your Rustic Home
1. Baskets Filled With Foliage
Credit: @burlaprosesrevivals
In my home there are two things that I accidentally collect in excess. Those two things are cute mugs and baskets of all shapes and sizes.
Baskets are the perfect vehicle for incorporating seasonal decor into your home. Place a basket filled with fall colored foliage on your dresser, dining table, or coffee table for the perfect centerpiece.
The addicting thing about buying vintage baskets is the more you layer them, the better they look!
2. Burlap Hand Sewn Pumpkins
credit: @rockriverstitches
Can you really claim that your house is decorated for fall if you haven’t included pumpkins in your decor?
It doesn’t matter to me what your design style is, autumn decorating will always call for pumpkins.
The perfect way to do pumpkins in the primitive style is to create your own pumpkins out of sewn burlap pieces. Pro tip, fray the edges of the burlap a bit for the perfect rustic look!
3. Layered Natural Materials
Credit: @white_pine_cottage
If you’re curious about how many times you can use the color brown before it becomes too redundant, you’re asking the wrong person.
My home is filled with every shade of brown and beige under the sun. The way to achieve this look without it becoming boring, though, is to find browns in different materials and textures to add visual interest.
See above how the homeowner has paired brown ceramic vases with wooden plates and terracotta colored vegetables to add depth to their design.
4. Dried Sunflower Heads
Credit: @cottonandrust
My favorite kind of autumn decor is the kind that is nature from summer that has been laid out to dry, age, and be recycled.
There’s something quite romantic and poetic about using the beautiful things from summer in a new way to create something beautiful for fall.
I’m enamored with these large layered sunflower heads that feel reminiscent of a summer spent in the sun, brought inside to be enjoyed for one more season.
5. Hand Made Halloween Garland
Credit: @1776colonialhome
One of the things I love most about primitive fall decorating ideas is that there’s wiggle room to add a little bit of spooky!
Due to so many horror novels and movies being created about them, hand-made dolls tend to have a creepy association.
Embrace the scary for Halloween and create your own set of harvest dolls made from materials like burlap, cotton, ribbons, and buttons for the ultimate fun and unique fall garland.
6. Tall Corn Stalks
Credit: @sawdustndaisies
Perfect for a touch of rustic charm on a front porch, the tall corn stalks are a great way to add some vertical visual interest to your home decor.
Place them in vintage milk cans to stand them up and incorporate some country flare or tie the stalks with burlap and ribbon for a daintier look.
I’m obsessed with the primitive touch and will definitely be searching for some stalks of my own to adorn my front doorway this fall.
7. Iron Statues
Credit: @something.gray
Something about iron yard statues with just a touch of rust on them is the perfect primitive decor for fall.
I’m obsessed with these iron crow figurines and the slight Halloween spookiness they bring to this mantel design.
The slight orange-y rust color just brings a quaint vintage feel to the decor, so don’t be afraid of pieces with a bit of wear and tear on them!
8. Patchwork Quilts
Credit: @isaacsrustywagon
What I love most about patchwork quilts as primitive fall decorating ideas is that it’s decor with a purpose.
It ca be hard to justify purchasing seasonal decor that only serves to look pretty for a month or two. I hate spending money on something that will spend most of its life in storage.
Use your money wisely and invest in beautiful AND useful pieces like a stunning hand stitched quilt with an autumn color palette. You’ll want to use it as much as you want to display it!
9. Autumn Leaves All Around
Credit: @isaacsrustywagon
I will stand firm on the ground that you can’t have too many autumn leaves throughout your home.
The colors do the decorating for you, so decorate away and place them in every nook and cranny.
You can have them draped off of cabinets, peaking out of blanket baskets, or create stunning bouquets to place in vintage vases.
10. Braided Wool Mats
Credit: @mariascountryhouse
I cannot get enough of woven wool mats and rugs for a primitive fall home this year.
I just find the color combos and simple braiding pattern to be so beautiful and simple in the best way.
Whether it’s a full size oval rug in your living room or individual place mats around your dining table, you have to find a way to incorporate this beautiful textile into your home for autumn.
11. Patterned Throw Pillows
Credit: @early_american_dreaming
It’s no gate kept secret that adding throw pillows to the seating options in your home is a great way to elevate your interior design.
The mistake I see most people make, though, is buying multiple throw pillows that have the same pattern, shape, or style and using them all in one space.
When it comes to pillows, the more variation you can have in pattern and design, the better your space will look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and sizes!
12. Gourds and Squash
Credit: @grownbygracefarm
Primitive decor is at its best when most of the materials being used are things found in nature!
For fall, that means all the gourds and squash and pumpkins you can find or grow in every shape and size.
Gourds make for such beautiful decor because of all the variations in color and look. Layer different types of squash for a curated vintage look in your home this autumn.
13. Dried Vegetable Garland
Credit: @jenniferbowman72
The best primitive fall decorating ideas are the kind that derive from real life harvest practices.
One of those practices is the hanging and drying of different root vegetables to last through the winter.
Whether it’s long braids of garlic bulbs and onions or something more unique like this chain of okra, these vegetable garlands will look beautiful and serve a purpose in your home.
14. Rustic Candle Lanterns
Credit: @burlapowlprimitives
My personal favorite form of fall decor is using candle lanterns. I love any kind of decoration that can illuminate or add light into dark corners.
A rustic lantern will do wonders to bring that primitive feeling into your home. Especially if you use a real candle inside.
There’s something a tad spooky about lanterns so kill two birds with one stone and decorate for fall and Halloween with the same pieces!
15. Hand Painted Pumpkins
Credit: @threestarglory
Sometimes having real pumpkins in your home that have been carved and gutted isn’t ideal.
Maybe you have dogs or toddlers that love to get into messy things, or maybe you just don’t love the lingering smell!
Opt instead for a more unique style of pumpkin- one that’s been hand crafted! You can paint and craft “pumpkins” from just about anything like the cute wooden box jack-o-lantern above.
16. Sprawling Branches
Credit: @white_pine_cottage
One of the biggest decor trends I’ve seen for primitive fall decorating ideas (and any style of home decor really) is large vases with sprawling branches.
The most neglected decor opportunity in every home lies in unused vertical space. Take advantage of this lack of decor with tall decorative fall branches!
Source them yourself outside or buy sets like the one linked above to create the perfect focal point for your dressers, cabinets, or dining tables.
17. Corn Husk Wreath
Credit: @countrysamplermagazine
There’s so many different ways that corn husks can be used after shucking, but the only wrong way is throw them away.
When sculpted into a wreath or piece of wall art, corn husks become an elegant and primitive form of home decor.
But fair warning, if you use real corn husks from corn you shucked yourself, don’t be mad at me if some spiders find their way into your home!
18. Hanging Bouquets
Credit: @mariascountryhouse
We hang flowers and foliage upside down to creative beautiful dried bouquets, but something about the upside down shape is beautiful in and of itself!
Forget putting your dried florals in a vase after hanging, leave them where they are and create a unique decor statement in your home.
For an easy fall bouquet, go scavenging for leaves of various fall colors, different textured grasses, and maybe a flower or two to create the perfect look.
19. Grapevine Accents
Credit: @early_american_dreaming
I love the rustic look of messy grapevine wreaths! They are perfectly imperfect and so versatile for decorating your home.
Whether you create a traditional wreath to be hung on the walls or door of your home, or use it as a base for a centerpiece, grapevine will look great as decor!
The best thing about it is it’s incredibly affordable to purchase in large quantities so you can truly get creative with its many uses.
20. Home Made Needle Point
Credit: @simply_quaint
When it comes to primitive fall decorating ideas, the more decor you can create yourself at home, the better it will look.
Use this opportunity to learn a new skill or build a new hobby! Needle Point is fun, easy to learn, and creates beautiful artwork you can display in your home.
Go for a harvest themed pattern like this adorable and simple turkey, or maybe a pumpkin or fall maple leaf!
Related to Primitive Fall Decorating Ideas:
- Rustic Cottage Living Room Ideas for a Fairytale Home
- 17 Primitive Kitchen Decorating Ideas
- Primitive Wall Decor Ideas for Your Rustic Home
