Patriotic Home Decor Style Guide

The Patriotic design theme is a casual home decor style that features renditions of Old Glory plus an abundance of red, white, and blue color-themed rooms. The appeal of this active mid-America family lifestyle home is the nostalgia and a fondness for American historic artifacts and lifestyles. The patriotic tone does fall under the “Americana” decor theme which includes a few other design schemes such as Farmhouse, Primitive, Nautical, and Western. Overall, these American decor themes have been inspired by folk art, geography, and history.

PATRIOTIC AMERICANA

A Patriotic theme is one of the signature Americana decor styles and one of the most popular in the U.S. This style puts the American in Patriotic Americana. Red, white, and blue all the way. In Patriotic decor, which is all about the symbolism of liberty, the motif of the American flag takes center stage in this home décor.

Furniture

Patriotic furniture has ample padding, with textiles in basic neutrals, whites, or checked patterns.

• The goal is to keep the larger furniture pieces and walls grounded, and simple in color and tone.
• This allows the accents to pop and be the stars of the show.
• Woodsy furniture is central to defining this style.
• Vintage, antique, and older pieces of furniture from early settlement days add to the historic nature of a Patriotic home display.
• Getting a piece of a replica (or original!) Presidential furniture would be a major score.

Patriotic Theme

Patriotic home decor is probably one of the easiest to recognize in the Americana decorating style as it consistently features America’s flag colors and shapes.

• Red, white, and blue color combination.
• Stars and stripes in combination.
• Stars.
• Flags.
• Uncle Sam.
• Statue of Liberty.
• 1776 motifs.
• Advertising from World War I and World War II.

Accessories

You guessed it, stars, stripes, flags, red, blue, and white color palette, and anything to do with America’s Independence makes for an excellent Patriotic accent assembly. War posters, photography, and memorabilia from that time period are popular accessory items as well. Accenting with decor that features wrought iron captures the Patriotic feel. Additional items to include are:

• Checkerboards
• Lanterns as secondary lighting
• Lighthouses
• Statue of Liberty
• Ships in bottles
• Shells
• Tin soldiers
• Upcycled decor
• Vintage advertising posters

Other items to look for to complement the Patriotic decorating style would be:

• Antique tin soldiers.
• Checkerboards.
• Old quilts.

Commonly overlooked decorating items are vintage maps.

• Pilfer old maps from magazines, scout them out in antique shops, and in bookstores that carry antique books.
• Once placed in a frame (which can be inexpensively bought from a second-hand store and sanded down for a rustic look), these worn out maps make a superb wall accent.
• A fun crafty DIY project would be to decoupage a few aged map parts to an old desktop.
• Using these materials in unusual and unexpected ways brings character to your home.

Paint Color

The same neutral wall colors run throughout all Americana-themed homes.

• What’s a bit different in the Patriotic decor is the addition of rust red and navy blue.
• Start with a beige or tan wall, or even a faded denim color if you are more adventurous.
• A wallpaper or stencil border will add visual appeal.

Patriotic Kitchen Examples

• Backsplashes in red, white, and blue tile motifs.
• Flooring in tile or laminate red, white, and blue color patterns.
• Special attention to the ceiling for an added decor bonus; use checkered wallpaper.
• Accents of copper, white, and blue ceramic vases, antique clocks, and checked textiles on the table runners, cloth napkins, or placements.

Patriotic Bedroom Example

• Straight forward wood furnishings.
• Paint palette in red, white, or blue or a simple neutral color theme.
• Textiles in your famous stars and stripes patterns.
• Woven throw rugs add a layer of interest.
• Add wrought iron elements sparingly.
• Wall decor accents that harken to the room owner’s personality, from framed images to old antique Americana art.

PATRIOTIC FARMHOUSE AMERICANA

• Use of natural elements from nature.
• Colonial items, and accessories that are almost garish, boldly expressive of American style.
• Modern Patriotic Farmhouse Americana uses steel, more vibrant colors, and updated accessories.
• Checkered patterns in color combinations of tan, beige, brown, orange, apricot, white, and black are the choices for furniture coverings in this decor.
• Full, cozy, overstuffed couches, love seats, and fluffy pillow accessories.
• Add elements with white-washed wood: frames, antique signs, chalkboards, and such.
• Pops of color are incorporated with painted pottery or vintage china.

PATRIOTIC NAUTICAL AMERICANA

• A neutral-based room with rustic wood elements.
• It's all about the accessories.
• Think old fishing boats, sea-related elements, and the feel of seasoned oceanside living.
• Furniture- a base of neutral colors mixed with wood frames and bases.
• Tables and cabinets look weathered by salt and sea.
• The United States has roots in the New England coast. Insert accessories from this area such as ships, shells, anchors, fishing nets, buoys, bottles, and birds.
• Paint color is a simple white wash.

Patriotic Americana nautical motif genre uses symbols of New England, and nautical things:

• Anchors.
• Carved shore birds and decoys
• Fishnets.
• Fishing weights.
• Lanterns.
• Lighthouses.
• Old lobster traps.
• Ships in bottles.
• Shells.

PATRIOTIC PRIMITIVE AMERICANA

• Handmade country crafts, folk art, vintage ads, and tramp art accessories, define this patriotic style of décor.
• Elements derived from nature and upcycled wooden material.
• Furniture is made from wood and upholstered with natural fabrics like cotton.
• Patterns are faded and checkered in nature.
• Accent furnishings such as side tables, cabinets, and other smaller pieces can be painted in solid primary colors: white and yellow, red and blue.
• Storage baskets made from natural materials.

Accessories featuring worn metals, coarse textiles like Berber, burlap, and wool.

Other accents include:

• Dried flower arrangements.
• Lanterns.
• Mason jar vases.
• Pottery.
• Watering cans

Summary

With such a down-home, welcoming an every-person kind of feel, it’s no wonder the Patriotic decorating style is so popular. Plus it can be particularly inexpensive because what you are looking for are the worn and well-loved pieces from past generations. In addition, a lot of upcycled and DIY decor items find long-term homes in all of the Patriotic styles. Remember, decorating is always about your personal preference. Get creative and enjoy the process!