Five-Star Decorating
Beth Winkler’s penchant for all things Americana is evident throughout her Weirsdale, Florida, home. A longtime fan of decorating with a patriotic theme, Beth outlines how to attractively attire any room to honor our nation’s heritage.
Pick a perfect palette.
The basic color scheme is red, white and blue, but feel free to take liberties to suit your style. If muted barn red, dusty beige and navy are more appealing than bright red, stark white and royal blue, go for it. You don’t have to incorporate all three colors in equal amounts. Beth’s master bedroom is predominantly red and offwhite with a few black accents.
Fill up on flags.
Pick up small stick flags at craft stores and home improvement centers, especially before patriotic holidays. Bunch some together in a vase, tuck them into a curtain tieback, use them to dress up a centerpiece or display a few in an upturned funnel.
Make the most of motifs.
In addition to flags, symbols frequently found in Americana decor encompass presidential portraits, eagles, Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, 1776, war advertising and medals, military insignia, checkerboards and currency. Any object, however, that is red, white or blue fits well, according to Beth, who scatters small crocks and antique toy trucks in those colors around her patriotic family room.
Fine-tune textile treatments.
Fabrications suitable to Americana decor include stripes, calico, gingham, pillow ticking, quilting and needlework. Beth covered newer books with
heritage fabrics and accessorized her guest room with articles of vintage clothing. She also paired textiles of different patterns in the same color family, such as the red-and-white toile curtains, floral duvet and checked throw pillow in the master bedroom.
Enhance with everyday accents.
When your Americana decor needs a burst of color, country basics, such as a pot of geraniums, a cluster of white ironstone or a lineup of blue mason jars—or all three—can go a long way. Beth made her formal living room feel more patriotic by placing a blue basket filled with red, white and blue metal stars on a table.