American Colonial Period Interior Decorating

       Photo above, New Amsterdam Settlement on Manhattan Island in the Mid-1600s,
                                                   is Available at AllPosters.com

In the earliest American Colonial homes, Interior Functionality understandably took precedence over Interior Decorating. The emphasis on simplicity and utility also suited the Puritan ethic of the Plymouth colony, who disdained pleasure and embraced austerity.

The first colonists at Jamestown, Virginia (established in 1607) and Plymouth, Massachusetts (established in 1620) were most concerned with meeting the basic needs necessary for survival and did not have the time or luxury to consider anything else. Constructing a functional dwelling in relatively short time from whatever materials were available was their main objective. This was a time of living in one-room houses with the few items the settlers managed to take with them on their voyage to the "New World". These early homes were more primitive dwellings built by the settlers themselves from local natural resources using whatever skills they had.

          Photo above shows a colonial fireplace in Salem, Massachusetts as it was in 1750.  
                         It is Available at AllPosters.com in a variety of formats and sizes.

(Contintued from above.) Fireplaces were essential for cooking and heating, as well as light. They were made of brick or stone and mortar and very large. Home-made candles provided the only other source of light as the small windows provided little natural light. Dishes for the majority of families were made from earthenware or wood, but those who could afford it would have brought china and silver with them or, once tradesmen had establlished shops, purchased finer wares. Cast iron and pewter were also used for cookware, utensils and tableware.

The picture above shows a basic American Colonial color palette. However, since computer monitors do not accurately and consistently depict color, the photo should be considered an approximation.

Paint colors in the American Colonial period would have been limited by the settlers' knowledge of pigments and available natural resources. Whitewash,
a solution of lime and water, was the most readily available and frequently used.

Basic primary colors including barn red, indigo blue, and yellow ochre were predominant after the very earliest strictly "survival mode" years. Optical green was made by mixing yellow ocher and charcoal black with calcite and animal glue as a binder. Sometimes, instead of paint, a tinted layer of thin plaster was applied to walls.

Circa 1680-1730, it was not unusual to paint a lamp black "baseboard" directly on the plaster wall instead of using wood. A similar black outline technique was also used to outline features such as door frames and steps.

In the early 1700's, sponge painting and "spotting" appeared. "Spotting" dates to around 1730 and refers to the decorative application of dots on walls and sometimes ceilings. This was usually done in black dots on whitewash, but occasionally colored water-based distemper paints were used, such as dark gray dots (about 2 to 3 inches in diameter) on a red ceiling.

Over time, as the colonies began to thrive and expand, colors became a bit more varied, but the palette was still quite limited when compared to later styles. The most usual method was to whitewash walls and ceilings and use colors for woodwork.

By the 18th century, wealthier homes would have added wood wainscoting and possibly paneling. Woodwork that was made of mahogany would have been left in its natural state, but other woods were often painted in either a solid color or with grained and marbled effects. The later colonial period palette included earthtones of yellow, almond, red and browns with some blues and greens.

Shown above: a carved frame and panel Jacobean chest made in Connecticut around 1660, c.1670 Massachusetts plank table with drawer, early 1700s Boston couch or daybed, a damask upholstered Queen Anne sofa from Philadelphia (1740-1750), a side table and chair c. 1740 Philadelphia, and a Massachusetts Queen Anne highboy, c. 1720-40)

For additional information, see American Furniture of the 18th Century: History, Technique, and Structure

Common themes included the pineapple (symbol for hospitality), weeping willow (symbolizing longevity), heart (love), and anchor (hope). Geometric designs and patterns that could be incorporated in weaving (stripes, plaids, checks, flame-stitch style) were also used.

After 1750, the more affluent colonists would have been able to add chinoiseries and, at towards the end of the colonial period (c. 1770), large scale French toiles to their decorating options. Larger towns and cities were thriving and merchants offered imported fabrics and other household necessities and niceties. Skilled craftsmen set up shops, making other items, like pewter and silver, available for those who could afford it.

In the 17th and early 18th centuries, however, materials were more limited and included locally available regional woods and natural dyes and pigments (see Early American colors). Blacksmiths provided iron tools, implements and decorative practical pieces such as candle holders in addition to horseshoes, nails, and similar items. Coopers provided wooden buckets and barrels. Clay was the basis for earthenware and bricks. Basketry and other items might have been woven by the colonists or obtained as gifts or from trade with Native Americans.

Early American colonial furniture was utilitarian and generally heavy and solid, with straight lines and little ornamentation. Chairs were either fiddle-back, ladderback, solid or spindle. Rustic plank top tables and benches and blanket chests were common. The later Colonial period saw a distinctly "American" style develop that was a typically less ornate combination of the features found in William and Mary, Queen Anne and Chippendale-style furniture.

American Colonial is an eclectic style and interior decorating in that style needs to be handled with care so it does not become a mishmash. Although many may think of sites like Williamsburg, Sturbridge, and similar restorations as the epitome of American Colonial style, remember that they represent the later more prosperous period and not the earliest settlements. Although similar elements can be found in both, you should decide which type of "American Colonial" decor you wish to use as your choices will be somewhat different.

An array of fabrics and wallpaper suitable for American Colonial period interiors. You can find more of these at Restoration Fabrics & Trims and Old House Interiors.