Cook Up Some Country Charm with Primitive Kitchen Wall Art

Tired of staring at dull, empty walls above your kitchen cabinets and appliances? Breathe new life into your cooking space with rustic, vintage-inspired wall art and decor that reflects cozy farmhouse style. Primitive wall hangings featuring weathered wood, metal cutouts, repurposed windows and handcrafted chalkboards add artisanal texture and downhome character to any kitchen.

From funny foodie phrases on distressed wood signs to intricate botanical prints in worn frames, this eclectic wall art fits perfectly in country kitchens. But it can also make an accent in more modern spaces. Mixing natural materials and reinvented antiques, these charming wall hangings provide an easy way to showcase your unique taste.

Rustic Wood Signs Bring Downhome Character

Wood signs are a popular primitive wall decor choice. Handmade signs made from salvaged wood feature painted or woodburned lettering and charming sentiments. The distressed, chippy paint gives them a well-loved, imperfect look.

Place a rustic sign above the stove as a focal point, like one with a humorous cooking quote or quip. Or pick a inspirational phrase or blessing for eating together and mount it near the kitchen table. Farmhouse style sayings like "Gather" and country kitchen quotes exude downhome appeal.

Popular Sayings and Sentiments

Choose phrases with significance to your family or interests. Funny food and cooking-related sayings like “Whine a Little” next to the wine glasses always get a chuckle. Sentiments about gratitude or blessings on the home feel special in the kitchen.

Farmhouse proverbs with wisdom and nostalgia also look fitting, like “Home Grown with Love” or “Farm Fresh.” Don't forget favorite family mottos or meaningful quotes.

Design Elements

Wood signs range from a unfinished, rough-hewn plank look to more refined with stained wood. But the most popular primitive style features wood with chipped, cracked white paint for timeworn appeal.

Painted lettering in script, all-caps or a mix looks handcrafted. Woodburned sayings also add striking contrast on the woodgrain. Some signs incorporate metal lettering or accents for multi-texture interest.

Placement Tips

Display your wood sign proudly where it takes center stage. Above the stove or range draws the eye while decorating a blank expanse.

Hanging it near the breakfast nook or dining table sets the right ambiance for sharing meals and conversations together. Place it a bit lower for intimate impact.

Metal Art Adds Handcrafted Texture

For more durability and visual interest, metal makes for artistic wall decor in primitive style kitchens. Handcrafted metal cutouts, panels and functional pieces show off the artist's skill.

Metal artwork adds eye-catching silhouettes, punched tin designs, or sculptures formed through processes like scroll bending and welding. The inherent texture of the materials shines through.

Options for Metal Wall Art

Find cutout shapes reminiscent of old-fashioned kitchen wares like roosters, coffee cups, rolling pins and mason jars. Metallic botanical art and floral panels also have vintage appeal.

Some metal artisans produce coat racks, shelves, pot racks and other functional pieces with elaborate scrollwork and artful shaping. The handiwork elevates utilitarian metal items into works of art.

Choosing Finishes

The finishing techniques for metal wall art enhance its rustic qualities. Items can be darkened through aging or oxidation. Or go for verdigris, the blue-green patina copper gets as it weathers.

Other finishes that reflect primitive style include hammering, etching, bending, distressing and deliberately allowing rust for worn, vintage looks. Aged tin, copper, wrought iron and galvanized metal make ideal materials.

Highlight with Lighting

Properly placed lighting adds drama to dimensional metal art. Use spotlights or wall sconces to accentuate textures. Backlighting casts striking shadows of intricate cutout shapes on the wall.

Position fixtures above or alongside to illuminate your favorite details. This makes metal creations into true focal points full of depth and visual interest.

Repurposed Windows Reflect Farmhouse Style

An old window transformed into wall art encapsulates primitive style. For authenticity, source original antique windows from architectural salvage companies, antique shops or secondhand stores.

Preserve the worn wooden frames and imperfect aged glass. Then turn them into art by affixing photos, prints or paintings behind the panes to create shadowboxes.

Sourcing Old Windows

Keep your eyes peeled for leaded glass, diamond pane and other interesting window styles while treasure hunting. Their rich colors, wavy old glass and timeworn wooden frames overflow with character.

Salvaged windows tend to show their age through peeling paint, scratches and other signs of use over the decades. This adds to the vintage vibe.

Transformation Process

Start by cleaning the window frame without removing original paint or patina. Protect the existing glass from breaking during the art process.

For a shabby chic look, add extra chips, cracks and whitewash. Then carefully affix your art prints, photos or paintings behind the glass using clips or removable adhesive.

Arranging Tips

Repurposed window art has visual impact leaning against a wall, mantle or kitchen island. For stability, lean it against corbels or shelves.

Mounting above the sink or stove makes it a true scene stealer. Position it to catch and diffuse natural light streaming through the panes.

Chalkboard Art for Customizable Flair

Another interactive primitive wall art option is chalkboard pieces. Vintage-looking chalkboard formed into signs or boards make changeable, customizable art you can update anytime.

Write inspirational quotes, grocery lists, menus or humorous kitchen puns. When you tire of one phrase, simply erase and rewrite a new one. Chalkboard art fits right in with eclectic primitive finds.

Menu Boards and Signage

Mini chalkboards are ideal for listing daily specials or your menu plan. Frame pieces of old school slate board for nostalgic restaurant vibes.

Lean these easel-style menu boards on the countertop or hang on the wall. Quickly update with each meal, then wipe clean after eating.

Quote Boards

Decorate blank spaces by mounting vintage-style chalkboard rectangles or circular boards. Handwrite favorite inspirational quotes or funny kitchen puns.

Change up the sayings seasonally or when you need a pick-me-up. Let your personality shine through in your handwriting style.

Shape Options

Chalkboard art comes in standard rectangles and squares perfect for lists, columns and menus. For a change, try circular boards or adorable shapes like houses and speech bubbles.

Large chalkboard panels can fill bigger empty walls. Choose framed boards or shabby chic pieces with unfinished edges and visible screw holes.

Pulling the Look Together

Now for the fun part - arranging your collected primitive finds into an artful wall collage. Some tips for pulling off this eclectic look:

Mix of Shapes and Textures

Incorporate different shapes like circles, squares and rectangles. Display both flat and dimensional pieces. Vary textures with wood, chalkboard, metal and repurposed materials.

Cohesive Color Scheme

Tie it together with a muted color scheme accented with blacks and wood tones. Aged whites, cream, gray and neutral backgrounds allow the art to pop. Add touches of color through accents or prints.

Play with hanging pieces at different heights for interest. Cluster some in an asymmetrical gallery arrangement. Repurposed windows can lean on counters or mantle shelves.

Use picture lights or sconces to spotlight focal points. Creating vignettes brings these primitive finds alive with character.

With an array of rustic chic wall hangings, you can cook up some serious country charm in your kitchen. Let your primitive art reflect your personal taste and bring out the character of your home.