Primitive Beginnings

Floorcloths can be customized to any size, up to 8 feet wide by 12 feet long, and painted using most any color and design. Please note that sizes are approximate, and shrinking up to 1-2" may occur during the painting process; each piece is unique! For custom orders, please contact Primitive Beginnings for a price quote and estimated delivery time.  Most custom designs run $10/square foot.

About our Floorcloths
All floorcloths are hand painted by Katy Miller of Primitive Beginnings, and are truly a unique original piece of art that adds color, style, and function to any room with a hard even surface (floorcloths ontop of carpet, brick, etc. are not recommended due to the uneven wearing that occurs). Floorcloths are made from heavy weight 100% cotton canvas, painted with colors true to the time period, hemmed, and finished with three plus layers of protective polyurethane to ensure a durable and easy to clean finish. The featured floorcloth designs have historical roots reaching back to the 1400’s.

Floorcloth History
The earliest floorcloths originated in France in the early 1400’s. Often the old canvas sails of ships were used in an effort by the lady of the house to duplicate the expensive floorcoverings of the upper class with a fraction of the cost. Resourceful women of the time handpainted diamonds, geometric patterns, and stenciled designs onto the canvas, often placing the finished product under tables or in parlors to serve as “crumb cloths”. England embraced the art form and appreciated the floorcloth for its beauty, function and added bonus of keeping the floors warm in the winter. By the early 1700’s, floorcloths made their way into American homes, and remained popular with all classes of people until the introduction of linoleum in the early 1900’s.

Caring for your Floorcloth
Floorcloths can be kept in place using thin non skid mats, double stick carpet tape, or poster putty, but often stay in place with no additional help.  Floorcloths can be easily cleaned with a gentle water-dilluted cleaning product or soap and water and a soft sponge. The “Magic Eraser” by Mr. Clean does an excellent job at removing scuff marks. Use of harsh cleaning agents like alcohol, ammonia, or those containing these chemicals (i.e. Windex, multi-purpose cleaners) or the use of abrasive scouring pads is not advised.