By Dave and Mary
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Meaning of Decorative Stars Seen on Country Homes and Porches

A reader asked: "What is the meaning of decorative stars seen on country homes and porches?"

We shed some light on it here AND we welcome your input too.

We hope you enjoy the bits of history we found behind these metal barn stars - seen on barns, in farming communities, on country porches as well as modern homes.


Colorful metal barn star on Maya and David's porch adds a large dose of personality!
Courtesy of our friends, Maya and David
One of the most unique and beautiful stars that we have seen on a porch. Found at our dear friend's home.

Is there a special meaning behind these stars?


star on porch
Patriotic star on this front porch grouped with flag wall art



What is the Meaning of Decorative Stars Seen on Country Homes and Porches?

Asked by Kay of Mt. Rainier, Maryland

QUESTION: What is the meaning of decorative stars? I will be moving to a very rural area and have noticed many homes with decorative stars (brown or blue) on the wall of the porch or home.

The star is usually large and noticeable. It may be a six point star.


ANSWER: Thank you for writing us and visiting our website, Kay.

You ask a wonderful question about the meaning of the decorative stars often seen on homes and barns. They are commonly called "barn stars" since they are often seen gracing the fronts of barns. We did some research and here is what we found.

In most cases today, homeowners hang the decorative old-looking metal stars on their homes simply because they enjoy and like them. Usually they are 5-pointed and come in various sizes. Sometimes they are hung on the porch wall. Other times you see them hung near the gable, on the garage or on a barn.

The stars are very eye-catching - they add a touch of Americana and a country kind of feeling to one's porch. Usually they look old and distressed, although they are just made to look that way with an antique finish.

We've read that long ago these Americana stars may have been used originally to hide certain features on a building. Today you can see them on many homes and we believe mostly for curb appeal purposes. star on porch
A star also decorates this home!
You can find these decorative metal barn stars (usually with 5 points) on homes all across the United States. It's common to see them in farming communities, but Dave and I have seen many of them on porches and homes even in the newer area where we live.

We've seen them in small towns and larger towns - anywhere the homeowner wants to add a folksy appeal to their home.

They are sometimes known as primitive stars or Pennsylvania stars, too. Another place in which you might see stars as decorations is in Texas. The State of Texas is known as the "Lone Star State".

Often times in western motif decorating, indoors and outdoors, they use the ornamental Lone Star.

Kay, thank you for asking this question. We hope you really enjoy your new home in the country.

And if you decide to decorate your porch with one of these pretty stars, please send us a few pictures to share on our website.




decorative star on porch
We thank Maya and David for sharing this with us
A colorful metallic star like this is sure to engage your visitors and friends alike!


decorative star on Anna's craftsman style porch
We thank our sweet friend Anna for sharing with us
Anna hung this wonderful star on her Craftsman style porch. See our interview with Anna about her lovely Craftsman home.


decorative star on porch
Decorative star and outdoor wall art on porch in Maryville TN





We Found This Barn Stars for You

Mary and I discovered some really neat barn stars (referral link) at Amazon.com. You'll find a wide variety of pretty colors and styles.

So many options for both inside your home and in your outdoor spaces from primitive to rustic, patriotic to classic.

Many of you have contributed to this topic via the Facebook comments below. Thank you! The meaning of decorative stars seen on country homes and porches ranges from decorative beauty to special significance. We appreciate hearing from you and welcome comments no matter where you live.

And we know many of you already have stars displayed on your porch and even inside your homes. Enjoy and celebrate them. And feel free to send us your pictures too.




More Decorative Stars Shared by Our Readers

Vintage style star on Karen's porch
Photo courtesy of Karen Pivonski Lewis
We like how Karen anchored her decorative star with the "antique" sign



Cindy decorated a vintage screen door with this pretty red star
Photo courtesy of Cindy Cherry
Cindy decorated her vintage screen door with this pretty red star.


stars on porch at Bonnie's house
Stars adorn Bonnie's house - Photo courtesy of Bonnie Claxton Horton
star on porch at Lori's house
Attractive barn star between Lori's windows on her porch
Photo courtesy of Lori Norton Lawson



Barn star on porch at Lori's house at nighttime - beautiful
Beautiful nighttime picture of Lori's porch with the star.
Photo courtesy of Lori Norton Lawson



Judy's springtime porch - see the decorative star above her porch swing
Judy hung a decorative star above her porch swing.
Photo courtesy of Judy Scalf



Maryanne's porch has a decorative star next to the front door
Maryanne has a decorative star next to her front door on her inviting porch.
Photo courtesy of Maryanne Scoleri Haftl



Nancy's back porch is beautifully decorated with stars
Nancy's wonderful back porch has a collection of stars decorating the wall.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Carter



Maryanne's porch has a decorative star and an angel
Maryanne said this angel used to have hair but the birds took it away.
Photo courtesy of Maryanne Scoleri Haftl



Meaning of decorative stars on porches and country homes

So, does your porch have a decorative star? If so, does it hold special meaning for you? We always enjoy hearing so please write to us about stars on your home.


Charming Country Porches Anyone?

We bet you'll also like seeing our pictures of country porches.


Charming country porches

Charming country porches
are a favorite for many of us. Even if you don't live in the country, it is fun to imagine!

We hope that we've shed some light on the meaning of decorative stars seen on country homes and porches. Meaning aside, they add a charming element especially to a country porch. Have fun exploring.





Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.

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Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
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Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.

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At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.


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