French Country Design at Home

Dreaming about a little piece of Provence? Bring it home and have the feeling it gives you, every day.

 

Whether you have been to France or not, you’re probably familiar with the subtle elegance and yet utter charm of French country design. It’s ornate without being intimidating and works just as well in a tiny cottage as in a sprawling chateau. It’s a warm and inviting way to decorate your home and is classic so you never find yourself ‘out of style’.

Getting into the frame of mind of French country, what do you think of when you think of the design style? I think of fields of lavender, ancient stone buildings, sunny patios and rustic décor, all of which make me want to sit at a round café table, sipping a crisp cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Even in the damp and dreariness of March.

This is the effect of French country design, oui?

HomeEdit.comHomeEdit.com

French Country Design At Home Tip #1: Achieve The Colors Through Accessories

The first and most important impact of French country design is the color: warm hues of burnished gold, sunset orange, reds, greens and blues. The natural tones that you would see in nature in the south of France are delicious, aren’t they?

A great way to bring in those colors against a backdrop of more basic hues is to incorporate accessories that reflect a French style. Blue and white porcelain dishes, rooster motif items, lavender and sunflowers… Or go classic with some beautiful copper pans in the kitchen or even elsewhere in your décor.

Better Homes and GardensBetter Homes and Gardens

French Country Design At Home Tip #2: Keep The Main Pieces Natural

While pops of color are important in the style, so is adhering to natural materials wherever you can. Rustic tables, painted plaster walls, beams and wood detailing and stone. A stone fireplace is an ideal focal point in designing a French country space, even if it contains a gas insert.

Distressed furniture and wrought iron are excellent additions to create the natural and rustic appearance: bringing the outdoors inside for a year round feeling of warmth and old world elegance.

Trenton Distressed Nesting Tables

Trenton Distressed Nesting Tables

!nspire tip: You should mix rustic pieces that you have found at a flea market with more refined armoires and ornate chairs. That contrast is the essence of the French country design style.

French Country Design At Home Tip #3: Mix Your Textiles And Patterns

Yes, you can mix a gingham curtain with a stripe pattern dining chair. Its effect is charming and warm:

Homedit.com

Homedit.com

Curves and swirls are a part of the French country design, including fabric wallpaper and ornate lighting fixtures that become a statement piece for the room, drawing the eye.

DecoistDecoist via Howard Bankston and Post

Curls and curves are beautiful and natural. An elegant headboard can be the first step to creating that romantic elegance in a bedroom, whether for yourself or to wow your guests in the guestroom.

Anastasia Bed in Ivory - RoomAnastasia Bed in Ivory

 

Whether you prefer the cool grace of northern France or the warm hues of the south, adding a touch of French elegance is a matter of remembering that contrast is the key. After that? The only limit is your own imagination.