French Provincial - 3 Brilliant Ideas For French Style Living Room
French country decor derives from the southern parts of France. The style is perfect for those who love idyllic interiors marked by classic and timeless elegance. It ideally fits open spaces, but one can also use it in a small interior. Learn how to use French country decor in your living room and bring something completely new to your home.
What is French country decor?
A living room in French provincial style typically stands for moderation, pastel colors and natural materials. Interiors designed in this style are characterized by the domination of natural and noble wood. Wooden furniture is specially distressed, to crack it bring out the knots. Whitened chests of drawers and glass-panelled cupboards are characteristic for this style.
One also cannot forget about porcelain, highly characteristic for this style. It is best if it’s lavender-themed. Wicker accessories are also key for French country decor - for instance simple baskets, house plant pots and wicker chair.
What are the characteristic French country decor colors?
The French provincial style originates in the southern France. Bright shades are its characteristic feature. They perfectly fit the warm, distinct region of Provence. The main colors are:
- lavender purple,
- light blue,
- cream,
- beige,
- Provence yellow.
In the region where the style originates, the interiors are typically painted with the base color. Next, the paint is whitened using calcimine. The contemporary French country decor doesn’t have to strictly follow the style known from France. You can combine several different styles - modern style is the most fitting in this case.
White furniture with lavender decor and beige fabrics will help you create a truly French provincial style.
What accents to choose for a French provincial style living room?
A French country style living room uses a variety of accessories, so you should pay attention to them. If you want any decorations, choose bright colored fabrics, which will perfectly complement the French country style. For a French provincial house, choose blankets or duvets in light purple or turquoise colors.
Beige with floral patterns is a perfect addition to a French country interior as well. Lavender is an obligatory element - you can put it in small bags or wicker baskets. White candles and bright lamps are also characteristic elements of this style. Large jars and epergnes are a perfect addition of a French provincial house.
Choose a classic French country living room
Creating a French country style living room is a matter of several simple rules. They are:
- coziness,
- an idyllic touch,
- homely peace and warmth,
- a nature reference.
A classic French provincial style living room should be full of bright colors - shades of yellow, green, orange, blue and most importantly - lavender. If you want to replicate the original style, give up smooth surrfaces. You can use decorative plasters to make the surface irregular.
French provincial living room also needs choosing the right flooring - originally, it would be stone or wood. Nowadays, vinyl planks are a common choice, as they perfectly imitate natural wood. If you furnish your living room with French country decor, remember to match the fabrics - focus on cotton and calico.
Modern French country decor in the living room - inspirations
A French provincial style living room should contain armchairs and a comfortable sofa. Don’t forget about accessories - you can choose furniture with floral padding. As an alternative, you can choose plain padding color plus floral cushions and blankets as accessories.
A modern French country style interior should also contain a coffee table.
One can choose a one with cabriole legs or something more modern - with metal legs. French palatial style furniture painted white or grey are very characteristic for this type of decor. Exposing knots in wood are highly recommended. One can achieve this effect by distressing the wood.
A small living room in French provincial style - check how to furnish it
A French provincial style living room has to be cozy and idyllic. White, pastel colors and lively shades should be the basis for the interior design in this style. The general premise is that French country decor is for large and open spaces. But one can also adapt it to a living room with limited space.
A sofa is the central point of the living room. It should be well stressed. To od this, you can choose a floral pattern padding or more plain one with ornamental throws and cushions.
Curtains are a very characteristic element in a French provincial style living room. But hanging them in a small living room might overwhelm the interior. Instead of curtains, you can choose floor and ceiling skirting boards. Using them by the ceiling makes the interior look larger, which is beneficial in small rooms.
đź“Ť How to paint the furniture in French country decor?
Paint the prepared surface with acrylic or oil paint, or a stain in a bright color, which is a direct reference to French style. After applying the first layer, choose spots for distressing and apply some wax on it. Then apply another layer of paint - sand the spots that are meant to be distressed. Use small-grain sanding paper. Then, reapply the wax and another layer of paint. After it dries, apply a protective layer of varnish.
đź“Ť What is French country decor?
A French provincial style interior can be characterized as a combination of idyllic and high-class decor. The style is perfect for houses with large, open space. Modern interior designers have come up with a compromise which allows one to design the interior in a small space.
đź“Ť How to combine French provincial and modern styles?
Combining styles is one of the hottest interior design trends of the recent years. This way, one can get an interesting, original effect and it's the owner who decides how the styles are matched. But combining different styles requires skill and carefulness, as the final result might be different than expected.
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