The French Country look has become a popular choice for homeowners that favor beauty, simplicity, and comfort. The elaborate style of French Provincial is toned down and mixed with the rustic colors and textures of the outdoors. Every room in your house can feature a little or a lot of this splendid design.
Colors can range from white and cream to soft yellows, warm pinks, muted greens, and baby blues. Orange-reds are also an option and are popular with country and rustic decors. Select three hues that you favor and start creating. Keep in mind the rooms and hallways are lying in proximity, so none of the hues contradict your current color scheme.
A French country style bedroom is a great place to begin your style transformation. From the color palettes to grand French Country bedding ideas, your room will feel lighter, brighter, and more natural. Make this room your personal favorite by weaving in the following ideas of French Country home decor. On a smaller scale, begin with a guest bedroom where you can find the right balance between sophistication and comfort.
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Characteristics of French Country Beds
The master bedroom can either use the bed as a focal point or add a cohesive look to your French Country design. A unique bed frame can invite a romantic look with tall bedposts or a gathered ceiling crown close to the headboard. A bed crown is a great way to decorate a simple frame. Flowing white linen always creates a touch of elegance, especially in a French Country bedroom decor.
When using a bed as part of your French Country bedroom design, colors and textures can help bring a subtle rustic look instead of luxurious. White walls or creamy whites in stucco with a base of pink or light blue can deliver a good start as your French country palette. Upholstered frames or wood tones in beds can leave your ideas on French country bedroom ideas wide open. Create your headboard by placing your favorite wallpaper in a frame and running it up to the ceiling.
Soft colors or a muted floral pattern for sheets or comforters create a romantic style without losing the presence of natural textures. If you feel too much white is taking over, consider going with shiplap walls with a weathered, distressed look. Keep your paint colors light and inviting. The best part of French country decorating is your freedom in being romantic, chic, country cottage, or a mixture of refined Provincial and rustic.
Fabric is a beautiful addition to French country; the fluffier, the better. High mattresses with overstuffed comforters that look inviting and pillow shams with lace are perfect to use in a guest room. Layer your linens to expose color, and do not be afraid to pile on the pillows.
Themes, Window Treatments, and Floors
Don’t forget the wallpaper and fabric that announce French country. The room doesn’t have to be dripping in roses, sunflowers, or toile, but using a white motif or using it as a feature in a bed skirt or end of the bed bench cover can add that natural touch that sings of French country. This is also an excellent way to bring rustic patterns into the fold.
The natural light that can pour into a beautiful French country bedroom will deliver a stunning look. Curtains should never be heavy or dark but match the French country bedroom colors. Use this area to highlight the frills and texture of the French country space and possibly bring an accent to a pretty bed skirt and throw pillows or pillow shams.
Japanese linen semi-sheer textured panels are the best way to blend in texture and color with different French countryside looks. Another French bedroom idea is to borrow from picturesque English cottage styles and blend bedding and flowy bed skirts with window treatments. Place an upholstered bench of solid color at the foot of the bed.
A wood floor serves as both a period style of French and a rustic look when using natural materials. A faded gray medallion area rug of neutral tones is one of the easiest ways to add distressed furniture and a vintage chandelier or hanging lamp for a comfy and personal feel.
A French farmhouse bedroom will use gingham fabric or plaids to set a down-to-earth look while crossing with the delicate nature of French provincial. Consider going with a French farmhouse if you want to deliver more color and texture to a white background. This look is popular in a French kitchen where wood or white cabinets offer a neutral background.
Furniture and Accessories
Look to inspiration photos by interior designers that pull certain elements together for a cohesive look. One excellent example is Kathy Kuo Home, where trends for French style bedroom furniture is available and popular. Antique shops and estate sales can provide the right place for deals, and unusual accessory finds. Vintage wood, clay, or metal lend structure to the room’s light and feminine overall look.
Antique dressers and stands can add a delightful presence with legs with graceful curving lines stained in a dusty blue. An armoire is another one of the great options if your own home has the space. With the right period, these pieces of furniture scream French country. Keep furniture pieces small, like tufted barrel chairs and settees. Side tables with curved legs do not have to be perfect. The more weathered they appear, the more country looks will prevail.
Old vintage accessories can be fun to shop for. We can fit ornate picture frames with antique French wallpaper, prints of landscapes, or a pastoral toile fabric Mirrors in a long golden frame with decorative flowers or designs are perfect along a bare wall. Fresh or faux peonies of blue or green will bring the outdoors in, and you can never have enough stone and glass pieces to sprinkle on table tops. Flowerpots with a French theme and filled with herbs make a fresh statement in any room.
Redecorating bedrooms in French country can lead you to update other areas of your home. Dining rooms can become an exciting place for entertaining and enjoying the view of the outdoors. Different patterns and the mingling of rustic and French are brought together perfectly to serve both comfort and sophistication.
A formal living room does not have to go to waste when the space calls you to come in and enjoy a spot of tea. With just a few updates that follow the seasons, this is where guests will feel most welcome.
Light open curtains and cream-colored upholstery on furniture can allow you to showcase your favorite vintage pieces. Turn your bookcase into a focal point with French country China and glassware. This will also help make a smooth transition into the neighboring dining room.
There are many choices for French country design. The most common way to reach your goal of redefining a room is to think naturally and stay with appealing colors. Avoid deep colors and heavy fabrics, and picture a garden outside.
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Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan, Senior Writer
Experienced Writer with 20+ years. Demonstrated writing experience includes technical writing, magazines, story writing, and journalist projects. Karen has a powerful media and communication background with academic training from LaSalle University (architecture, interior design) and business college courses. She loves editing novels and contributed to a national art journal.