FRENCH COUNTRY DECOR

Our curated French Country decor and design inspiration images cover the spectrum of French design from refined, provincial style to rustic country cottage. Browse through a gorgeous collection of upholstered dining chairs, French beds, reclaimed wood dining room tables, toile bedding, and chandeliers. 

French country style indicates rural France’s gentle hills and valleys, firmly entrenched with local traditions. The French tend toward an inborn sense of taste and refinement. It is simple, sincere, and effortlessly elegant, marrying old-world sensibility with an edge of sophistication. 

French country decor includes country-style ceramics and stoneware in white or eggshell glaze, antique or distressed mercury glass, and carved pieces like fleur de lis, candleholders, or architectural found objects. These pieces create a strong sense of connection to the past. Include fabrics like ‘stamped’ burlap or toile for a strong French feel. Throw pillows casually placed on chairs and settees complete the look. Feature image courtesy of Kara Childress Design

Shop by your design style: Coastal, Bohemian, Modern Glam, Farmhouse, Modern Rustic, Scandinavian, Tonal Chic, or Urban Earthy.
Please find design tips on French Country decorating ideas for Pinterest at the bottom of the page.

HOW TO DECORATE WITH FRENCH COUNTRY DECOR

Are you looking to add a touch of rustic charm to your home decor? French country decorating ideas could be just what you need! This style creates a cozy, warm atmosphere with natural materials, muted colors, and vintage-inspired pieces. 

Think weathered wood, wrought iron, and soft textiles like linen and cotton. Add some floral designs and a few antique accents, and you have a beautiful French country-inspired space. 

Some popular decor elements include vintage chandeliers, jute rugs, a gilded mirror, simple lines, natural wood, distressed furniture, and decorative ceramics. Whether you’re decorating your living room, bedroom, or kitchen, there are endless ways to incorporate this timeless style into your home.

French country design showcases elegant simplicity, sophisticated flowing lines, and natural materials;

1. Distressed Furniture—French Provincial furniture is steeped in tradition and endurance and passed from generation to generation. The French love their antiques, and it’s essential to include vintage or antique furniture. Choose furniture that appears to have withstood the test of time to help create that old-world feel.

2. Elegant Window Treatments—Window treatments can add softness and luxury to a room and help to create a serene sanctuary. Frame your windows with beautifully pleated linen curtains in various hues that provide additional texture, warmth, elegance, and timelessness.

3. Hang a Chandelier—Chandeliers add the perfect finishing touch to a French Country home, whether weathered and rustic or delicately designed with hints of gold and shimmering crystals.

4. Add Accents that Make it Unique—Florals add a beautiful touch to any room – but with French Country decorating, it is one of the essential layers in the design. From roses to lavender and peonies, flowers add warmth, depth, and country charm.

5. Go Vintage—Choose vintage pieces that accentuate your personality and are timeless and chic. Throw a dreamy faux fur throw on the edge of your sofa and place glass vases on counters and shelves. Cozy rugs add further pattern and texture to the space.

6. Design is in the Details—Elements of a French Country living room include comfortable and oversized upholstered sofas, Provincial furniture, rustic antiques, natural linen, wrought iron, antique mirrors, robust gallery walls, botanical designs, exposed wood ceilings, whitewashed woods, and a neutral palette.

French Country Decorating Ideas

French Country Decorating Ideas
Image courtesy of Kara Childress Design

What is French Country Design?

French country is a broadly appealing design style inspired by the centuries-old farmhouses of rural France. It is the embodiment of elegance that strikes a perfect balance between beauty and comfort.

It is epitomized by soothing hues, warm wood tones, rich use of toile fabric, provincial furniture, exposed wood ceilings, fresh-cut flowers, natural linen fabrics, finely upholstered chairs and sofas, rustic antiques, and intricate details. It is a curated blend of European elegance and rustic country style.

What are French Country Colors?

The colors in French country design are serene and modest and draw inspiration from the natural landscape. You’ll find earthy hues like pale yellow, soft blues and greens, and peony pink. Stick to the warm side of the color wheel to remain true to this design aesthetic.

French Country Colors

French Country Decorating Ideas

A well-designed French country bedroom recalls rural France’s rolling hills and valleys. If you want a bedroom that transports you to the French countryside, you must create a space that combines effortless elegance, warmth, comfort, and homey details.

Nothing quite compares to a refined provincial bedroom in calming, neutral tones. There are several approaches one can take in creating a French Country bedroom. As with most country design styles, expanding on the traditional concept is possible.

From the elegance of old-world chateaux to simple and rustic (cottage in Provence) to a modern aesthetic, what ties all of these together is that a French Country bedroom is always inviting, relaxing, and welcoming.

“The gentle hues, luxurious bedding, and homey details of a French Country bedroom engage the senses and invite relaxation. Designed as if accumulated over time, French provincial bedroom decor embraces simple accents, sturdy fabrics, and practical elements that keep the look uncluttered and refreshed.

Layers of plush bedding and a deeply tufted fabric headboard create a comfortable and refreshing sleeping space. Nature-inspired artwork breathes life into the room, as sheer window treatments allow soft sunlight to filter in. Enhance the space with useful pieces like an armchair, storage bench, mirror, and lamp to make daily routines a breeze.”- Overstock

Elements of a French Country Bedroom

1. Muted Color Palette

Neutral walls are a trademark of French country-style bedrooms. They should be in warm and creamy tones like ecru or ivory rather than pure white to prevent the room from looking modern or cold. Draw additional colors from nature, such as soft yellows, pale greens, muted blues, and peony pinks.

2. Distressed Furniture

French Provincial furniture is steeped in tradition and endurance and passed from generation to generation. The French love their antiques, and including vintage or antique furniture is vital. Choose furniture that appears to have withstood the test of time to help create that old-world feel.

The bed should be the focal point of your bedroom, and the headboard works towards creating that special bit of magic. From white distressed pieces to wrought iron, antique brass, and burnished bronze – all work well in creating a French country bedroom. You could also incorporate an upholstered linen bed in antique white for a more modern approach. Tufted, vintage, and painted headboards are other great options.

3. Elegant Window Treatments

Window treatments can add softness and luxury to a bedroom and help to create a serene sanctuary. Frame your windows with beautifully pleated linen curtains in various hues that provide additional texture, warmth, elegance, and a sense of timelessness.

4. Hang a Chandelier

Chandeliers add the perfect finishing touch to a French country bedroom, whether weathered and rustic or delicately designed with hints of gold and shimmering crystals.

5. Be Sure to Add the Bling

Subtle touches of silver or gold add refinement and elegance. Achieve this by adding a gorgeous metallic trimmed mirror, sparkling lighting fixtures, and mirrored picture frames.

6. Create an Intimate Seating Area

Even in small spaces, creating an intimate seating area is manageable. It’s all about finding the right antique-style chair to sit in and enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or read a book during the day. Place a small table beside it, and add an elegant lamp and a vase of flowers to create a cozy and inviting nook.

7. Add Accents that Make it Unique

Florals add a beautiful touch to any room, but with French Country decorating, they are one of the essential layers in the design. From roses to lavender and peonies, flowers add warmth, depth, and country charm.

Choose vintage pieces that accentuate your personality and are timeless and chic. Throw a dreamy faux fur throw at the end of the bed and place glass vases on counters and shelves. Cozy rugs add further pattern and texture to the space.

8. French Style Country Bedding

The choice of bedding you use can make a powerful statement about your style. There are many options, from cozy linens to comforters and duvet covers with country-inspired prints, such as toile.

French Country Kitchen Ideas

A French country kitchen is the heart of the home and features whitewashed furniture, butcher blocks, country fabrics, and jars holding food staples.

“The French country kitchen is where your rustic charm will shine. And it’s the perfect room to spruce up in time for Thanksgiving dinner and other fall gatherings. A wooden kitchen island is a clear way to add French country style to your kitchen. The wood creates a lived-in, country cottage look that will add richness to the kitchen. Want to add a modern twist? Paint your French country kitchen island in a bold color, like the sublime blue island in the example above. And if a wooden island is too “farmhouse” for your style, you can still incorporate rustic charm with subtler elements, like wooden counter stools upholstered in linen or leather.” – Kathy Kuo, Interior Designer.

French Country Living Room Ideas

A living room in the French country style creates a sense of sophistication and elegance in the home.

Components of a French country living room include:

  • Comfortable and oversized upholstered chairs and sofas
  • Provincial furniture
  • Rustic antiques
  • Natural linen fabrics
  • Exposed wood ceilings
  • A neutral palette for walls and soothing hues for furniture and decor
  • Wrought iron
  • A crystal chandelier
  • Whitewashed woods
  • Blue-and-white porcelain
  • Robust gallery walls
  • Antique mirrors
  • Botanical elements
  • Detailed window treatments

The French Country look is for you if…

Your design style reflects your passion for creating a home that radiates warmth, has plenty of charm, and perfectly balances comfort and beauty. It’s important to you that your home instantly puts your guests at ease, and you achieve this by lovingly choosing vintage-inspired furniture and adding ornate and elegant touches. You have an eye for detail and entertain with style and grace.

You are drawn to soothing hues, rich use of fabrics, provincial furniture, exposed wood ceilings, fresh-cut flowers, natural linen fabrics, finely upholstered chairs and sofas, rustic antiques, and intricate details. Your home is your oasis; you feel tremendous pride in curating a sophisticated and timeless retreat.

FRENCH COUNTRY DECOR INSPIRATION

French Country Decorating Ideas
French Country Decorating Ideas
French Country Decorating Ideas

French Country Homes
Images courtesy of Kara Childress Design

French Country Ideas
French Country Ideas
French Country Ideas

French Country Homes
Images courtesy of Kara Childress Design

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French Country Decorating Ideas
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French Country Decorating Ideas
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The French Country home of your dreams can easily be achieved by incorporating soothing hues, a rich use of fabrics, provincial furniture, natural linen fabrics, antiques and intricate details.
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