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Constance Gennari is the founder of The Socialite Family, a website that sells home décor and features the homes of everyday French families. No matter the project you're tackling, how much of a reader you are, these creative bookshelf decor ideas will make your home as interesting as the Read more... “The living room should be a place where we feel totally at ease – temple of the soul." - Terence Conran, English designer 'How to design aRead more...
Look to muted colors with gray undertones, such as sage green, steely blue, or dusty rose, to add depth to a neutral palette while maintaining a sophisticated subdued effect. Layer in small doses of black through hardware or light fixtures to ground the look. French-style interiors are often highly distinctive and eclectic, featuring furniture and decor from a broad range of eras, design styles, and sources. To achieve this look, juxtapose flea market finds with contemporary pieces or European antiques with midcentury modern furnishings. Keep the look cohesive instead of chaotic by repeating a few key colors throughout the space to connect the assorted elements. Adding some French country-inspired decor to your own kitchen can help you to add a sense of history, timelessness, and simple beauty to your home, no matter where you live.
Rework Your Whites
Did they have a midcentury penchant, a collection of nautical memorabilia, or textiles from their heritage? Weave these pieces into your personal aesthetic to create a sense of history in your home. While you may be used to classic American designs—from traditional to modern, industrial, and more—Gennari notes that American stylists have one thing in common that's less common for French designers.
It combines modern Scandinavian style with the elegance and glamor of French style. This unique blend of two aesthetics gives a home a fresh look and a sense of comfort. It features many floral patterns and soft colors that remind you of the fields in Provence. You can achieve the look if you use natural materials such as wood, stone, and leather. European apartments are notorious for their snug quarters, and if you're familiar with living in small spaces, you've likely encountered a closet that doesn't have space for your favorite clothes.
Accessories
Take a leaf out of these stunning pooja room designs to create an inviting and serene place of worship. Want to upgrade your old cooking space to a modern L-shaped kitchen? If you ask us, there's something about a big, canopy bed that always reminds us of Marie Antoinette.
No matter where you live, you can get the look by pairing rugs, poufs, intimate lighting, and more—anything that inspires you to sit back and stay awhile. Don't forget to incorporate plenty of plants and lush greenery for a lived-in, earthy vibe. Europeans are experts at relaxation, and the evidence certainly carries over into their bathroom designs.
Does the French country look ever go out of style?
Antique furnishings, weathered finishes, natural materials, and warm neutrals are a few of the characteristics you'll often find in French-country rooms. The overall effect is meant to appear welcoming and casual yet effortlessly elegant. While this look goes hand in hand with the previous tip, it is also an invention of necessity. Many French apartments are dark unless they are placed on the top floor and the lack of light does a space no favors.
“The French love to mix vintage and contemporary furniture, whereas there is more homogeneity in American style,” Gennari says. French designers have no qualms about placing a modern chair beside an 18th-century dresser, or styling ultra-contemporary lighting against an ornate background. It’s all about the dynamic tension that exists between different periods and styles. Finally, here are some inspiring French-style interior design ideas that many homeowners are going gaga over.
Bring in the wrought iron
These simple touches can be shocking to the eye while drawing attention to other pieces in a room. It is important to not stick to one time period while you are decorating, choosing different classic styles with more modern approaches that showcase your personality. Blend flea market finds with contemporary furniture in bold splashes of color that offset a variety of art and books.
Just keep in mind that French cottage decorating calls for a simple French country chandelier, like this one from Studio VC. French country never goes out of style; in fact, it’s an interior design choice that remains in vogue. For many, this kind of design represents the essence of timeless style. A French country home celebrates rustic elegance; here, everything feels graceful, welcoming, and relaxed. We've been talking about how the Farmhouse trend has been evolving for quite some time.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a casual centerpiece or a scattering of bud vases as long as you have fresh flowers on the table. Red is one more color that appears in all kinds of French country homes from cottages to farmhouses and chalets. You’ll note the muted reds on linens and upholstery and on the occasional rooster emblem of the French countryside. Creamy shades of white feature prominently everywhere from window treatments to painted furniture and wall colors.
The French-style interior design has been constantly changing and evolving over the entire history of France with a formidable character. Read more to find out some of the most inspiring French interior designs that are doing the rounds. Don't sweat it, you can always add a big, antique mirror to the mix. We love how designer Ashley Montgomery incorporated this vintage option into an otherwise modern living area. French provincial furniture is a touch more formal with added embellishments than French country style, and its history explains why. French provincial furniture was created in the 18th century for wealthy families living in the French provinces as more affordable adaptations of the luxurious Rococo-style pieces made for the monarchy.
