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When we think of French country style we imagine lavender fields and bright sunshine. Although there are elements that contribute to the French Country style, the final look is always rustic and welcoming.

This interior style has a warm and casual feel that will fit beautifully into your home just as much as in a castle. Combining some of these elements, you’re bound to have a wonderful French Country interior. C’est Bon!

Design

The materials used in French Country style often create eye-catching architectural features. Elements like stone walls and floors, raw wood distressed ceiling beams and timbers, and irregular plaster walls form the look of a home decorated in this style.

Furniture has curved panels, hand-carved decorations, and raw wood. The French Country style is completed with armoires to store pots and pans, clothing, linens, or tableware.

A large dining table is one common element in the French country style. It must have a dull waxed or low-sheen finish. Dining and occasional chairs have curved and carved details. 

The most common rustic flooring is of stone, clay, or brick but old wooden boards work well, too as the focus is on old and charming.

The wooden shutters on the windows keep the hot sun out in the summer. 

Colors

The color palette used in the French Country style contains the full spectrum of the color wheel. Sunny yellow, soft gold, red and burnt rust, grass green and dark hunter green,

cobalt blue and soft ocean tones, you name it!

Those bright colors are contrasted by black and grays. Rusted metal furniture brings warmth and wonderful lines as well. Pale shades on the plaster walls and ceilings contrast with dark rough wood beams. 

Materials and Textures

Natural materials are important in French Country style decorating. Walls and ceilings are roughly stained or painted plaster walls. They are usually heftily beamed. Natural stone floors are covered with wool or cotton rugs to bring warmth and coziness to space.

A stone fireplace is essential for French Country homes. A distinguishing element is a heavy beam at the top. It serves as a mantle and either stone or ceramic tiles form the border. The hearth is clay or brick with copper pots. Iron accessory pieces hang on the side walls.

The prints on the fabrics combine shades of primary colors with greens, lavender, and bright orange.

Toile

is a traditional French fabric meaning “linen cloth” or “canvas”. It has a white, cream, or yellow base color with large motifs in a single contrasting color. Toile themes include farm animals, Chinese patterns, bucolic country scenes, or courting scenes of the 18th century. Toile patterns are usually printed on linen or cotton.

Decor

The decor items in a French Country room are very inspiring. Generous woven or wire baskets,  carved wood pieces, colorful ceramics and tiles, and natural grasses are commonly used in this style. 

Everywhere you can see lush natural flowers! They are beautifully arranged in baskets, copper pots, or clear glass vases. This brings the wonderful colors and textures of nature into your home.

It is the colorful and muted pottery which is mostly used in the French Country table, not fine china.

All images by Pinterest

 

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In our next article, we will take a deep look at the Bohemian style.