How To Use French Country Decor In Your Home Design
French country decor is one of the most emulated and popular styles of interior decoration in the world. In part, this is due to its simplicity and charm. Although there are some examples of the decor available in auctions and estate sales, you can also put together the look of rural France by using quality reproductions.
Color is one characteristic of French rural decor. The colors make you think of sunlit meadows in full bloom with wildflowers. The favored colors are soft green, sunshine yellow, gold, rust, red and pink, blue and lavender is smaller amounts. The colors are nature based, and the designs you can put in your rooms can be floral as well. Nothing splashy or oversize is allowed, just the gentle colors and sizes of rural France.
If you have the funds to travel to rural France, you could purchase pieces and have them shipped elsewhere in the world. However the genuine pieces are often in a family for generations and are not readily available. You are more likely to find reproduction items in most home decorating sites. Occasionally, there is a good quality piece that comes into the marketplace in estate sales or auctions.
Fabric that is most often associated with French country style is toilet. The fabric often has a white background with floral print in a pattern that is repetitious. The fabric can also have an off white background. Wooden furniture can be left natural, matte or is often painted white. Decorations tend to be minimal, with no veneers or marquetry. The main contribution of furniture pieces in this style are armoires, ladder-back chairs, sideboards, hutches and carved buffets.
Furniture defined in the French provincial style often has gently curved lines or it may be straight. There are often hand carved panels with conservative depictions. Smooth wood has a rich patina and may be made of walnut, oak, mahogany or various fruit woods such as cherry and apple. Wood can be paired with fabric that has pastoral scenes or floral patterns. Pictures are rural images including country folk and natural scenery.
In addition to the furniture pieces, you can make use of small accessory pieces to add the hint of rural France to your furnishings. The shelves you use should be whitewashed wood. Crown moldings will add to the ambiance. On the shelves, you can add things like etched glass containers that will hold fresh flowers. Small white or black clocks with gold highlights are popular.
White walls provide the best place to showcase provincial French items. Use chipped wall sconces for a rural look. A trellis painted in antique gold colors makes a wonderful place to tack vintage photos in black and white. You may also use antique picture frames to hold photos or antique postcards.
The French country decor had its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. You can still take advantage of reproductions and look-alike furniture in order to get the same look. Regardless of the room that you decorate, there are many items, large and small, that will give you the look without the high cost of true pieces. Look online for examples and directions for obtaining the look of rural France.
