Drawing inspiration from the charm and lifestyle of the French countryside, French country decor beautifully blends rustic elements with elegance. This classic style, which emerged in the 17th century, continues to be favored in contemporary design. We consulted with design professionals to uncover essential insights about French country decor and tips for incorporating it into your home.
Contents
Encounter the Specialist
- Keely Smith serves as the principal interior design expert at JD Elite Interiors.
- Lori Shaw serves as the founder and lead designer of Lori Shaw Interiors.
What defines the French Country style?
French country style embodies a blend of rustic charm and sophisticated decor, drawing inspiration from the homes found in the rural regions of France. This aesthetic features vintage furniture, intricate details, aged finishes, warm neutral tones, rustic motifs, and gentle hues. The overall effect is a look that is both eternally elegant and invitingly cozy.
This decorating style, rooted in country aesthetics, is frequently mistaken for other similar styles like French provincial, farmhouse, and shabby chic.
What distinguishes it from comparable styles is its equilibrium, explains Keely Smith, the head interior design expert at JD Elite Interiors. It strikes the right note, avoiding the overly rustic and rugged feel of farmhouse design, as well as the excessively worn and distressed look of shabby chic. Instead, it possesses a sophisticated elegance that feels pleasant without being excessively extravagant.
French Country and French Provincial styles.
French country decor emphasizes a blend of rustic charm and sophistication, whereas French provincial style is characterized by a more polished and elegant appearance. Elements like deep hues, striking patterns, and golden details from the provincial style can be seamlessly integrated into the French country aesthetic.
French Country and Farmhouse Styles
French country decor is influenced by the charm of rural France, with its roots in the farmhouse style that reflects the look of classic American farms. The distinctions between these regional designs are quite apparent. While French country style incorporates a hint of Parisian sophistication, farmhouse decor focuses on creating cozy, open environments that are enriched with natural materials and elements.
French Country and Shabby Chic Styles
Shabby chic is often viewed as a subset of the French country aesthetic, though the two styles are commonly mistaken for each other. The term gained prominence as a unique design style thanks to interior designer Rachel Ashwell, who established the home furnishings brand Shabby Chic in the 1980s.
The primary distinction between shabby chic and French country styles lies in their overall ambianceshabby chic embodies a casual, weathered charm, while French country emphasizes sophistication and elegance.
The Evolution of French Country Aesthetics
The French country style emerged in the early 18th century during the reign of King Louis XV. It is said that the king frequently transported courtiers to the countryside for recreational activities, thereby introducing a blend of royal elegance and rustic charm that became a prominent trend of the time.
More than two hundred years later, elements of this architectural style began to emerge in the United States. After World War I, soldiers returning from the French countryside brought back an appreciation for the French country aesthetic, reminiscent of the grand manor homes in France. This style gained traction in the 1920s and experienced a revival in the 1970s.
When the 1990s arrived, designer Charles Faudree propelled the French country style into the forefront of American interiors. While the aesthetic has become somewhat more relaxed compared to Faudree’s initial concept, it continues to embody an air of sophistication.
Essential Features
To achieve the charm of French country decor in your home, there are several key elements that are crucial for capturing the style.
Vintage Decor Items
Vintage wooden furnishings are essential to this design aesthetic, especially items like accent chairs, dining tables, coffee tables, dressers, side tables, and armoires. These furnishings can either retain their natural appearance or be coated with a subtly worn finish to enhance a rustic vibe, with milk or chalk paint being ideal options. Light hues, particularly whites, are favored for painted finishes, while deep wood stains are preferred for pieces that remain unpainted.
Gentle, Cozy Hues
The shades associated with this style are located on the warm spectrum of the color wheel, featuring tones that range from medium to low intensity.
Consider using soft hues such as cream, blush, muted blues, and gentle greens, suggests Smith.
Avoid excessively bright or vivid colors.
Subtle Patterns
In the realm of French country decor, you’ll encounter a variety of patterns, including gingham, delicate florals, plaid, checks, and stripes. Yet, the essence of this style is truly captured by the iconic toile.
Toile de Jouy, commonly referred to as toile, is a classic design printed on cotton or linen textiles, commonly utilized for upholstery, curtains, table linens, and wallpaper. This pattern is distinguished by its recurring depiction of intricate, pastoral scenes rendered in a single soft hue against a white or beige backdrop.
Intricate Features
Intricate embellishments contribute to the sophisticated charm characteristic of French country style, often evident in the decor and lighting of the space. Common features include exquisite antique chandeliers, intricately designed glass or crystal vases, decorative containers, ornate gold picture frames, and graceful oil paintings, all of which enhance the ambiance of a French country room.
Organic Substances
Finally, incorporating natural elements is essential in French country design. Utilizing materials such as wood, metal, clay, linen, and arrangements of fresh flowers can effectively enhance the natural aesthetic of your French country setting.
Illustrations of French Country Aesthetic
French Provincial Bedroom
This French-country bedroom beautifully blends comfort with elegance. The upholstered headboard offers a more understated version of the Louis XIV style, enhanced by the combination of various textiles and the minimalist wooden nightstand. The addition of a wicker lamp and a luxurious tapestry throw pillow completes the aesthetic.
French Provincial Bathroom
This bathroom design prominently features French elegance, highlighted by the luxurious marble tiles and backsplash, along with the decorative wallpaper. The softer, more rustic touches are introduced through the brushed brass fixtures and the faux topiary placed in a charming jug to the left of the sink.
French-Inspired Country Living Room
A classic Louis XIV chair serves as the focal point of this living room, complemented by the fireplace that emphasizes the room’s luxurious vibe. The use of rustic wood and organic materials like wicker and clay adds warmth and softness. Meanwhile, the contemporary candelabra sconces introduce a refreshing touch.
French-Inspired Laundry Space
The combination of black and white tiles brings a touch of French sophistication to this laundry area. A pegboard serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose, while the botanical artwork and numerous wicker baskets exude a charming French vibe.
French Country-Inspired Children’s Bedroom
The cane accents and playful toile wallpaper create a warm and inviting atmosphere in this child’s room, embodying a charming French country aesthetic. Meanwhile, the bust sculpture, soft pastel rug, and elegant pink desk stool add a layer of refinement that distinguishes this space from a typical farmhouse design.
Rustic French Kitchen
This French-inspired country kitchen exudes sophistication with its crystal chandelier and vibrant floral arrangements, while the open shelving, rustic beams, and an assortment of wooden furniture maintain a strong connection to a traditional country style.
Suggestions for Design
To achieve the French country aesthetic, designers offer several professional insights.
Discard the idea of matching sets of items, advises Lori Shaw, the founder and lead designer of Lori Shaw Interiors. Instead, opt for a more curated, lived-in aesthetic by thoughtfully combining rustic and elegant elements throughout your environment.
For instance, combine gracefully aged items with sophisticated toile textiles, and incorporate shimmering metals alongside timeworn and faded tapestries.
It’s a balance of yin and yang, combining the raw with the refined, Shaw explains. While it may appear to be contrasting styles, when executed properly, each element feels like it naturally fits within the space.
Shaw advises against using vibrant and cool hues, contemporary forms, minimalist lines, and excessively cold materials like metal tables. These elements contrast sharply with the essence of French country style and will undoubtedly stand out awkwardly in your environment.
What defines the French country style?
French country decor draws inspiration from the charm and lifestyle of rural France, blending both rustic and elegant features. This style is often seen as a more rustic interpretation of the traditional French provincial aesthetic.
Is gingham associated with French country style?
Gingham is a favored design in French country decor. This pattern is often seen on cushions, throws, and upholstery, featuring gentle, subdued hues that add a charming country-inspired element.
Is French country experiencing a resurgence?
Although French country design has a history spanning over 300 years, its popularity has waned in recent years, giving way to newer trends like farmhouse style. However, it is now experiencing a resurgence, gaining popularity once again alongside other charming rustic aesthetics like cottagecore and shabby chic.
What design styles complement French country aesthetics most effectively?
French decor harmonizes beautifully with various classic or rustic styles, including French provincial, shabby chic, farmhouse, traditional, or English cottage. Alternatively, you can add a splash of vibrant Hollywood regency for a bold, eclectic maximalist aesthetic.
