Ever heard of French country interior design? The French country style is a timeless look that’s associated with rustic homes and farmhouses. The best French country interiors have a homey feel, but they’re also comfortable, inviting, uncluttered and warm. Let’s dive into how you could achieve this look in your home!
Image courtesy of Anita Joyce /Architectural Digest
As a starting point, let’s explore colours. Benjamin Moore has a very helpful French country paint colour palette that I have found to be very helpful. Here’s a glimpse:
As they recommend, you can achieve the French country look by layering weathered and natural materials and fabrics with more laid-back accents. Neutrals, like Atrium White OC-145 and Clay Beige OC-11, create an understated French feel. Many of the hues associated with French country styling lend a soft, muted quality that nods to an overall vintage feel. “In the eyes of French people, French country is about a relaxed, rustic style,” says Julia Fanina, Showroom Manager of Benjamin Moore Showroom Paris at Favori Décor. “The colors that evoke French country style are pale and warm colors to emphasize the beauty of vintage furniture, as well as spring colors—but not saturated ones—that evoke the blue sky, the sea, the southern sun and the smell of Provençal herbs. Colors are meticulously chosen to stimulate memories of sights and smells.”
Now that our colour palette is organized, we can move on to the fun stuff – decorating! The easiest way to begin incorporating this style in your home is to mix up your materials for texture and contrast. To create visual interest, use a variety of different types of wood, metal, glass, ceramic and stone in your decorating scheme.
For example:
- Use different colours or patterns to add visual interest to the room (such as stripes on pillows or wallpaper).
- Mix materials from different sources (for example an old chair with new pillows). This is especially effective when using vintage items that have character but may not match perfectly with each other because they’re so unique!
Go for furniture that makes the space feel cozy: think mismatched easy chairs in a country French living room, soft linens, and time-worn pieces that only get better with age. Consider the hues and fabrics of French country furniture styles when planning your decor—textiles make excellent inspiration for wall paint colours, and vice versa.
Add in pottery and ceramics – this is a great way to showcase colour and pattern. Pottery can be used as a centrepiece in the dining room, or as a decorative piece on a shelf in the kitchen.
Further exploring your kitchen design, patterned tiles are a natural choice for a kitchen backsplash that will look right at home in any French country home. They’re easy to clean and durable, adding texture and color to your kitchen without taking up too much visual space. If you love the look of these tiles, they can also be used in other rooms throughout your home. If you want to add interest to your kitchen, consider using smaller items like ramekins or glassware instead of larger pieces like platters or serving bowls whenever possible. Smaller pieces are more versatile and can be used for serving, storing and decorating. They’re also easier to clean and store. Finally, small serving dishes tend to be less expensive than their larger counterparts!
The best French country interior design is comfortable, inviting, uncluttered and warm. It’s about finding the right balance between rustic charm and modern touches. It’s about making your home feel like a home by adding a few personal touches here and there. And most importantly, it’s about using what you have in order to create something beautiful!