French Country Decor, A Home Decor Style That Never Goes Out of Style

The French Country style is a home decor style that has stood the test of time.  It is a look that many people find charming, whether it is inspired by the beautiful country home estates in France, or just simply country living, good friends and good food. And with the convenience of Internet shopping via home decor catalogs, you can enjoy the beauty and warmth of French Country Decor in your home.

Much of French Country decor is found very prominently in today’s contemporary home decor, including country french furniture, french windows and french doors, and the ever beautiful french country kitchen.

French doors not only create a beautiful atmosphere, but they are also very inviting.  Dating all the way back to the 1600s, the Renaissance period brought us these wonders that brought more light into your room while remaining a practical doorway.

Many have described their fondness for french country designs because its rustic home decor provides a tranquil place, surrounded by the soft tones of natural things.

You Can Achieve A French Country Look | Elements of Design in French Country Decor

Some of the designs that fall into the french country decorating include a French Country Kitchen, french country wall decor, bedding in country french design, country french furniture and of course, even french doors and windows.

You can get many kitchen decorating ideas from viewing pictures of some of the beautiful French country homes.

One popular french country design is the use of wall hangings.  These can include needlepoint work, quilts, and other objects crafted by folks with no particular interior design training.

When it comes to the color palette, French colors are subtle and soothing.  They bring character and depth to a room, but they are complimentary to the other french decor designs of the room.

Although you may see some various shades of white, you are more likely to see colors like gray or even a pink or peach contrast to a solid color, which brings out the warm and soothing feeling. Even various shades of yellow are in favor for French home decor.  You will also find some blue shades as well as green colors, but in French country decor, these are more likely to be soft pastel and subtle.

Interior designs in French country decor can be predominately fabrics.  Even in French country kitchen decor, you will find fabrics as an integral part of the look and feel of French country designs.

It’s very common to see vintage textiles used in the French countryside. There are traditional quilts called “Boutis”, which decorate many a french home.

Boutis quilts in French country decor

They have been elevated from bedroom or bed use and today
they can be found as fine table cloth or even covers for sofas, chairs or other country French furniture.

Along the lines of fabrics, old linen textiles are a hot item in French country decor. Besides their original use as sheets, they are often used as bed covering as well as lightweight curtains.

French designs from the 17th through the 19th centuries are still used today.  These French designs run the gambit from unique and precise geometrical patterns to various types of colored stripes of varying widths.

One traditional design is the “toile de Jouy”, which may include pastoral scenes, chinoiserie fantasies or even military victories.

/toile-de-Jouy-comforter

Some French Country Accents For Your Room

When it comes to French country furniture, most of it is either polished wood or painted.  The more elaborate pieces include carvings or paintings.

One of the most popular furniture pieces of French decor is the armoire . This is one very functional piece of French furniture that literally can be used anywhere.

You’ll even find armoires in many fine hotels, but in the French country homes, you’ll even find them in the kitchen for storage.

Another piece you may find in  your French country kitchen is a “buffet a deux corps”.  This design looks like a cupboard, but it also includes
an upper shelving area that is an open area.

French lighting in most country decors uses sconces on the walls. They can be enhanced by draping strings of crystal or glass. Chandeliers are also very commonly used, and they can be made of metal adorned with looped garlands or hanging crystal.

You cannot have the total French decor experience without the use of some oversized mirrors, and often you’ll find them in nearly all rooms.  The more popular French mirror will have thick gilded frames and comd in a variety of shapes and sizes.

French country decorating would not be complete without some flooring.  Mostly made of natural materials, you will find a variety of flooring ideas for your French country home decor, including Terra-cotta tiles, glazed or unglazed, they also add warmth and make a room inviting.

Many french homes have brick tiles, and they often come in an irregular shape due to their hand-made origins.

Stone is also used to give that worn but welcome feeling.  Alothough french country rugs are not that common, you will find them much more frequently than wall-to-wall carpeting, which would just about ruin your French country decor.