French country interior decorating style emerges from more formal, traditional styles that had their origins in the cities and courts of France approximately three centuries ago. Craftsmen who were now free from the strict dictates and demands that governed furniture making in the major city centers began to use local woods and other materials. Furniture became less ornate and lighter both in substance and in feel. Woods were commonly painted white or even in pastel washes with hand-painted accents or stenciling using fruit or floral motifs. Natural materials, such as terra-cotta and marble, gained popularity as materials for tabletops or decorative accents. Cane was another much-used natural element, especially for the backs of chairs. French country style has a refined, sophisticated feel with just the right touch of rustic.
Paint the walls French countryside colors (from Sherwin-Williams) like cream, antique white, soft yellow or pastel blue. Add a wallpaper border or stenciled border with a French country motif like birds, orchard fruits grape vines or flowers. You can also choose to paper one or two walls with toile-like patterned wallpaper for a more formal French country look.
Another popular construction material incorporated into French Country style is wrought iron. Metal paired with wood gives the Fashion Bed Group Monaco Metal Poster Bed a rustic charm that is warm and relaxing.
Of course a wood bed made of pine, cherry or some other type of regional wood would be a perfectly acceptable choice when decorating a bedroom in a French country style.
When dressing the windows and the bed, think of fabrics like toile, gingham, striped cottons and even denim. Make sure that you include plenty of pillows and accent cushions.
And don’t forget floral prints: a duvet cover like the Daniadown Flora Sand Duvet Cover combined with matching colored sheets and accent pillows would be ideal for a more elegant French country look.
Side tables, bedside tables and lingerie chests typically might be set on a wrought iron frame with metalwork scrolled legs or heavy, oversized drawer handles or door pulls. Wood tabletops, dressers and chests of drawers will often have distressed finishes.
A side table like the Magnussen Accent Express Collection White Provence Round Accent Table could be placed by the Natart Verona Chair in French White and Silver to create a comfortable place to sit and read or even put on shoes.
The Greenbriar Master 15 Drawer Tripple Dresser in Brown Cherry lends an old world charm to your bedroom. It has classic brass finish bail drawer handles and drawer pulls, bracket feet and reeded pilasters.
The classic bun feet, framed drawer fronts and decorative molding of the Wynwood Hampton Cove Bedside Commode are given a delightfully casual appearance by the addition of bead board side panels.
When furnishing a French country bedroom two absolute must-include furniture pieces are an armoire and a hand-carved mirror, whether cheval or wall mounted.
The Homelegance Madaleine Solid Hardwood Flat Panel/Plasma/LCD TV Armoire will not only provide you with much-needed additional storage, it will also help you maintain the timeless feel of your French country bedroom by hiding the television from view when it’s not in use.
The Avanity Provence Mirror has a leaf motif that fits in perfectly with a French country styled bedroom. Because of its round pilasters and a rich, dark finish that emphasizes the mirrors stylized lines, it is more suited to a formal French country interior design.
If you prefer a full length mirror, the Powell Furniture Heirloom Cherry Cheval Floor Mirror is ideal for a French Country master bedroom. Beautifully designed, this floor length cheval mirror has a brass plated metal accent that gives it that special rustic chic.
A common decorative element of French country case goods like lingerie chests, armoires and jewelry armoires is hand-painted detailing. The enchanting floral pattern and the antique white finish of the Coaster Regal Floral Jewelry Armoire have the look of a well-loved heirloom.
