What Is French-Country Style?: Your Guide to French-Country Decor
Soft sophistication meets country charm.
French-country style pays homage to the subtle luxury of the French countryside. Keep reading to learn more about French country and exactly how to incorporate it into your home.
What Is French-Country Style?
French-country style combines rustic and refined elements to create inviting spaces. Here are the key characteristics that define this design style:
- A balance of down-to-earth elements and elegant accents.
- Weathered finishes, exposed wood, wrought iron, and plush upholstery.
- Ornate furniture shapes juxtaposed with simple wall paneling.
- Textile details like ruffles and lace, patterns including pinstripes and toile, and tufted upholstery.
- Vintage-inspired accent pieces.
- Decor with botanical influences, especially full floral bouquets.
Tip!
Wondering how French-country decor differs from country-cottage style? Browse our Ultimate Guide to Country-Cottage Style: Country Decorating Ideas to explore both options and determine which is the best fit for your home.
How to Achieve French-Country Style
1. Go for a Muted Color Palette
Whites and neutrals are classic French-country colors. Make these shades the base of your French-country home by choosing subdued wall colors, headboards, or comforters. Then, incorporate subtle pops of color like pastel pinks and blues by adding a patterned area rug or throw pillows.
Wood and wrought iron are key to achieving a rustic feel in any French-country space. Use wood coffee tables or chairs as statement pieces or incorporate picture frames as subtle wooden accents – choose frames with curved edges and ornate detailing to achieve a classic French-country look. Take this aesthetic a step further with wrought iron elements, like the chandelier featured above. Look for light fixtures with swooping swirl designs to achieve French-country elegance.
Tip!
Looking for Timeless & Classic Ideas for French Country Living Rooms? Our comprehensive guide has you covered.
3. Select French-Country Decor
French-country spaces are decorated with a combination of rustic and refined pieces. To achieve this aesthetic, look for vintage-inspired decorations like the bust sculpture, botanical poster, and patterned armoire featured above. Pair these pieces with upholstered chairs or wooden storage cabinets for a natural feel – when decorating, avoid sleek lines, high-gloss finishes, and abstract shapes, all of which create a modern aesthetic that detracts from the French-country magic.
Tip!
Check out our guide 20 Chic & Easy French-Country Decorating Ideas for all the decorating inspiration you'll need.
4. Highlight French-Country Architecture
Though traditional French-country homes are characterized by lavish features like romantic arches, high ceilings, and tall windows, the beauty of this style is that it can be adopted in almost any space. Consider applying shiplap wall paneling to your walls and additional panes to your windows (in the form of windowpane inserts) to add rustic texture to your abode. Hardwood flooring of almost any tone is another simple way to achieve the natural simplicity of French-country style.
