Country French Decorating

Country French Decorating is popular all over the world. Its fresh casual elegance looks great and feels comfortable. There are many reasons why it has such a broad appeal.

French Country Decor is Warm and Inviting

French country decor is warm and inviting. It gives a room a sunny quality. All the furnishings have simple grace. Furniture is usually painted.

Colors are from the full spectrum of the color wheel, remaining low to medium in intensity. No neon or bright primaries here!

Older furniture with a distressed appearance is perfect for French country design. Wrought iron or rusted metal are wonderful accents.

Shown here are some examples of fabrics used in country french decorating.

Fabrics are traditional in country French decorating, like toile which can be paired with plaids, solids or stripes. Let your imagination run free!

French country decorating is a perfect choice for any room from the living room to the bath. It can be done on a budget by scouring the thrift shops or your local 'freecycle' lists.

You can use distressed garden furniture, wrought iron towel racks, or lacy curtain panels. On old iron garden gate can make a perfect headboard for a bed. Mismatched chairs can be whitewashed and placed around a wrought iron table in the dining room.

Place garden trellises on the walls and use them to hold photos. Position distressed shelves, signs and candle sconces around the room. Set a plant or two on the shelves with leaves trailing down. Accents can be fresh flowers placed in tin canisters, French table clocks or photos framed in distressed whitewashed frames.

French Country Decorating Colors

Colors that are used frequently in French country decorating are set off by a white or cream background.

Pastels, gold accents, rusted metal, mustard, salmon pink, celadon and cornflower blue mix into a warm, inviting space. Sunny yellows, soft golds, hunter green and ocean tints are all suitable.

Anything that feels rural is fair game. Rooster, sunflower or nature motifs, farm tables, exposed beams and terra cotta pots all fit in nicely.

Give Furniture a Country French Decor Feel on a Budget

This antique dresser was easily freshened up while still allowing it show age. I just used a paint brush and applied a thin coat of the green color, letting the brush strokes appear. Floating the brush lightly over the cracks and 'dings' permits the dark base color to show through as well. Easy country French decor!!!

Paint a cabinet with a few coats of contrasting colors. Once each layer has dried and cured, use a bit of sandpaper and rub on corners, areas that would receive a lot of use and near handles to give a distressed, informal look. The different layers of color should show through.

Hang a piece of 'Frenchy' fabric out one of the drawers, and Viola (that's French too) ~ a quick (and CHEAP) country French accent piece!!

Hang your pots and pans in the kitchen from a suspended wrought iron rack. Use glass jars or ceramic canisters (see below) to hold kitchen staples. Stone or brick walls and wooden floors make a wonderful impact.

I love my canisters!

An armoire makes an excellent storage spot for towels, linens and tableware. Cover the floor with an old fashioned painted cloth or rag rug if you don't wish to leave it bare. Grow vines around your windows.

Use woven baskets to store items on shelves, on the floor or anywhere you need to keep things handy.

Pottery can be used to decorate or to fulfill practical purposes. Patterned cloths can adorn tables of all sizes and shapes for added texture and color.

French Country Interior Decorating Exudes Warmth and Hospitality

Before you know it, your French country interior decorating will all come together. Your home will exude comfort, hospitality and warmth to anyone who steps inside.

Enjoy Your Country French Decorating!!

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