Ideas for French Country Decorating

French country decorating is a very popular style for homes right now. French country décor is inviting and elegant. Here are some guidelines on how to add the French country look to your home.

Colors:

French country hues include mustard, butter yellow, celadon (a light olive color), salmon, cornflower blue, sunny yellow, soft gold, fiery red, burnt rust, bright grass green, dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones. To define pieces and give a strong base to all these beautiful colors, black and dull grays are used often.

Floors, Ceilings and Architectural Features

• In the kitchen and entryway aged terra cotta tiles, natural stone or even brick will create a French country look.
• Exposed beams in the ceiling also add to the country feel.
• A stone fireplace with a wooden beam mantle is also a common element in French Country decorating. The hearth should be made of clay or brick.
• Plaster walls roughly stained or painted are also a must.
• Windowsills are deep and windows are usually tall and narrow. Shutters are usually used, and growing vines are planted around windows and doors to accent and give added charm to the look.

Furniture:

• Wrought iron and metal furniture and light fixtures
• Dining tables are usually rectangle or round with a low sheen finish to make it look more like raw wood.
• Dining table chairs are usually ladderback style or have vertical slats with a small amount of carved details.
• Armoires are common in many rooms to store clothing, linens and tableware.

Fabrics and Patterns:

• Traditional French motifs are roosters, olives, sunflowers, grapes, beetles and lavender.
• Toile is also widely used. It is a design where the background is white, yellow or cream and a large motif in one contrasting color is in the foreground. Toile patterns traditionally include farm animals, Chinese patterns, country scenes, monkeys, and 18th century courting scenes. Toile is usually found on linen or cotton fabrics.
• Wispy lace curtains are also common, especially in a room painted in a deep hue.

Accents and Accessory Pieces:

• Woven or wire baskets
• Colorful ceramics and tiles
• Carved wood
• Chinoiserie pottery
• Pieces made of natural grasses
• Flowers in baskets, pitchers, copper pots and vases
• Window boxes overflowing with brightly colored flowers including geraniums and lavender.
• Pottery usually decorates the kitchen table, not fine china
• Old colorful paintings
• Iron candleholders
• Wrought iron wall hangings