With over 300 years of history, design inspired by the French countryside continues to prove its timeless elegance
Rooted in a rustic, warm base dressed with refined, elegant accents, French country decor offers the best of both worlds: a comfortable, lived-in home that’s undeniably luxurious too.
Though often described as a close relative of farmhouse style, country French decor still has its own aesthetic DNA.
French country decor is “a relaxed take on Provence style, with a mix of rustic and refined elements.” the aesthetic is inspired by the effortless, simplistic beauty of both the French countryside itself and the lifestyle that those who live in the region often embody.
“It uses natural elements mixed with authentic French antiques, a refined elegance where embellishments are tempered by natural elements and relaxed comfort.”
“Picture if I were a gal living in Paris in a beautiful apartment, and I’ve been collecting these beautiful antiques, silk-covered bergères, gilt lamps, and antique commodes, and then one day, I decided to move out to the countryside, buy a farmhouse, and restore it.” Verma says. “I take all of my beautiful antiques and I mix them into this very rustic home and a lifestyle where I’m dragging my boots with mud on them inside of my home. That’s the look, all in one home.”
Intricate carving and painted wood, as seen on these chairs and buffet, is a common element of French country decor.
What is the difference between farmhouse and French country?
While there are notable similarities between farmhouse style and French country decor, there are also many distinguishable differences. Perhaps the most obvious connection is their shared emphasis on rustic, homespun features.
All of the rustic elements are very similar,” says Joyce. Both have old-world roots, but while a French country home is—obviously—inspired by the French countryside, farmhouse style is often inspired by American farms.
dinning room, rustic elements, like a farmhouse-style table, meet daintier accents, like the chandelier.
While not exclusively true—and there are certainly overlaps—locales outside of large metropolitan areas in France often inspire images of rolling hills, cottages covered in climbing vines, and fields of colorful wildflowers. Farms—though again, not always true—are often allied with barns, fields of crops, and the stereotypical style of a farmer, things like denim, plaid, or even cowboy boots.
While both of these foundations influence the more rustic nature of these two design styles—think beamed ceilings and the use of natural materials—modern farmhouse style is often more utilitarian, with sharper lines and a more casual look. You’ll often find heavier materials like brass or steel and elements like shiplap, reminiscent of barns, in this style of home. Country French style, on the other hand, uses this same baseline, but adds in daintier elements. “I think you could take a farmhouse room and throw in some French furniture and some antiques and then you would have French countryside, But you’ve got to add in the refined elements and flourishments to the casual foundation.” understanding the history of French country decor can provide further context to what the style actually is, and how it compares farmhouse style. “It really boils down to the decade,”
History of French country decor
Back in the 1700s, France was ruled by King Louis XV, whose monarchy, intentionally or not, greatly influenced the French country style we know today. “Through the Napoleonic and even after, all of the interior design is influenced by the monarchy,” Verma explains. During his rule, “he enjoyed taking his court to the countryside and enjoying many of the leisurely pursuits of life,” she says. Of course, this helps contextualize why—and how—French country style honors both a rustic aesthetic and an elegant one. From this time, this is where everything we know and love about the French country is born.
At the same time, the United States was a considerably younger country and didn’t gain its independence from England until the late 1700s. As such, the more leisurely pursuits of life weren’t the top priority. “So farmhouses were much more utilitarian, with simple, straighter lines and more vernacular design, meaning you just use whatever you have around you to create your structures and your furniture.”
It’s worth noting that French country decor doesn’t necessarily “exist” in France. “They just call it farmhouse,” Verma says. The specific name is often understood as a reflection of the United States trying to emulate this country lifestyle. As Joyce recalls, it first started to gain traction in the US around the ’70s, though it was a simplistic view of that culture. “For lack of a better word, it wasn’t very refined,” she says. “I wouldn’t call it super authentic.” However, in the ’90s, Charles Faudree reintroduced the style in a whole new way. “He’s Mr. Country French,” Joyce says. “He used all of these authentic elements, and I feel like he really kicked it up a notch.” While Faudree perhaps took a more formal approach to the decorating style, as it evolved over the years, practitioners started to embrace the more casual elements of the style, but with touches of the authentic, refined look Faudree introduced. “I would say the updated version now has less color and more muted tones with simplistic patterns.”
Defining elements and characteristics of French country decor
CHANDELIER, CHAIR sEAT cOVERS, ANTIQUE CANDLE HOLDERS, ANTIQUE BLUE AND WHITE VESSEL FOR FLOWERS, BUFFET LAMPS, BLUE HAZE BOTTLES AND ANTIQUE MIRROR.
French country is very soft in its details: furniture lines are more delicate, the scale is smaller, pieces take on more feminine shapes, you see curves.” While not an exhaustive list, French country style homes often include the following elements:
- Vintage French furniture, which often features intricate carving, cabriole legs, and is distressed or painted with whitewashed or chalk paint. Consider sourcing antique:
- Dining chairs
- Hutches
- Armoirs
- Couches
- Patterns such as:
- Toile
- Gingham
- Stripes
- Plaid
- Florals
Elegant accents such as:
- Chandeliers
- Ornate wall scones
- Decorative candlesticks
- Muted color palettes like warm yellows, creams, light blue, or soft greens
- Natural elements like wood beams
If you’re looking to craft French country interiors in your home, consider the following French country decor ideas
French country kitchen
Crystal chandeliers provide a more elegant touch
French country dining room
French country living room
French country bathroom
How to bring French country decor into your home
If French country design feels like the right move for you, Verma and Joyce have tips for helping you achieve the aesthetic. “You’ve got to have French furniture, because that's really the defining element,” says Joyce. She recommends looking for these staples on eBay or other resale websites and local antique shops. She also advises others to look for solid wood pieces with intricate carving, as these embellishments will ensure the country furniture appears true to the era. “Once you have that base, then you can play around a little bit and decide how much you want to stick with the style and how much you want to mix in more contemporary modern elements.”
Aside the country furniture, it’s important to incorporate a mix of patterns through textiles. “Generally speaking, people are often afraid to use pattern, but that’s very French country,” Verma explains. She recommends having “at least patterned pillows,” though in a full French country home, you’d likely see patterned sofas or side chairs too. Consider throw pillows in a toile fabric, which can immediately add an air of elegance to a space, or a gingham tablecloth, for example, which could play up some of the more rustic elements of the design style. Patterned window treatments are also welcome. For wall decor, the designers recommend embellishments such as vintage clocks or landscape oil paintings. “If you want something really authentic, French dishes and monogram linens are beautiful touches,” Joyce adds.
Is French Country STILL IN STYLE?
A vintage chair and buffet in a French country room
Though perhaps overshadowed at times by a classic farmhouse, a French country farmhouse is still very much in style. Outfitted with a modern base and ornamented with antique touches, the style crafts a distinctly timeless feel. Of course, when it comes to any home style, it’s always best to embrace the aesthetic that makes you the happiest, not whatever is the trendiest. For those who love a mix of refined decor and rustic comfort, a French country cottage could be just the thing. As Joyce says, “For me, I just think it’s so beautiful. It just feels like a warm hug; I feel like your house should embrace you when you walk in, and this style does that.”
this is a floor plan of a Foyer with a buffet and rocking chair.
as you can see, one wall is completely empty. this happens quite frequently because you still have 4 walls in a small area and can fit just so much furniture. so i've come up with an additional solution for this. maybe hang a large mirror, like a french tremeau mirror, or a large piece of art?
if you'd like, you could even add an armoire to possibly hold coats & hats? buy one with nothing behind the two doors because this is where you can add a rod going from side to side.
if you have other ideas for this space, i'd love to hear about them.
Make sure that your livingroom is inviting. position your sofa so you can see if someone is entering. From here, position the rest of your furniture following the sofa's new home.
Your furniture should be extra comfy with vintage side tables and coffee table being painted and heavily distressed.
having some sort of a storage cabinet in your living area is perfect for all the extra's floating around, including blankets and throw pillows.
kitchen or dingroom
Your eating area should be just as cozy, relying on the chairs and space around each chair. remember that any chair can be upholstered.
First, find a dining table only. I love incorporating 2nd hand furniture into my home, so hopefully this can apply to you too. i think you'll be surprised on what you can find, like the table below.
Sorry. i didn't see the curvy wood, but other than that, this could be a perfect table for you. i love these chairs with their rush seating.
i say to purchase the table first because this is all you should be thinking about.
Think about adding a vintage hutch, preferrably smaller. i say smaller because there hard to find, especially vintage one's, making them extra special.
now you can start thinking about what type of chairs you'd like to have. there are several types of chairs that work beautifully in a french country home.
painting the chairs you've chosen is an excellent idea, white with a heavy distress finish.
i have a set of 6 chairs like the white distressed one with a cane back. i didn't paint mine white, but rather my own tecnique. i'll be sure to share them once i'm finished with them.
bathroom
your bathrooms. here is where you have a very limited amount of space, so use it wisely. aside from the shower, toilet and vanity, think about the space you have left. maybe you'd like to think about the mirror above the vanity? use your immagination. maybe you'd like 1 larger vintage mirror, or 2 smaller vintage mirrors? at this point, don't think about a medicine cabinet quite yet, your vanity should be able to hold these types of items. think about changing the faucet. maybe you'd like a brush gold one to balance the feel of the new mirror?
also think about the space above the toilet. did you know that you can hang a specific type of cabinet? just measure the width behind the toilet. you have plenty of room to decide on the height. you'll hang it securely with wood screws. maybe get someone to help you hang this.
bedroom
your bedroom is your sanctuary! Your bed should be wood, a substantial piece. again look towards 2nd hand furniture, maybe you'll find one that is plain so you can add different architectual pieces. i say this because i'm sure you've seen lots of beds just like this. after buying your bed, think about painting it white with heavy distressing.
you'll also want to consider what type of dressers you'd like. the tall dressers where typically for men. this type of dresser can be easily found because no one is using them anymore. people are leaning towards low dressers that are smaller in size, even for men.
the night stands are the last you'll think about. full bedroom sets should be a thing of the past because so many people like to choose each piece on there own. Your night stands could be side tables. just look for wood tables.
i stay away from new furniture because i love vintage and because all new furniture is made of plywood, chip board, fiber board, and mdf. furniture is made with these materials to keep them cheap and very light. i, personally don't touch new furniture because of this. i prefer furniture that's heavy and solid.
this is all the furniture you need to think about. i'll create a different blog to share how to accessorize.
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Tags french country, french country cottage, furniture
thank you so much for being here. i hope we'll share even more very soon.
