French Country Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Decorating a home can be accomplished in many styles, but a style that is quaint is the one that has a touch of the rural French.
Home decor compromising of either French decorating or French Country decorating has variety, charm and subtle shades of texture and color.
Attention to details is the hallmark of the French style; the kind of style that can be seen in French towns in the delightful and charming countryside.
One great French country decorating idea is to think small. Consider small buttons, petite beads, vintage photographs preferably in miniature frames, basketry and ribbons.
These are trinkets that you might come across in a unassuming French farmhouse; laid out in an array of resplendent colors that you can imitate in your own home; a far cry from the formal French Provincial style of magnificent chandeliers.
Another useful French country decorating idea to keep in mind is color embelishes everything it touches. Typical French decor does not confine itself to just a single color or a particular color scheme.
The choice of muted shades, not pale and washed out, but looking as if they have seen seasons of sunshine and rain are eminently suitable as French decorating colors. Another great French country decorating idea is to use colors such as sage blue, cornflower blue - which represent the countryside.
If you prefer more darker shades, brick red and chocolate browns are good choices.
French Rural, Rustic and Rich Colors
Since the French style - the name being associated with rural Provence - represents pastoral France, the furniture are also characteristically rural with rustic structures and rich colors.
The floor is typically of solid wood and a sense of comfort is instilled into the room by the addition of soft rugs in quiet shades. Patterns for draperies, pillow covers and slipcovers may be drawn from a wide array of floral or the tranquil French sceneries.
One great French country decorating idea to keep in mind is that wall art can change the atmosphere of a room. And French wall art is no exception.
Just imagine for a moment an amazingly impressive picture of a French farmhouse, a scene of a French town featuring the bakery and some cafe or a French water garden above the mantle.
Prints or paintings portraying such scenic beauties of France will not be difficult to purchase. Other wall art articles could include vintage postcards properly framed. Even posters of theatre performances could liven up your family room.
Pictures are not the only articles that bring life to your rooms.
Consider additional French country decorating ideas: Pewter sconces (light fixtures) sporting candles, bouquets of dried flowers attached together with ribbons and hanging lamps with fringed lampshades can also articulate the style you have in mind.
It is left to your imagination, your creativity and your love of beauty and the pains you take to search and acquire French articles that is going to make your home convey an atmosphere of the rural French countryside.
Wherever possible, showcase objects that are distinctly French - even down to the label. Small touches and subtle details can go a long way. An empty tin of French chocolates containing some French fruits on the dining table can accentuate the French connection. An old French cabinet with old French books in the drawing room will impress your guests.
Using some of our French country decorating ideas, you can incorporate your own style into that of the French, which is broad enough to blend together with. It is your love of beauty, your imagination, your creativity and the pains you take to search and acquire.
