Decorating Guides
So Your Style Is: French Country
With an artful balance between earthy and chic, French country style infuses a home with incomparable warmth and welcome
What it is: Just like it sounds, French country style springs from the gentle hills and valleys of rural France. It’s an unstudied, collected approach, built on firmly entrenched local traditions and on cherished objects handed down through generations. Simple and sincere yet effortlessly elegant, it satisfies the soul as much as the eye.
Why it works: The French tend toward an inborn sense of taste and refinement that keeps this unassuming style from feeling pedestrian. Guided by instinct and a knack for striking a balance, French country décor always finds its center, no matter how many disparate elements you throw into the mix. It marries an old-world sensibility with an edge of sophistication that keeps it perennially fresh.
You’ll love it if … All of your bath products are lavender scented. You love getting your hands dirty in the garden. You crave harmony and can’t stand discord. You think wine tastes better in a chunky tumbler than a dainty stem glass. Move over, Julia Child — you make the meanest coq au vin around.
More ‘So Your Style Is’:
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Art Deco | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | Cottage
Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Preppy
Why it works: The French tend toward an inborn sense of taste and refinement that keeps this unassuming style from feeling pedestrian. Guided by instinct and a knack for striking a balance, French country décor always finds its center, no matter how many disparate elements you throw into the mix. It marries an old-world sensibility with an edge of sophistication that keeps it perennially fresh.
You’ll love it if … All of your bath products are lavender scented. You love getting your hands dirty in the garden. You crave harmony and can’t stand discord. You think wine tastes better in a chunky tumbler than a dainty stem glass. Move over, Julia Child — you make the meanest coq au vin around.
More ‘So Your Style Is’:
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Art Deco | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | Cottage
Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Preppy
Style Secret: Flowers
Blurring the boundaries between inside and out is a cornerstone of life in France's rural regions (indeed, throughout the nation). Thus, no French country interior is complete without flowers, whether they're clustered in a pottery vase, blooming on linen upholstery or carved into a wooden mirror frame.
Fresh blossoms and foliage should look as though they could have come from a garden just outside the door, arranged casually and without affectation. Choose flowers that thrive in the regions where the style arose: sunflowers, irises, poppies.
New-world chic: The grouping on this breakfast table feels homey, cheerful and utterly welcoming. The jug of flowers is the star of the scene, with supporting players (a bowl of fruit, a rooster-bedecked pitcher) amplifying the impression of country living.
Blurring the boundaries between inside and out is a cornerstone of life in France's rural regions (indeed, throughout the nation). Thus, no French country interior is complete without flowers, whether they're clustered in a pottery vase, blooming on linen upholstery or carved into a wooden mirror frame.
Fresh blossoms and foliage should look as though they could have come from a garden just outside the door, arranged casually and without affectation. Choose flowers that thrive in the regions where the style arose: sunflowers, irises, poppies.
New-world chic: The grouping on this breakfast table feels homey, cheerful and utterly welcoming. The jug of flowers is the star of the scene, with supporting players (a bowl of fruit, a rooster-bedecked pitcher) amplifying the impression of country living.
Style Secret: Clear, Warm Colors
Whether they’re bright, deep or pastel, French country colors have a gentleness about them that translates to instant comfort. Whites are warm, not stark; think cream, ecru, ivory. Other colors pull directly from the landscape: dusty sages and lavenders, sunny yellows and sky blues, peony pinks and brick reds.
New-world chic: Essentially, this kitchen and dining area comprises a trio of primary colors. Yet the nuances in the palette take them into more sophisticated territory: creamy yellow, rich red, muted royal blue. Because the stronger colors are used only in small dabs, they don’t overtake the laid-back attitude of the space.
A design pro can help you select the perfect French country furniture and decor for your home
Whether they’re bright, deep or pastel, French country colors have a gentleness about them that translates to instant comfort. Whites are warm, not stark; think cream, ecru, ivory. Other colors pull directly from the landscape: dusty sages and lavenders, sunny yellows and sky blues, peony pinks and brick reds.
New-world chic: Essentially, this kitchen and dining area comprises a trio of primary colors. Yet the nuances in the palette take them into more sophisticated territory: creamy yellow, rich red, muted royal blue. Because the stronger colors are used only in small dabs, they don’t overtake the laid-back attitude of the space.
A design pro can help you select the perfect French country furniture and decor for your home
Style Secret: Accents With Purpose
Rarely will accessories in a French country room be purely decorative. They usually have an undertone of usefulness: wall-hung plates that can be pulled down for service, jugs and jars that house kitchen staples, baskets that corral plump produce from the garden. Open shelving is a natural partner for this look — everyday items enjoy pride of place rather than languishing behind cabinet doors.
New-world chic: The oversize candelabra on this table anchors the room yet also serves a purpose. It harks back to the days when candles and fires were the primary light source for the farmers and peasants of the French countryside. Although it holds its own with decorative swoops and swirls, its functionality keeps it from feeling pretentious.
Rarely will accessories in a French country room be purely decorative. They usually have an undertone of usefulness: wall-hung plates that can be pulled down for service, jugs and jars that house kitchen staples, baskets that corral plump produce from the garden. Open shelving is a natural partner for this look — everyday items enjoy pride of place rather than languishing behind cabinet doors.
New-world chic: The oversize candelabra on this table anchors the room yet also serves a purpose. It harks back to the days when candles and fires were the primary light source for the farmers and peasants of the French countryside. Although it holds its own with decorative swoops and swirls, its functionality keeps it from feeling pretentious.
Style Secret: Layered Fabrics
Just like the furnishings, French country fabrics create an artful, engaging potpourri. Toile is the quintessential print for this style, but toss in a few notes of gingham, stripes, florals and solids for a pleasing pastiche. Textural fabrics, such as linen, tapestry and matelassé, lend the tactile interest that the look demands. Stay away from formal textiles such as damask, which can feel too prim.
New-world chic: Two different toiles combine with oversize gingham checks in this airy bedroom, unified by the lavender palette (a nice nod to the lavender that blooms across French fields). The soft, swooping canopy adds just the right touch of drama and elegance.
Browse thousands of beautiful bedrooms
Just like the furnishings, French country fabrics create an artful, engaging potpourri. Toile is the quintessential print for this style, but toss in a few notes of gingham, stripes, florals and solids for a pleasing pastiche. Textural fabrics, such as linen, tapestry and matelassé, lend the tactile interest that the look demands. Stay away from formal textiles such as damask, which can feel too prim.
New-world chic: Two different toiles combine with oversize gingham checks in this airy bedroom, unified by the lavender palette (a nice nod to the lavender that blooms across French fields). The soft, swooping canopy adds just the right touch of drama and elegance.
Browse thousands of beautiful bedrooms
Style Secret: Gentle Weathering
In a style that’s intended to reflect longevity and tradition, spanking-new furnishings and accents stick out. Instead, French country calls for a little rust and dust. Painted pieces should feel distressed, as if they’ve withstood years of wear and use. Bypass shiny metals in favor of wrought iron, burnished bronze or pewter, preferably with a few dings and scuffs. You can even get away with a slightly frayed coverlet or a threadbare spot on a pillow.
New-world chic: This inviting seating vignette feels as though there’s a story behind every piece in it — it’s like the most stylish collection of hand-me-downs possible. Even the new items whisper of age. The faded colors of the fabrics feel perfectly in step with the patina of the woods.
Distressed furniture finishes add charm and warmth
In a style that’s intended to reflect longevity and tradition, spanking-new furnishings and accents stick out. Instead, French country calls for a little rust and dust. Painted pieces should feel distressed, as if they’ve withstood years of wear and use. Bypass shiny metals in favor of wrought iron, burnished bronze or pewter, preferably with a few dings and scuffs. You can even get away with a slightly frayed coverlet or a threadbare spot on a pillow.
New-world chic: This inviting seating vignette feels as though there’s a story behind every piece in it — it’s like the most stylish collection of hand-me-downs possible. Even the new items whisper of age. The faded colors of the fabrics feel perfectly in step with the patina of the woods.
Distressed furniture finishes add charm and warmth
Style Secret: Textural Surfaces
No stainless steel or minimalist tile here — French country surfaces call for visual depth and wear their imperfections proudly. Cloak the walls in plaster, stucco, stone, or a blend of all three throughout the house. When it’s applied with a practiced hand, a thick layer of drywall mud can be a less expensive solution to these pricier materials. If you choose simply to paint the walls, consider a glaze or other treatment that will keep them from feeling flat. For the floors, slate and limestone, natural wood and tumbled earthen tile all strike the right notes.
New-world chic: The range hood in this kitchen is covered in tiny mosaic tiles — a riff on convention, but it works because it approximates the rough look of a more traditional French country surface. The raised detailing on the backsplash enhances the sense of dimension.
No stainless steel or minimalist tile here — French country surfaces call for visual depth and wear their imperfections proudly. Cloak the walls in plaster, stucco, stone, or a blend of all three throughout the house. When it’s applied with a practiced hand, a thick layer of drywall mud can be a less expensive solution to these pricier materials. If you choose simply to paint the walls, consider a glaze or other treatment that will keep them from feeling flat. For the floors, slate and limestone, natural wood and tumbled earthen tile all strike the right notes.
New-world chic: The range hood in this kitchen is covered in tiny mosaic tiles — a riff on convention, but it works because it approximates the rough look of a more traditional French country surface. The raised detailing on the backsplash enhances the sense of dimension.
Style Secret: Roosters
Much of the appeal of French country style lies in a sprinkle of whimsical accents — and what's more iconic than the princely rooster? The challenge is to limit yourself: There's such a glut of rooster-themed bric-a-brac on the market that it's easy to get caught up in the madness and end up with a space that's more Old MacDonald than old France. Instead, pick one or two pieces, such as a kitchen rug, a cookie jar or a painting. Then practice the art of restraint.
New-world chic: Notwithstanding the statuette that crows from the island, this kitchen keeps the rooster details in check. The three-dimensional detail on the range hood blends into the background until you look closely. The backsplash over the cooktop, a hand-painted farm scene, complements the poultry pieces in a more subtle way.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Contemporary | Transitional | Cottage | Eclectic | Industrial | Coastal | Arts and Crafts | Hollywood Regency
More:
French Country Blend
French Kitchen Style
Much of the appeal of French country style lies in a sprinkle of whimsical accents — and what's more iconic than the princely rooster? The challenge is to limit yourself: There's such a glut of rooster-themed bric-a-brac on the market that it's easy to get caught up in the madness and end up with a space that's more Old MacDonald than old France. Instead, pick one or two pieces, such as a kitchen rug, a cookie jar or a painting. Then practice the art of restraint.
New-world chic: Notwithstanding the statuette that crows from the island, this kitchen keeps the rooster details in check. The three-dimensional detail on the range hood blends into the background until you look closely. The backsplash over the cooktop, a hand-painted farm scene, complements the poultry pieces in a more subtle way.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Contemporary | Transitional | Cottage | Eclectic | Industrial | Coastal | Arts and Crafts | Hollywood Regency
More:
French Country Blend
French Kitchen Style
Sponsored
Unparalleled Design & Dedicated to Quality in Loudoun County, Virginia
You know those people who can rifle through the clearance clothing rack and emerge with an outfit that looks like a million bucks? It's the same with the French and their furnishings, which nimbly straddle the line between elegance and functionality. Although French country pieces are largely free of the embellishments that historically have marked more affluent French design, they're shapely and well scaled, with an eye toward balance. And because the rural French of old had to be sure every piece would work its hardest, it's not unusual to see multifunctional case goods or other furnishings that can transition to wherever they're needed most.
In keeping with the collected look, stay away from matchy-matchy furniture sets. Instead, mix wood pieces in a variety of natural finishes with metal ones that show a little age.
New-world chic: The seating area above epitomizes the French country approach to furniture. The fauteuil chairs, table and shelf all blend in sophisticated yet unstudied harmony, tied together by the color scheme of gentle whites and dove grays. They have just enough decorative flourish to elevate them above the strictly practical, yet they're in no way showy or overdone.