Step into a realm where opulence meets effortless grace, where natural stone facades tell tales of history, and chic rustic interiors whisper secrets of timeless elegance. Welcome to the enchanting world of French country homes, also known as Provencal homes, a realm that has captivated homebuilders and decorators for centuries and continues to inspire the farmhouse and shabby chic trends we adore today.
Drawn from the picturesque landscapes of the French countryside, particularly the sun-soaked province of Provence, these homes embody a distinct charm that sets them apart from the lavish, ornate designs typically associated with French architecture. They exude a sense of understated sophistication, as if they’ve gracefully aged over time, embracing the beauty of imperfections.
In French country homes, it’s all about natural finishes and a palette that dances with neutrals. They shy away from the extravagant gilding and intricate moldings found in luxurious Parisian residences, instead embracing a more subdued and lived-in aesthetic. It’s a celebration of the raw beauty of materials and the serene allure of simplicity.
So, prepare to be whisked away to a realm where luxury intertwines with effortlessness, where stone facades echo the stories of bygone eras, and where chic rustic interiors invite you to unwind. Join us as we embark on a journey to uncover the captivating allure of French country homes, where the past meets the present, and timeless elegance flourishes in every corner.
The History
While the French countryside boasts grand manors and majestic chateaux, French country homes exude a more laid-back charm with an enchanting Old-World ambiance. Unlike the French Provincial homes that draw inspiration from the grandeur of King Louis XIV’s reign, French country homes find their influence in the surrounding natural elements, embracing a rustic yet refined aesthetic.
During World War I, American soldiers encountered these captivating homes scattered across the French countryside and were immediately inspired. After the war, they brought the Provencal style back to the United States, giving birth to a wave of French country-esque homes. As these soldiers settled across the country, French country homes sprouted up in various locations, without a concentrated geographic focus.
The allure of French country architecture and decor has experienced multiple resurgences in popularity, continuing to inspire homebuilders and interior decorators in the present day. With their distressed woods, neutral color palettes, and farmhouse-inspired elements, French country style seamlessly aligns with the ever-popular modern farmhouse decorating trends of today.
Must-Have Design Elements
In the realm of French country architecture and design, nature takes center stage, becoming the muse that guides the creation of captivating homes. Reflecting this deep connection, French country homes effortlessly blend into their natural surroundings, harmoniously coexisting with the landscapes that embrace them. Within this enchanting style, several distinguishing characteristics emerge, including:
Natural Stone Facades
French country homes epitomize simplicity, evident in their delightful stone or brick facades. Symmetry, a characteristic of various French styles like French-style gardens and French Colonial architecture, is also embraced, resulting in smooth and flat facades. This intentional design captures the essence of French country aesthetics, where the allure lies in the understated elegance and harmonious proportions that adorn the exterior of these captivating homes.
French country style can not be separated from the use of stone and wood. For now, just apply these two materials to the decoration of the facade of the house as a stunning first look for your guests or family who come to the house. The combination of stone and reclaimed wood is also the main material which has a hard surface so it is not easily porous when used for a long time. Combination of Stone with Reclaimed Wood Material from @charleshiltonarchitects
To decorate the facade of a French country house, you can use walls with white stone walls as the main ingredient. This white stone comes in a variety of different sizes and shapes so that the installation can also be combined with cement to make it more sturdy and not easily collapse when used for a long time. White Stone French Country Facade from @palmgrovefarmhouse
A Tall, Sloping Roof
French country homes often showcase strikingly tall, sloping roofs with a distinct hipped design, where all four corners gracefully converge towards the ground. These roofs are adorned with clay tiles, typically barrel-shaped, creating a charming tiered effect. The color palette for these tiles ranges from vibrant red to warm brown or soothing beige, adding to the picturesque allure of French country architecture.
Take advantage of the attic decoration of your home as a useful room that can be used to the fullest. This Attic sloping roof is perfected by having skylights which are able to make the room look bright during the day so that it saves the use of electrical energy because it does not use lights continuously. Cover the floor with a runner rug for a more comfortable and warm surface. Attic Sloping Roof from @la.maison.normande
An easy way that you can do to get a bedroom decoration that looks spacious and open is to use a tall roof with white repainting to make it look more elegant and clean. The use of a tall roof is meant to have better air circulation and of course it is one of the characteristics commonly used for French country decorations. Apply this tall roof design throughout your home without exception. Tall Roof Ideas from @designinspirationsuk
Tall, Rectangular Windows
The tall rectangular windows found on French country homes serve multiple purposes. They enhance the overall symmetry of the structures while creating an illusion of height. These windows, carefully positioned on both the first and second floors, align perfectly, contributing to the balanced aesthetics. Many of these windows are adorned with arches or charming wooden shutters, adding an extra touch of decorative flair to the facades.
To let more sunlight into the room, you can use a portion of the wall as a decoration, a glass window that is quite long and tall. Look at the symmetrical glass window design on both sides of the dresser. This is the best additional decoration that you can try on French counter decorations. Cover the window with sheer curtains to regulate the entry of sunlight into the room. Symmetrical Rectangle Window from @tuftandtrim
This shutter window with an elongated design is one of the characteristics that you can apply to French country decorations. You can use this window more than one so that it can be used as the focal point of the room. These shutter windows are made of wood which has been repainted in a plain white color so that it has a final appearance that is more elegant and attracts attention, of course. DIY Wooden Shutter Window from @designthusiasm
French country with the addition of this traditional window decoration will work well together in the same room. Now you can try both of them in the decoration of a small living room which is perfected by the presence of cooper table leg spindles. This traditional window has a size that is quite long and wide so that it can enter more sunlight into the room. Traditional Window Design from @thefrenchcountryfarmhouse
Double Chimneys
Symmetrical in design, numerous French country homes boast the presence of two chimneys—one gracefully positioned on each side of the house. This architectural choice further enhances the balance and harmony that defines the allure of these charming homes.
You can apply the roof which is perfected with the double chimneys as best as possible to get a pleasant outdoor decoration appearance. Now you can arrange the layout of the chimneys not too close so that each of them can work properly. Use chimneys that have a contrasting color with the roof that is used so that they are clearly visible. Statement Double Chimneys from @french_properties
Two chimneys that are applied symmetrically make the facade of a French country house look more stylish. You can use and make it from red brick so that it has a color and material harmony with the use of outdoor walls. Just adjust the layout of this chimney as well as possible so that it can be seen from below. Red Brick Double Chimneys from @cz_inarchitecture
Wood-Planked Ceilings and Plaster Walls
While exposed wooden beams can be found in certain French country homes, a prevalent feature is the presence of white-painted wood-planked ceilings. These ceilings beautifully harmonize with the smooth, plastered interior walls, creating an elegant and cohesive aesthetic throughout the space.
This wood planked ceiling with a splash of white gives a touch of shabby chic style to your French country bedroom decor. This ceiling decoration can be combined with the use of classic interiors in earth tone colors so that they blend perfectly. Apart from that, this ceiling decoration also has material alignment with the use of the floor that you can use simultaneously in one room. Shabby Chic Wooden Ceiling from @chateau_du_saulou
Plank wood which is used as the main material for this ceiling can be repainted white so that it has color harmony with the use of kitchen cabinets. The ceiling material used seems more natural and environmentally friendly, you can combine it with the use of reclaimed wood floors which have the same material and style harmony and of course seem simple. DIY Planks Wood Ceiling from @candlewoodcottage
Wood or Natural Stone Flooring
Traditional French country homes exuded timeless charm with their favored flooring choices. Natural wood floors, arranged in either a parquet or herringbone pattern, were highly popular and remain sought-after to this day. In addition to wood, limestone also emerged as a prevalent flooring option, showcasing the enduring appeal of these materials in French country aesthetics.
There is no need to repaint the black wood floor to provide a pattern of the resulting wood grain. This is one of the choices for the type of wood that you can combine with the use of plain white wall paint. It’s not enough to stop here, white doors are also the best additional ideas that you can apply to this French country bathroom decor. Black Wood Floor Ideas from @frenchflairfarmhouse_
Perfect your French country decor with the use of stone floors that have a square shape. You can install it together with a neutral colored grout as well so it doesn’t give a standout color touch that gives a tacky impression. Even though stone is a hard material, its surface is still soft and safe for the soles of your feet. Natural Stone Floor Ideas from @coolchicstyle
The hardwood floor design that is applied to this French country decoration has a smoother and softer surface. The wood fiber used also looks more attractive and can be combined with a shabby chic bench with spindle legs. It’s not enough here, try to combine it with the use of reclaimed wood floating shelves which can be applied right above the use of benches. Hardwood Floor Ideas from @sweetcottagecharm
To minimize home renovations, you can use the right interior. For example, you can use a paver stone floor with a choice of neutral colors which makes it easier for you to combine it with other furniture around it. Usually this paver stone material has a beige color and you can combine it with sofas and chairs with splashes of matching colors. Paver Stone Floor Design from @fadetograyantiques
A Soothing, Neutral Color Palette
French country homes exhibit a harmonious blend of soothing hues, predominantly featuring white, cream, pale yellow, pale blue, or gray finishes. While vibrant colors may occasionally serve as accents, the overall palette tends towards soft and muted tones. To infuse texture and warmth into the space, these homes often incorporate natural elements like wood, stone, and other organic accents, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance.
White is always the color of choice that is suitable for use in any style of room decoration. Now you can apply it to French country living room decor by using some furniture such as sofas and chairs. Painting frames that come in gold can also be applied to the walls in a neat layout and of course are able to emphasize a classic and shiny theme when exposed to the reflection of light. White with Gold Combined Color from @kristiesheltonstudios
If you want to use quite bold colors in the French country dining room decoration, then you still have to combine it with a white interior as a color neutralizer for the room. This blue color can be applied to the use of velvet chairs and table runners made of soft cloth. Some china plates with interesting patterns can be hung on the wall in a neat arrangement. White with Blue Dining Room from @beautifulmixinteriors
The touch of earth tone color in the use of this dining room interior can add a warm and inviting atmosphere. Use a dining table with wood and white wall paint which seems neutral and of course makes it easier for you to combine it with other interiors around it. Ball chandeliers are the right lighting and you can hang them right above the dining table so they can be used optimally at night. Earth Tone Color from @lamaisonaucerisier
Besides white, you can also use wall paint with a bright yellow color. This color is perfect when combined with some floral patterned fabrics that are able to present a shabby chic theme or touch. Painting the walls yellow is the right idea to bring a touch of French country theme to your living room decor. Yellow Tone Color from @thefrenchcountryfarmhouse
Soft Lines
Clean, modern lines are not the norm in French country homes. Instead, the furniture is designed to embrace a cozy and lived-in aesthetic, with plushness being a key characteristic. The furniture often features gentle, curving lines and low-sheen finishes, contributing to the inviting and relaxed atmosphere that defines the essence of French country style.
Look at the style of the sofa and ottoman table in this French country decor, isn’t it very eye-catching? Yes, the tufted sofa surface might be one of the right choices that can make this room feel more comfortable throughout the day when used to relax. Other furniture parts made of wood can be repainted to give it a shinier final look. Tufted Furniture for Living Room Area from @fernandtwigmarket
Curved furniture designs such as round shaped coffee tables are one of the characteristics that can be applied to French country living room decorations. The existence of this furniture is perfected by the use of modern wall and roof molding which has straight lines with repainting in neutral colors such as plain white. Some of the painting frames that are hung on the wall are additional decorations that you can use. Round Shaped Coffee Table from @mendlbarr_chandeliers
