18 Tips for Refined and Rustic French Country Decorating

French Country Decorating Style

farmhouse style room rustic table and doors — Panichgul Studios, Inc

Drawing inspiration from the French countryside, this style strikes a balance between rustic and refined. Antique furnishings, weathered finishes, natural materials, and warm neutrals are a few of the characteristics you'll often find in rooms with French country decorating. The overall effect is meant to appear welcoming and casual yet effortlessly elegant.

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French-Inspired Decor

Rustic doorway white wall large mirror — The Wilde Project

French country decorating shares some characteristics of farmhouse-style rooms, but the two are distinctly different. For example, curvy-lined furniture, graceful patterns, and ornate details appear much more often in French country homes. Elegant gilded mirrors and vases filled with flowers are also classic to the style.

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Antique Bedroom Furniture

Eclectic style bedroom with cottage, rustic, and country style accents — Paul Dyer

Antiques and salvaged elements often play a key role in French country decorating. In this bedroom, weathered wood and chipped paint finishes give the furniture texture and a sense of history. An elaborate crystal chandelier and long billowing drapes introduce simple elegance juxtaposing rustic elements.

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French Country Color Schemes

dining room with wooden shutters and antique table — Laurie Black

Soft colors and warm neutrals form the mainstay color scheme of French country decorating. Muted shades of blue, red, pink, and green often coexist with creamy whites and wood tones in this relaxed European look. Textures and tone-on-tone patterns can bring visual interest to a room amid more neutral color tones, as in this French country dining area.

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What Is French-Country Style?

Not sure what we mean by French country style? Watch this video to learn about its defining characteristics. See how you can get the look at home with elements like graceful curvy lines and worn wood finishes.

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Toile Bedding

Toile patterns are a clear indicator of French country style. This timeless print lends a classic look to any room. In this French country bedroom, a stately antique bed and modest accessories provide an elegant backdrop for the toile bedding that sets the room's style.

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Old-World Kitchen

country french kitchen decorative faux finish blue cabinets — Ed Gohlich

Use decorative faux finishes and noteworthy materials to achieve the signature old-world style and charming character of French country decorating. In this kitchen, glazed country blue cabinets complement the casual wood-inlay pattern across this kitchen floor, while marble countertops and shapely woodworking details lend vintage flavor. A dine-in countertop extended from the island adds an intimate touch.

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Countryside-Ready Entryway

country french entryway oversize mirror ornate sconces upholstered bench — Gordon Beall

Ornate sconces and worn wood elements in this entryway exhibit classic French country style. The muted palette beautifully complements polished wood floors and crisp walls and trim. An oversized mirror bounces light around the space, while an upholstered bench provides a cozy spot to slip on shoes.

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Elegant Bathroom

white country french master bath crystal chandelier oval tub — Stacey Brandford

Window treatments with detailed trim and a crystal chandelier are French country decorating standards that add elegance and style to this master bath. The warm linen shades give the space an air of serenity, and the oval tub breaks up the bathroom's straight lines. Accent molding and trim dress up the room.

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French Country Kitchen Details

country french kitchen blue stools sage backsplash wood box beams — John Granen

Worn wood box beams define this space as distinctly French country. Detailed woodwork and shapely legs on the island soften the square shape of the piece. Powder blue island stools and a sage green backsplash add welcome color to the neutral kitchen color scheme.

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Antique-Filled Bedroom

country french bedroom navy blue bed fresco-style art — Tria Giovan

Antique elements contrast with a crisp white coverlet in this French country bedroom. The furniture's graceful shapes, including curved cabriole legs on the bench and bedside dresser, clearly establish the style. The faded fresco-style art piece and luxurious navy velvet that dresses up the bed add to the country French look.

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Ornate Kitchen Decor

kitchen rich wood base cabinets marble floors country french — Werner Straube

The top half of this kitchen appears light and bright, while rich wood base cabinets and an island ground the look. Patterned wallpaper picks up the swirling shapes of the marble countertops below. Ornate floor tiles are the element that brings the French country decorating together.

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Elegant Furniture

country french fireplace draperies provincial patterns sitting area chairs — Tria Giovan

Beautiful fabrics and provincial patterns are hallmarks of French country decorating. To balance today's hectic lifestyles, softer colors and more delicate patterns have become popular choices for furniture like French-country sofas. Pretty fringes, decorative trims, and lacy accents add an elegant finish.

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French-Country Architecture

country french kitchen rustic tile wood beams curved archway — Tria Giovan

Architectural details that evoke the past easily give a room French country flavor. But you don't have to live in an ancient chateau to create the look. Rustic stone tile and hand-scraped wood beams add the charm of an old French eatery to this new kitchen. Curved archways, patinaed finishes, and intricate molding enhance the look.

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Natural Accents

stone fireplace country french dining area rustic pendant lamp — Tria Giovan

An eye-catching stone fireplace is a popular feature in French country decorating. The natural stone wall brings a touch of the countryside indoors to this cozy hearth room. Weathered chairs and a dining table with a gorgeous patina complete the look.

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Modern French Country Decorating

french country dining area wood floors farmhouse dining table chandelier — Laurie Black

Incorporating French country style into a modern home requires a thoughtful balance. To provide an elegant stage for casual living, dress the room with French influences, such as full-length draperies, rich wallpapers or paint finishes, and formal fabrics. Then, fill the space with livable furnishings, such as this generous, farmhouse-inspired dining table, to entice large gatherings of family and friends.

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Vintage French-Inspired Decor

country french antiques glass hutch mirror chair — Brie Williams

Antiques are an essential component of French country decor. Vintage pieces enhance the European character of the space, adding an aged feel to contemporary homes. Add charm to rooms with French-country antiques, such as period-style furnishings or a collection of dishes displayed in a glass hutch.

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Repurposed Furniture

repurposed vintage dresser bathroom vanity country french — Laurie Black

Repurposing is a popular way to incorporate old pieces into a home, and it's perfect for bringing in French country flavor. This vintage dresser makes a beautiful showpiece as a bathroom vanity, with its sweetly painted designs and gilded details. A sparkling mirror and sconces add to the elegance.

More Decorating Styles to Consider

French country decorating is ornately detailed and antique-filled, but if it's not quite right for your aesthetic, there are other styles to consider as a guideline for furnishing your home. Modern Farmhouse combines rustic and contemporary styles with echoes of French country in a pared-down, updated way. It usually involves shiplap, pale wood, and neutral fabrics. Cottage style incorporates the coziness of French country with a more simplified and relaxed feel, including overstuffed upholstered pieces, plaid, check, and floral fabrics, and eclectic, collected-over-time second-hand pieces.

Transitional style embraces both classic traditional details and more modern updates. For example, a formal living room in a transitional home would have a neutral palette to give it a contemporary look. Victorian decor is a must for homes with that distinct architectural style. Balancing the needs and tastes of 21st-century families with 19th-century design is how modern Victorian decor has become popular.

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