How to Decorate Your Home in 18th Century French Decor
If you are inspired by the décor found in the country homes of the French aristocrats, redecorate your home in the traditional styles of 18th-century French Provincial. The overall feel is rustic, and architectural lines are softer so that the home is more relaxed and inviting. This style is an eclectic mix of the warm colors of Provence with a touch of wrought iron and copper. By combining the traditional medium-toned woods and painted finishes with just a nod to the modern, you can recreate the impression of a stately 18th-century French farmhouse. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- French Provincial patterned linen and drapery
- Fabric with flower, animal or fleur de lis motif
- Tapestry pillows, birds and flowers
- Wall tapestry
- Wall art, French countryside motif
- Interior window shutters
- Throw rugs, cotton or wool
- Copper pots
- Rustic basketry
- Dried flower bouquets, sunflower and lavender
- French Provincial inspired ceramics and crockery
Instructions
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Establish an interior color scheme to incorporate throughout the home. Choose colors that will work together and invoke the French countryside. Think earthy terra cotta, lavender, deep greens and cornflower blues or sun-drenched yellow.
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Decide on textiles. With a multitude of patterns to choose from that include plants such as sunflowers and lavender, animals and the Provencal landscape with vines or sweet violets, pick fabric colors that complement walls and furnishings. Also look at toile, a traditional fabric design with a large motif. Sticking to a preselected color scheme, look for bold hues in theme bordered table linen, patterned drapery, linen and tapestry pillows with birds and flowers.
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Choose furnishings with soft, rounded lines and elegant carvings. Common woods to search for include walnut, fruitwoods and oak. Beautify with a solid oak dining room table with a low-sheen finish and ladder back or handmade rush seat chairs with carved details. Hunt for antique pieces such as a walnut or fruitwood "Directoire" period chest or "Régence" period oak carved commode with rounded corners and cabriole legs for the bedroom.
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Explore famous painters of the time period like Paul Cézanne, Auguste Renoir and Henri Matisse for inspiration. Then select wall décor that depicts the French countryside. Find tapestries and paintings portraying French scenery such as lavish gardens, lavender fields, sunflowers in a market stall or a stately farmhouse.
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Pull a room together with the appropriate lighting. Attach interior French shutters to let sunlight stream in. Look for chandeliers in bright black or dull gray metal that are delicate and ornate. The natural metal tones of the chandeliers such as bronze and copper bring out brightly painted walls and fabric.
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Lay down natural materials such as terracotta tile and stone or old, wide planked oak floors. Accent the room with cotton or wool area rugs in a mellow color palette so not to detract from the colorful fabrics and accent pieces.
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Look for accessories to accent the home such as copper pots, basketry, French Provincial ceramics and crocks. Hunt for authentic 18th century French green olive pots. Hang dried bouquets of lavender and sunflowers tied with colorful ribbon by the hearth and in the kitchen.
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Tips & Warnings
Pay attention to the finer details and choose colors that will work well together.
Furnishings should be rustic but stately.
Look for individual pieces that do not precisely match but instead harmonize for drawing out the charm of 18th century French Provincial.
