How to Decorate a Bedroom With an Antique French Theme

The elegant lines of French antiques can add beauty to any room.

Whether you pull from vast holdings of Louis XIV or French Provincial originals, or just want to give your bedroom classic style, nothing evokes old-world romance like an antique French theme. Spend the weekend painting the room and adding rococo details like ornately framed mirrors and landscape paintings, or invest more time and money in a full bedroom redesign.

Instructions

1. Establish a classic French theme with paint and finishes. Consider using a relatively neutral backdrop of beige, rose, or pale green. Accents on wall trim, architectural elements, and furniture frames may feature gold, cream, and/or espresso brown. For a moodier look, integrate some burgundy and poppy-seed black.

2. Furnish the room with signature pieces in antique French styles. French antiques typically have curved shapes and asymmetrical flourishes. An authentic or reproduction desk, chair, or table with long, thin legs and a splayed base will give your French bedroom an elegant and refined aesthetic. Appropriate materials include cherry and ivory wood, either darkly stained and highly polished or, for a French country look, a distressed, timeworn finish. An oversized armoire with hand-painted scenery on the doors will give the space a rococo style.

3. Soften edges with textiles, linens, and draperies. French antiques often feature lace or silk fabric. A classic French pattern, seen in many permutations, is toile. Traditional French toile typically features nature or other imagery in black or navy silhouette, repeated on a white or cream background. A large headboard upholstered in a velvet or satin fabric will give the bed prominence.

4. Illuminate your French antique bedroom with era-appropriate fixtures. Table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces should provide spots of accent and work light. Look for carved, sculpted, painted, and ornamented bases in metal or wood. Overhead, a vintage chandelier is a striking feature.

5. Hang artwork in key spots in your bedroom. A large landscape painting or still life above the bed will look ideal in an ornately carved frame. Stack art vertically on a narrow wall to evoke the look of a Parisian art salon.

Tips & Warnings

• Coordinate your linens rather than matching them so that individual details stand out.

• Avoid using fluorescent lighting, which muddies colors and contrasts in a classic French-themed bedroom.

References

• Apartment Therapy: French Country Style Under $50
• HGTV: French Country Master Bedroom
• HGTV: French-Inspired Spring Bedroom