How to Decorate a French Country Living Room
The French country style reflects the 18th century and focuses mainly on cottage living. Decorating a living room in the French country style can be a challenge, particularly if you are unfamiliar with how colors work together. Keeping in mind that the French country style is more of a feeling rather than a defined set of rules will help you in your decorating quest. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Focus on furniture first, opting for an elaborately carved coffee table and matching end tables. Add a low backed love seat and a couple of high backed wing chairs for the perfect decorating background.
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Paint walls a neutral shade of color that will allow the color palette of the room shine through. Choose from colors such as tan, off-white, pale blue or a very pale gray.
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Use shades of red throughout your living room. Printed patterns with landscapes and farming scenes reflect the French country style.
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Create an arrangement of transfer ware plates, saucers and platters above the love seat. The floral and rural scenes depicted in blue on a white background offer an excellent accent color. Pull the same color blue throughout the room in small details, such as trim work on a throw blanket or a stripe in a rug.
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Install French doors to accurately capture the French country spirit of your living room. Cover the windowpanes with soft, airy curtains that will dance in the breeze when the doors are opened.
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Create a focal point by drawing the eye to a large French country item such as a painting or mirror with a gilded frame.
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Emphasize French country décor by adding accent items such as antique birdcages, vases, bird nests and eggs, lanterns or postcards. Frame items or place them in prominent positions in your living room to draw the visitor's eye to them.
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Incorporate small touches of contrasting colors to liven the room but make sure they blend in with the overall palette, rather than change it. Mustard yellow, sage greens and smoky grays warm the room, as well as make excellent accent choices for the red and blue color scheme.
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References
- Photo Credit country window image by photooiasson from Fotolia.com
