How to Create French Decor
The French have a way of turning the bland into chic, whether it is a room, piece of clothing, or a wine. This design flair can be recreated in a French décor by adhering to the color palette, fabrics, textures and design elements utilized within French rooms. Use several French items grouped together as a collection to enhance the theme. Select one overall style to emulate or pick out pieces of each diverse French style as you create your room. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Design a room in French country. Select from the warm colors of the south of France, like the terra cotta reds, vivid blues and gold, or the cooler northern colors, such as grays, or creamy whites. Find a focus point for the room with a rustic furniture piece. Add a collection of French urns, bird cages or pottery. Choose fabrics such as toile or patterns to reflect the colors.
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Discover the beauty in old and worn items with a French shabby chic decor. Accent the value of the original item and the character it contains. Repurpose chipped pottery into a small flower or candle vase. Recover stained fabric on chairs with a cottage flower fabric as you paint the wood bright, vibrant French blue. Crackle white paint over new furniture to harmonize the furniture. Select pattern, flower and plaid fabrics for pillows and throws in the room.
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Get chic with a modern French flair. Choose strong, clean lines for your furniture. Paint walls a soft white or blue and add black and white framed photographs to the wall. Limit the color palette and the number of collections contained within the room. Select three to five large objects, such as a collection of silver trays, as accents. Emphasize the textures of the fabrics rather than the colors themselves.
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Use wicker furniture in your room. Sand off any loose particles before your spray paint the old wicker pieces a warm white color. Choose a French fabric and create the curtains for the room and new pillows for the chairs. Add pastel accents as you include collections of tea cups, old plates and flowers to your room.
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Paint the rooms reminiscent of France. Divide the wall into panels, like Versailles, and add mirrors inside the panels or fabrics. Transfer and paint a French proverb to your wall to create interest. Stamp small fleur-de-lis on the upper half of your wall, or use one as a focal point. Consider adding gold gilding to the walls.
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Tips & Warnings
Frame your travel pictures from France and hang on the walls.
Harmonize the fabric colors by using the same color, whether the prints are patterns or plaids.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wicker weave image by Alex White from Fotolia.com
