French Cottage Colors

Lavender fields provide inspiration for French country decorating.

It is easy to give your home French cottage style by using the colors found in the homes of French country people. These colors tend to be bold and to take on the character of the French countryside.

Colors from the Countryside

Find the colors of French cottage style in the French countryside. French country dwellers are very much attached to their land, and they bring their love of the countryside into their homes. French cottage style tends to employ rich, earthen colors, such as golden yellow, deep red, brown, dark green and deep blue.

Inspiration for the Colors

Golden yellow comes from sunflowers. Deep red comes from the terra cotta pots found in French gardens and from the bricks often used in the architecture of French country houses. Dark green takes its cue from trees and olive groves, and deep blue or purple comes from lavender fields.

Neutrals

While bold colors are favored in French cottage style, they are often balanced by being used alongside muted neutrals of grays and light browns. For instance, a room with taupe-colored walls and a whitewashed wood floor would provide a nice backdrop for richly hued textiles, furniture and decorative objects placed throughout it.

Decorating with French Cottage Colors

Decorating with textiles in French cottage colors is a good way to lend your home that bold, French country style. Try covering your dining table in a tablecloth with flowers in rich tones of yellow, red, green, brown and blue, or drape your sofa with a paisley-patterned throw in the same colors. French cottages often have walls painted in the golden yellow of sunflower fields. This color can work especially well in the kitchen. On light-colored walls, stenciling sunflowers or bunches of lavender can give your home an authentic, French cottage feel.

References

• Cottage Home Decorating: French Country Decorating
• French Country Decor Guide: French Country Cottage-Provence