French design ideas
25 Examples of French Country Decor
John Bessler
If you feel like there's a certain je ne sais quoi about French country decor, allow us to break it down for you. This style is all about natural materials, muted colors, toile fabrics, extravagant lighting, touches of gold, tapestries, and more—all with a rustic touch. We gathered 25 stylish examples of French country style, from modern interpretations and eclectic visions to classic renditions. Read through to get to know the characteristics of this style and get inspired to incorporate French country decor in every room in your house.
James Merrell
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Cubism On Display
In the dining room of this Cape Cod estate, designer Kathryn M. Ireland chose a sea-grass rug to cover the floor and reupholstered the owners' Gustavian chairs to keep a traditional touch. And then there's that fun Cubist moment in the corner.
Hearst Magazines UK
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Layered Linens
With layers of laidback linens in a variety of hues, this bedroom exudes warmth and timeless taste. The tall upholstered headboard brings in some bright, playful tones while sticking to the distressed character of French country design.
Romanek Design Studio
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French Doors
Interior French doors are a bucket list item as far as chateau-inspired decor goes. In this grand living room by Romanek Design Studio, the pared-back design set against the backdrop of a classic, ornate architectural canvas represents a modern take on classic French country decorating.
Thomas Loof
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Grand Lighting
The gorgeous, large-scale antique lighting in this foyer really sets the tone for the rest of the home. The exposed beams, stone tile floors, and understated console table introduce that French country rustic look.
John Bessler
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Channel Marie Antoinette
Channel Marie Antoinette with cheerful pastels, layered prints, curvy lines, and fun details, like a fringed awning. Here, John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon painted a jaunty mint green and white diamond pattern to disguise the damaged parquet floors.
"That was more than seven years ago, and the paint has held up—proof that painted floors are practical and full of pizzazz," they say, adding, "dining chairs move around so much easier on a wood surface than on carpet."
Douglas Friedman
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Vintage Scores
In the dining room of this Manhattan duplex, designed by Garrow Kedigian, is a circa-1900 mahogany table that's surrounded by antique chairs that were purchased at a Paris flea market and re-covered in a Schumacher velvet.
Corey Damne Jenkins
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Slim Profiles
Another common characteristic in French Country design is furniture with slim profiles. Read: Ditch your bulkier items. Looking for a way to put a more modern spin on it? Designer Corey Damen Jenkins mixes colorful abstract art and modern photography with more classic elements, like the antique desk and accessories while the lucite chair provides some contemporary flair.
PHOTO: Alexandra Ribar: DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors
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Copper Cookware
White painted bricks and stone tile floors set the country chic scene in this kitchen.
And with that wrought-iron hardware and hanging copper cookware, we can almost smell the French food from here.
Laura Resen
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Robust Gallery Walls
A full gallery wall complete with antique gilt frames and classic portraits is a great way to introduce dimension in the living room. And of course, a Louise XV-style settee is always a good touch.
Annie Schlechter
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Exposed Beams
Exposed ceiling beams, distressed wood floors, colorful textiles, and antique paintings and trays on display create a truly charming dining nook.
Studio Razavi
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Modern Twists
Studio Razavi gave this historic home in Lyon, France, some modern updates while still honoring the integrity of the space. The floating shelves and bright emerald green accents and blond flooring anchor the living room in the modern era while the raw materials of the mantel and exposed beams stay true to its history.
William Abranowicz
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And Trusses!
Designer Daryll Carter added wood beams and trusses to this 1980s living room for a storied French country feel.
Laura Ressen
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Natural Materials
To mimic the rustic look of French country decor in a more modern way, opt for a jute rug in the living room. Then upholster a classic Louis XVI-style seat in a fun, contemporary fabric and adorn your walls with abstract art.
Annie Schlechter
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Antique Decor
Though this sink area boasts a decidedly modern aesthetic, there are many French country-inspired details throughout the space. For example, the antique trays, water cans, and glass vases.
Peter Murdock
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Subtle Contrasts
This cheerful study is bursting with charm, thanks to the bright green walls and personal items on display. The traditional upholstered chair juxtaposes the rustic vase, a contrast often found in French country interiors.
Miki Duisterhof
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Easy Patterns
Designer Ramsay Gourd let the exposed wooden beams in this Vermont farmhouse serve as the focal point on the room, but a green couch and upholstered Louis XV-style chairs take a close second place.
Bjorn Wallander
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Eclectic Pieces
The linen skirted chair and tablecloth along with the rustic wood dining table bring in that French country ease while the coral paint and curtains, ornate lighting, and gilt decor assert a more formal and spirited personality in this dining room.
Luke White
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Rustic Details
Designer Marshall Watson uses a traditional plate rack to showcase everyday dishes as wall art in this Swedish home. Meanwhile, a vintage table and chairs with a blue gingham seat covering add a touch of rustic charm.
Douglas Friedman
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Antique Mirrors
Super elaborate, antique pieces mixed with more understated and casual items is a French country decorating staple. This black and gilt-framed antique mirror opens up the entryway by Ann Pyne.
Thomas Loof
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Gold Accents
Dramatic drapes, plenty of gold, and ornate lighting make this master bedroom a French dream.
Thomas Loof
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Extravagant Materials
Pink marble? Sign us up. Though French country style is known for being more rustic and earthy, there are plenty of examples that feature much more extravagance. Ornate and intricate details like these are prominent in classic French design.
Luke White
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Detailed Window Treatments
Designer Marshall Watson opted for traditional French country motifs on the window treatments in the dining room of this Swedish home.
Annie Schlechter
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Toile Accents
Graceful prints and a muted palette create a cozy bedroom in this North Carolina mountain getaway designed by Jane Hawkins Hoke. The walls and valances feature Brunschwig & Fils hound-dog toile.
Simon Watson
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High And Low Mixes
The mixture of high-end (the chandelier) and antique (the chair) in this Long Island, New York dining room, designed by Ellen Niven, makes it feel like everything was sourced from a flea market in Provence.
Douglas Friedman
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Statement Fireplace
Designer Garrow Kedigan played up the classic architecture in this Manhattan duplex's living room by incorporating a symmetrical furniture layout around the room's stone mantel.
20 Best French Décor Ideas
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
French interior design exudes a certain je ne sais quoi: It's equally refined and effortless. But the most effortless looks often require plenty of carefully curated design choices to achieve—and the signature French look is no exception.
That's why we sought the expertise of Constance Gennari, Parisian founder of The Socialite Family, and expert in French interior design. Having visited and photographed homes designed by hundreds of stylish and discerning Parisians, Gennari is equipped with the best tips and tricks when it comes to what makes French décor so covetable.
Below, read on to discover the best French decorating ideas to achieve the look in your own space.
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Design: Kasha
While you may be used to classic American designs—from traditional to modern, industrial, and more—Gennari notes that American stylists have one thing in common that's less common for French designers. “There’s more perfectionism in American style than in France,” the expert says.
The French treasure family heirlooms and pieces that aren’t pristine: For example, they won’t dismiss a stained leather chair, and they don’t mind a crooked hardwood floor. The result: a space that feels more lived-in than immaculate.
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Design: Kasha
“The French love to mix vintage and contemporary furniture, whereas there is more homogeneity in American style,” Gennari says. French designers have no qualms about placing a modern chair beside an 18th-century dresser, or styling ultra-contemporary lighting against an ornate background. It’s all about the dynamic tension that exists between different periods and styles.
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Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
According to Gennari, there are three secrets to decorating like the French: Be aware that perfection does not exist, mix different styles, and make audacious choices.
Don’t worry too much about how pieces will fit together—as long as the proportions are right and you truly love each piece, you will find your own personal style through trial and error.
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Design: Kasha
“My style is linked to my personal education,” Gennari says. “I grew up with a father from Milan and a mother from Paris. My mother, who is an artist, has a broad collection of Empire-style and 18th-century furniture. I spent my childhood at Les Puces with her negotiating with the merchants. This is where my style hails from,” Gennari says.
To get the look in your own space, incorporate pieces from your family's collection into your décor. Did they have a midcentury penchant, a collection of nautical memorabilia, or textiles from their heritage? Weave these pieces into your personal aesthetic to create a sense of history in your home.
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Design: Kasha
While this may look like an average daybed, a discerning eye knows that this iconic piece was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential designers of the 20th century.
If a particular style interests you, read up on its history and get to know the designers that created the movement.
“I like Gino Sarfatti’s lights, Osvaldo Borsani’s chairs, Pierre Paulin’s desks, and Alain Richard’s lights,” Gennari says. If these names sound new to you, they're likely a good place to start learning about classic French style.
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Design: Nicole Franzen
When prompted to choose between formal and casual, Gennari excitedly suggests, “Forsual, of course!” The key is to make your home feel versatile, designing rooms that can function for multiple purposes with a sense of cohesion.
Find the right balance in your space that allows you to host a formal affair when necessary, but still enjoy the style every day without being too concerned about stains, scratches, and marks.
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Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Gennari believes contradictions characterize a French interior. Want your bedroom to be a mix of French provençal, midcentury staples, and contemporary art? Go for it.
Think bright magenta photography will pair well with a bold chartreuse bench? Try it. Want to mix marbleized wallpaper with a powder blue sofa? Why not? Things that don’t obviously pair well together often make for the most interesting interiors.
08 of 20
Design: Kasha
Traditional design rules may advise against using benches and ottomans in lieu of chairs. They may also discourage curtains that pool on the floor, but Gennari recommends following your own rules.
Do what feels right for you, not what you were taught is right in magazines—something that Gennari considers the worst decorating faux pas. Just as there is a difference between fashion and style, there is a difference between trendy design rules and personal taste.
09 of 20
Design: Kasha
If Gennari had to choose between old and new, Gennari always picks old—so it’s no surprise that the expert's favorite place to buy décor in Paris is at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, a larger-than-life flea market.
“It’s like being in a museum with the right to buy everything,” Gennari says. “One of the magical sides of Paris is the diversity of décor you can find.” For contemporary furniture, Gennari visits La Boutique Danoise, Le Monde Sauvage, Maison Nordik, Merci, and La Trésorerie.
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Design: Kasha
One of the most common mistakes Gennari notices in American decorating is “monomania for a particular color or style,” she says. Many interior designers have noticed this happening with midcentury modern style, which saw a wild resurgence post-Mad Men. Rather than sticking to one aesthetic, don't be afraid to combine styles for a layered, dimensional look that's full of unique personality.
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Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Whether it be casually arranged fresh florals or a bouquet of dried wildflowers, displaying florals around your space is part of classic French home style. Position blooms next to your gilded mirror, above the mantle, or on your nightstand.
For a balanced look, place plants of varying heights as centerpieces in the living area, or opt for smaller vases styled throughout the home.
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Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Similar to Gennari's advice on not throwing out the old, if you haven't inherited any heirlooms, seek out vintage or antique pieces for your French-inspired space. Add a vintage rug for the living room, an antique console for the entryway, or hunt down vintage French posters. Display décor like posters in a mix of rustic and elegant frames for an eclectic design.
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Design: Kasha
When it comes to decorating your home, the most important thing to consider is the architecture. Embrace the details that already exist, and work with them—not against them. Whether that be exposed wood beams or worn hardwood floors, use these details to inspire the décor of the space.
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Photo: Zeke Ruelas; Design: Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson
Keep the vintage and antique feel—a focal point in French décor—going in the bathroom with a gilded mirror.
Similar to seeking out furniture with its own patina, worn pieces of décor bring their own sense of history into the home. Gilded mirrors can also create an eclectic focal point above your fireplace mantel, or leaned against the bedroom wall as a nod to the classic French style.
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Design: Kasha
Shiny and brand new is the opposite approach to French-inspired home decorating. Instead, seek well-loved materials: Antique, vintage, distressed, and even off-color are all styles to consider when recreating this look in your own space. Don't be afraid to mix and match colors that you wouldn't normally place together; starting with a white background on the walls is a great way to ensure that new pieces won't feel busy when combined.
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Design: Sean Litchfield
Europeans are experts at relaxation, and the evidence certainly carries over into their bathroom designs. Splurge on a clawfoot tub to cop the French-inspired look at home.
Opt for a vintage porcelain style for an authentic vibe, or even consider painting the feet on your tub with a worn metallic finish to create the style on a budget.
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Design: Kasha
French-inspired décor may be eclectic, but its preferred color palette is more subdued. Think lots of white, pale neutrals, and pops of color. This bedroom feels understated yet visually interesting. A dark chandelier hangs delicately over the room for an element of contrast, while dark blush tones are blended throughout the bedding and décor.
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Design: Christopher Patey for MyDomaine
European apartments are notorious for their snug quarters, and if you're familiar with living in small spaces, you've likely encountered a closet that doesn't have space for your favorite clothes. Make like the French and store your wardrobe in a freestanding armoire. Not only does it add plenty of extra storage room, but it creates an opportunity to pick a unique piece to bring character to your bedroom.
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Design: Kasha
While French décor is generally understated, an opulent ceiling fixture might be the exception. Hang a vintage (or vintage-inspired) chandelier over the dining table, in the entryway, or as the centerpiece in your living room. Choose a piece with similar hues to your wall color to bring texture and a minimalist look to the space, or opt for a more vibrant tone to create a focal point.
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Squarely on Unsplash
French countryside-inspired décor is all about making outdoor spaces focused on leisure. No matter where you live, you can get the look by pairing rugs, poufs, intimate lighting, and more—anything that inspires you to sit back and stay awhile. Don't forget to incorporate plenty of plants and lush greenery for a lived-in, earthy vibe.
9 Essential French Country Design and Decor Ideas
5 French interior codes • Interior+Design
Scandinavian design is the French favorite of the year.
Lagome, hygge and sisu captivated Parisians with their practicality and honest simplicity. At the same time, the Parisian style does not go out of fashion among Norwegians and Swedes. And not only them. For everyone who loves art, beautiful detail, complex coloring - i.e. the decor itself.
Shahan Minassyan. The apartment of an antique dealer and decorator in Paris.
French decorators, aesthetes by birth and mixologists by training, organically mix things from different styles, times and cultures. Their choice is eclectic. A genre in which you can endlessly search for original rhymes, train knowledge of history and a sense of balance.
Designer Didier Gomez's apartment and garden in the heart of Paris.
“Everyone combines, everyone experiments. Either classic furniture goes with art of the 20th century, or chandeliers of the 70s go with Art Nouveau objects,” says Pierre Frey, Maison Pierre Frey.
- The main thing that everyone agrees on is the high quality of the things themselves. This is the most important condition of the mix.”
Francois Champsor. Bronze bench, diz. E. Schmitt, on it is a sculpture by A. Basbus (Agial Art Gallery, Beirut). White sofa, diz. C. Liaigre. armchairs, diz. F. Albini, Cassina.
The French are squeamish about pretentious luxury and do not like the nouveau riche. They prefer the original to an expensive imitation. Without fake patina and excessive shine.
“The French are very controversial. They want everything new, then they themselves reject this new. Our self-critical approach is the engine of progress, it generates ideas, we are always both for and against.” Vincent Darre, decorator
Damien Langlois-Merinne. The Corian table was designed by D. Langlois-Merinne. Italian vintage mahogany chairs 1950s bought in New York.
The fronts of the kitchen are finished in spruce, the texture of the wood is revealed by sandblasting.
So, if you're thinking about creating a "French style" interior, it's good to remember the five Parisian "codes":
Ottoman style
Apartment in an Ottoman house designed by Studio KO. Armchairs by Brazilian modernist Jorge Zalzupin. Bay window sofa and carpet - according to the sketches of architects.
Paris owes its modern appearance to Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann. In the 19th century, on the orders of Napoleon III, this urban planner (“bulldozer man,” as his contemporaries called him) buried the artistic Middle Ages in 20 years and created a new city: with highways, boulevards and clear street lines.
Charles Zana. Project with objects by Ettore Sottsass.
Parisians, who were lucky enough to become owners of Haussmann apartments, got five-, seven-story bourgeois houses, decorated with cornices, attics, enfilades and floor-to-ceiling windows.
An indispensable attribute of such apartments is stucco molding, high ceilings, hinged doors, parquet and marble fireplaces with large fireplace mirrors. The disadvantage is a modest kitchen, separated from the front half by a corridor and the lack of central heating.
Bobo
Nadia Kande, Private Choice. Apartment exhibition Art & Design. Bedroom. On the wall is the work of the Indian artist J.-S. Mache, Galerie Herve Pedriolle. Textiles on the Private Choice bed.
"Bobo" (short for bourgeois-bohème - "bourgeois bohemia") - a lifestyle that prevailed among the wealthy French of the 70s: they preferred to talk about the liberal culture of the hippies, be friends with hippies, love hippies, but stay in comfortable bourgeois apartments . Artistic bobo style has permeated interiors with meli-melo, a casual mix of wicker chairs, climbing plants, low furniture, cheap accessories, antiques from flea markets and works by unknown artists.
Today, such bohemian decor is in demand along with 70s fashion, craft, botany and floral print.
Parisian living room designed by Bismut & Bismut Architects.
Savoir faire
Charlotte Mako-Perelmann. Apartment in Paris. @Tripod Agency
Design, according to the French, can enhance any space, no matter the address. The designer will equip an apartment eight meters away, master barges, lofts, workshops, basements and attic rooms: French ingenuity can overcome any obstacles. In order to increase the height of the premises, zealous Parisians expose "putras" - ceiling beams, adding a difficult but very effective element of decor to the interior. High prices for apartments have long forced them to live in the miniliving trend: a Parisian architect is always a virtuoso of redevelopment, every centimeter is verified in him, furniture is built in, storage is optimized, and it seems twice as many meters.
A small apartment can become a design masterpiece. Young authors from Batiik Studio placed everything you need on an area of 11 square meters. meters.
Toads, bedrooms and snags
Joseph Diran. Parisian apartment. By the fireplace is a sculpture by François-Xavier Lalanne.
When it comes to French design, everyone remembers its playful, ironic nature. One example is furniture with details in the form of animals: toads, monkeys, lions, hippos, herons, etc. In the 40s, Diego Giacometti, and later the sculptor duo Lalanne, continued the fantasy art nouveau themes by offering bronze bestiaries to wealthy collectors. . Another “horse” of French interiors is snags trompe-l'œil both picturesque and architectural. One of the tricks is a fake door. Unlike Americans, Europeans believe that rooms and doors illusory increase meters, which in the old capitals are never many.
And, of course, a French house can always be distinguished from a Russian one by how exquisitely decorated the entrance hall and ... the bedroom. The bedroom should be comfortable and as beautiful as the front living room.
Sensual palettes
Jean-Louis Degno. Apartment in Paris.
The French don't have the aversion to rich, bold colors that the Hong Kongers do. On the contrary, a complex color is the difference between the French interior. It has been worked out for centuries, it is for the eye, which is accustomed to "tasty" painting: the canvases of the Fauvists, Impressionists and Abstractionists. Textbooks have been written about the romantic French palette, where there is always a place for halftones and “cooler fingers”. However, the most "French" colors in the interior are white and gray: cream, ivory, antique, etc. Such shades are a win-win background for works of art, and it is the main wealth of even the most modest French house.
8 stylish ideas peeped in French interiors — INMYROOM
We always like to look at photos of French interiors: chic, stylish, modern, airy. Check out these decorating techniques and find the perfect balance between Parisian chic and the comfort of your own home.
Combine vintage and modern furnishings
French chic in a modern setting is formed when you manage to combine something old with everything new. The secret is in the right combination: select vintage restored items and pair them with modern ones that look best new. For example, you can buy a modern table and mix it with old restored chairs. Read more about how to restore a chair yourself, read here.
Transform everyday into chic
A dining table can look light and minimal during the day, but when guests arrive, it can be transformed into a piece of chic interior with textiles, candles and candelabra, vases and porcelain tableware .
Remember more often about a simple base that you can transform with elements of chic.
Play with details
Two different interior styles that seem to have nothing in common can look amazing in the same room when combined with taste. It's all about the harmony of color, lines and proportions. Combine velvet curtains with a mosaic floor, Scandinavian furniture with vintage items, classics with elements of Provence.
Between restoring old and buying new, choose the first
If you manage to find antique furniture that can potentially be restored, use this opportunity, even if the restoration will cost the same amount as buying a new item. Upholstery with interesting expensive fabric and wood polishing work wonders, and an old chair in its new life can become the central object of your new French interior.
Feel free to mix styles
Paris apartments look extraordinary due to the fact that furnishings are not tied to a single style and coexist harmoniously together.
Think about what style of interior is closest to you, and what you like no less. Scandinavian style and boho, classic interior with modern elements, minimalism with country touches - the secret of the French in combination and the right proportions.
Place a bright armchair in a white Scandinavian interior, hang reproductions of expressionists, stack old books on a cabinet made of raw wood. Do you feel how stylish and extraordinary your interior has become?
Choose the centerpiece of the room
And build your composition around it. Study interior magazines and settle on one thing that you like so much that you can't get it out of your head. Make this find the centerpiece of your composition (you don't have to literally put it in the center!). Pick up objects according to your taste, based on the compositional rule given by the central object. And you won't go wrong!
Don't skimp on worn furniture
Parisian apartments have a relaxed atmosphere, unlike what we usually see in interior magazines.
