Although French country living rooms are casual, comfortable and designed for daily living, there will still be an understated elegance that is ever so French.
Photo by John Evans
It is no surprise that emphasis is placed on comfort and relaxation – after all, it was the French who first invented comfortable upholstered chairs in the 18th century, thereby introducing the concept of a comfortable room for relaxation.
Designed to harmonize with its outside surroundings, the Country French living room will often have French doors opening directly onto the garden, creating a flow between inside and outside.
Living room colors will compliment and harmonize with the garden or landscape. Therefore color inspiration will be drawn from the outside view.
Less is better than more in the French Country living room as overcrowding and cluttering will squash any sense of harmony and balance. CREATING THE LOOK
FURNITURE is normally carefully chosen and gently worn antiques will be mixed with modern pieces. Example would be an occasional upholsered antique chair or two mixed with a modern, large and comfy sofa. The chair frames could be polished wood, stained or painted.
Photo: Art & Décoration
There won’t be many pieces of furniture, but most often there will be at least one very large piece like an armoire, either polished, stained or painted. Perhaps also a bookcase or buffet, and there will be at least one table with a straight back chair to sit at. Completing the furniture would be a low table or ottoman for refreshments and magazines. Click here to read up more detail on French Country Living Room Furniture
WALL DECOR would not have geometric groupings of pictures, but rather one large picture, or maybe a pair, making a subtle statement and normally hung close to a piece of furniture making a group of the whole.
Mirrors on the other hand are not so subtle and can be placed anywhere in the room, in any size or shape, ornate or plain, gilded or with painted frames, reflecting the outside light into the room.
LIGHTING will be in the form of simple table or standing lamps and probably a wrought iron chandelier or candelabra, either black in color or a warm shade of antique white.
Photo source Art & Décoration
ACCESSORIES would be one or two items which have lost their usefulness but can be admired as decorative objects, as well as books, pottery, candles, flowers, either potted or cut, and interesting objects made from natural materials. Click here to read up more on French Country Accessories
FLOORS in the Country French living room would most certainly be of a natural substance like wood - perhaps parquet - stone flags, terracotta tiles, or perhaps colored cement made to look like patterned tiles. For warmth and texture the floor will be scattered with rugs, old, new or a mixture of both, plain or patterned.
Wall to wall carpets are not common, but if so, it will be a natural material like coir or sisal.
IDEAS
Cover a good, solid and comfortable couch or setee in an inexpensive slipcover or use a throw which will have a far more relaxed feel than fitted upholstery.
Use faded looking fabric, an old quilt or even old French sheets as a throw.
Hanging one or two wrought iron wall candelabras and placing one on the coffee table, complete with candles, will give an instant French feel.
TIP
If the room has relatively few items of furniture but includes large pieces like armoires or tall bookcases, make sure the sofa is large enough to balance the room.
