Living Room French Country Furniture

SEATING

When it comes to living room French Country furniture, three piece suites are not the norm. Usually there will be one solid and comfy upholstered sofa, normally with scrolled arms and mostly upholstered in a neutral shade.

One or two upholstered chairs will compliment but never match the sofa as part of a suite, and can be covered in neutral shades, stripes, checks or floral fabric.

The classic chaise à la reine, a wide seated chair with cushioned seat and upholstered back, or the fauteuil à la reine, with padded arms are also likely to be found in the French country living room. The frame and legs could either be painted or polished.

Among others there is also the feather-stuffed armchair; the bergère, low-backed and comfortable. The marquise, a tub chair with cushions and upholstered arms, and an intimate love seat in the form of a sofa; the canapé.

This tall cupboard, either with solid wood, glass or chicken wire paneled doors - or perhaps open shelves on top - will house either books, photos, ornaments, vases, collections etc. It could be polished or stained wood, but more often than not painted in soft water based colors.

Another useful piece of furniture for storage and display is the buffet, often painted in a muted color.

Or the buffet à deux corps (one cupboard atop another)with storage space at the bottom and on top.

To add interest there is the folding screen in three or four panels, which can also add balance and scale if necessary .

Last but not least, are those interesting pieces of country french living room furniture that add extra character and charm to the room. They can be anything from tables, to cupboards, to drawers, or even fashioned out of another piece of furniture, in wood or wrought iron.

Different to the norm they are unique and original pieces, easily rubbing shoulders with the rest of the furniture and giving a stamp of individuality to the room. Example would be a table made from using the cast iron legs from an old sewing machine cabinet, with a top in wood, glass or marble. Or perhaps an old and much loved scrolled wrought iron garden bench, turned into a window seat and smothered in comfy cushions. Possibilities are endless; think laterally when coming across an interesting piece of old furniture.