French Provincial Home Decorating

What Characterizes French Provincial Decorating?

• To understand French Provincial décor, one must first understand the French court, which used opulent carved woods, rich textiles, gold leaf and mirrors to provide a luxurious background to politics and entertainment. The elements of this style were admired by the less wealthy, and it was redesigned and adapted to their pocketbooks and life styles. Their efforts produced a more modest décor that used different materials and provided more practical functions for their homes. Where the court used expensive carved woods, the provincials used local woods in simplified but still graceful designs. Where the court used imported textiles, provincials used homemade embroidery. Instead of high-priced gold items, the provincials created decorated items of simpler metals.

French Provincial Furniture

• The furniture of this style echoed the expensive furnishings of the upper echelon but with a simplified flare. The size was downscaled to fit in smaller areas. Carvings were less fussy but still elegant and refined. Wood colors were light or dark with their fine graining emphasized to show off the natural beauty. The armoire, a basic Provincial piece, still features largely in French Provincial décor. Provincial homes of the 17th and 18th centuries did not have built-in closet space, so these pieces possessed both a decorative and practical function.

Using Color

• Many colors were available to the royal courts of France because of the heavy importation of goods from around the globe. The French provincials, however, incorporated the colors and tones of the countryside that surrounded them, often with muted tones that reflected weathering in the elements. Cornflower blue, sage green, brick red, ecru and deep brown were used extensively in interior décor, according to the IsearchDecor site. Red, white and blue, the national colors, are also frequently found in French Provincial décor.

Using Texture

• Today's French Provincial décor uses simple textures instead of the opulent weaves of the French court style. Toile, calico and chintz are often used for curtains and bedding. Many floral print designs are used to create a cheerful effect. French Provincial décor blends these different materials and designs into a pleasant and refined whole that reflects serenity, comfort and good taste.

Using Accessories

• Accessories for French Provincial furnishings included many natural textures found in the farmlands and vineyards around the court residences. In your decor, use paintings of landscapes, florals and botanical subjects to bring the provincial outdoors inside. Other accessories used in French Provincial decor include embroidery-decorated pillows, upholstery and wall art. Carved or gilt mirrors in simple styles are used on walls. Beading, lace and ribbons call to mind the more ornate ornamentation found in court settings.