| French country decorating is one of the most | | | | paint on a piece or two for an elegant look. |
| popular forms of country decorating today, yet | | | | *Details are important in the French |
| many are confused about how to introduce this | | | | countryside...add trim to your draperies, dress up |
| look into their homes. | | | | your throw pillows with ribbon, buttons, or even |
| French country decorating need not be expensive | | | | old beads and jewelry, and make sure comfort |
| or difficult, and you don't need to go out and | | | | abounds in soft throws and well read books. |
| purchase a whole new room. It is easy to | | | | *Use fabrics that are traditional French country |
| introduce touches of the French country style | | | | fabric. Toile is quintessentially French country, and |
| without changing your entire decorating scheme. | | | | depicts country scenes in one color over a neutral |
| French country style is a European version of our | | | | background. Red and yellow florals and small |
| own American country style that has been | | | | geometric prints look fantastic, and black and |
| popular for generations. French country however, | | | | white checks are fun! |
| adds more elegance, curved lines, and contrasts | | | | *Use candles, flowers and fabric lavishly. |
| with weathered finishes and lots of texture. It is | | | | *The French love to entertain; make it easy to |
| NOT a Parisian apartment! It is a style of the | | | | invite loved ones over for an impromptu |
| wonderful people of Provence, who work hard, | | | | celebration. Start collecting pretty plates you love, |
| play hard, and love the colors, textures and | | | | mix and match them at the table, just keep a |
| scents of the outdoors. Common colors in the | | | | common color theme and they will blend |
| French country style are golden yellows, deep | | | | beautifully. Stoneware and pottery pieces are |
| reds, French blues and saturated greens. Color is | | | | very French country. Table linens are colorful, and |
| vibrant in Provence because of the harsh sunlight. | | | | flowers and candles are a must. |
| (Hey, the grapes love it!) Themes are not | | | | *Finally, don't forget the rule of contrast with |
| necessary for a French country room, but some | | | | French country decorating. Pair weathered paint or |
| common ones are roosters, grapes and wine, | | | | metal with formal fabrics or beading trim, cozy up |
| lavender and other herbs. Here are some great | | | | a more formal dining chair with a black, red or |
| ideas for introducing the French country style into | | | | blue checked fabric. Bring in baskets to hang and |
| your present décor. | | | | use, and hang elegant copper pots off a rustic pot |
| *Ironwork or metalwork is very popular in French | | | | rack sporting a wonderful old patina. Rub a glaze |
| country design, and you can easily find such | | | | over a curvy lamp base to antique and distress |
| material in candleholders, wall grilles, and wire | | | | its finish, or better yet, glaze those white kitchen |
| baskets. | | | | cabinets. Add chicken wire to cabinet doors that |
| *Paint a couple of your furniture pieces with a | | | | hold your best china and wineglasses, and make |
| crackle finish. Pair the weathered finish with an | | | | sure you find a French landscape or floral print to |
| elegant fabric table runner. Try using satin black | | | | hang somewhere in the room. |