Decorating a home in the Provence style is an excellent choice for those who are tired of the fast pace of modern life and want to take a break from it. This is the trend of French villages, where life flows calmly and measuredly, rural nature reigns outside the window, and no one has heard of serious problems.
Of course, this was reflected in the external decoration of the rooms: calm, pastel shades predominate, the interior contains floral motifs, including real bouquets on window sills and chests of drawers, and the furniture is made of wood and stone and is often artificially aged.
All this is an excellent solution for decorating a bedroom - a place where a person seeks peace, relaxes, maybe reads books or dreams before bed...
Main characteristics of the style
The name comes from the region of the same name, located in the south of France and washed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Translated, the term means “province”. Blooming nature, blue sea, lavender fields, vineyards giving a range of aromas under the gentle sun. All these natural beauties influenced the formation of the style.
The bedroom is the most intimate room in the house
Let's move on to its main features and consider the characteristics of Provence:
1Abundance of light. Primarily due to the characteristics of the glazing, the houses of the Côte d'Azur are filled with light. Their floor-to-ceiling windows allow sunlight into every corner of the room, but in our country, in most houses or apartments it is not possible to install such windows. Decorative moldings save the day, with the help of which you can divide an ordinary window into several sections, approaching the French analogue.
2Gamma. Proper finishing of walls, floors and ceilings will increase the illusion of light. Light colors scatter light, so choose cream, beige, white, milky and the like as your primary colors. Light shades of blue, turquoise, greenish, and lavender will also dilute the interior well.
3Wall decoration. Textured plaster is a necessary attribute of the French Provence style. An alternative is often light-painted walls and wood paneling. The latter can either be painted in the desired tone or left natural. Variegated options with floral patterns are often chosen.
Sophistication and romance
4Design of floors. The naturalness of the decor and simple details are reflected in the design of the floors. There should be no laminate or carpet in the house, only natural wooden boards. They are also painted in light shades - gray, beige or white.
Terracotta slabs are often used for floors, but this is not very suitable for our climate.
5Furniture. The main flavor inherent in Provence is created thanks to the correctly chosen furniture. Chipboard, glass, and chrome are not used for furniture materials; preference is given to products made from wood, cane, and rattan. It should be massive and at the same time very simple. Chips, cracks, and abrasions on its surface add grace. Our realities do not allow us to spend a lot of money and a lot of time searching for suitable antique furniture; then it is better to purchase it to order. A Provencal interior should have a lot of furniture - from a wardrobe and shelving to a coffee table and bedside tables.
6Necessary little things
Decor is an important decision, it adds the finishing touches and makes the room more cozy
Plain tulle, pillows with interesting patterns, flowers and paintings - such attention to detail helps to achieve French harmony
Natural decor and simple details
Thus, in a Provencal interior you need to avoid bright colors and artificial decoration materials, add as much light as possible, and work on beautiful accessories.
Accessories Provence
This style is manifested in small details, trinkets, use your imagination. Decorative elements of your own production will add individuality to your home.
These are antique boxes, flower pots, photos, porcelain figurines, etc.
Provence is absolutely incompatible with minimalism; there are many shelves with accessories, decorative plates, embroidery...
It is always recommended to have a beautiful cockerel - this is a symbol of France.
If you have space, it is recommended to fill it with fresh bouquets, pots of flowers, tubs of various sizes, and vases of dried plants and herbs.
The fashion for Provence does not disappear; on the contrary, it is gaining more and more fans among romantics and lovers of antiques.
Wrought iron beds in Provence style
Bunk bed with wardrobe
Wrought iron beds are also suitable for this design, because they are popular in provincial towns and villages in France. They are no longer wooden, but iron or bronze, and the master can design them so that they do not look massive and overload the room.
The style requires airiness and elegance, and this is easy to create, and a pleasant bonus will be the strength and durability of such a product.
A bed with a headboard allows for a flight of fancy: add various forged elements to it - flowers, plants, graceful lines... Then it is better to make the backrest at the foot low and less painted, so as not to overload the space with small details.
Textiles in the interior
For a rustic style, you need only natural materials (cotton, linen or chintz). Floral print is in fashion.
Be sure to have pillows on the bed, a large soft blanket, a canopy...
Pillowcases and soft pillows should be in calm tones, ruffles and vintage lace should be spectacular.
The bedspread can be with any embroidery, or using the Patchwork technique, made from shreds.
If you can see the garden from the bedroom, a transparent curtain is ideal. You should not “overload” the room; it is very important to maintain the light atmosphere of southern France.
Furniture
Transformable bed for a small apartment
The choice of furniture in the Provence style for the bedroom must be approached responsibly. Without a doubt, the central element is the bed. Mostly this piece of furniture has a simple shape and a carved headboard, sometimes with a pattern. The material is wood, which can be complemented with forged inserts. And the main accent of the furniture should be textiles: embroidered pillows, floral prints, a massive canopy, lace.
There must be Provence bedside tables near the bed. It is advisable to choose ones that will be made of the same material and in the same color as the bed. On the bedside tables you can place family photos in massive white frames, floor lamps, vases with flowers or porcelain figurines for a more cozy atmosphere.
The rest of the furniture is selected taking into account the dimensions of the room. The following objects can be installed:
- buffet;
- dresser;
- dressing table;
- box;
- wicker rocking chair or hanging analogue;
- wooden chairs.
It is desirable that the furniture be wooden and “antique”. At the same time, the material itself must be of high quality. Its structure is emphasized by painting it in light shades, which “exposes” the structure of the wood. Techniques such as gilding, blackening, patination and decoupage allow you to achieve a stunning Provence effect.
The main thing is to remember appropriateness and proportionality. An interior in the Provence style should seem integral, that is, each element should have its own permanent place.
Furniture upholstery will add decorativeness and aesthetics to the environment. You should give preference to the following fabrics:
- batiste;
- tapestry;
- chintz.
Advantages and disadvantages of beds a la Provence
A bed made in Provencal style is ideal for those who appreciate a cozy homely atmosphere. This is a sure way to find a corner for recuperation: a person resting on such a bed will always feel comfortable and peaceful. The funds spent on the purchase of such furniture turn into an investment, since it will become a style-forming element of the bedroom. The rest of the furnishings will only complement it. Considering that wear-resistant materials are used for Provencal-style products, it will delight its owners for a long time.
Sleeping furniture a la Provence has impressive dimensions, so this is an option for a spacious room. However, there is a way to save space in the room - order a model with drawers for storing linen. However, for fans of minimalism in the interior, as well as owners of “modest” living space, it is advisable to buy a product in a different style.
Children's furniture in Provence style
Beds in Provence style
You should take a special approach to choosing furniture for a nursery, because it is not only part of the interior, but also important elements for sleep and relaxation, so the first thing you should pay attention to is comfort. Children's furniture for girls Provence is something elegant, but at the same time simple
Details play an important role here, as they determine compliance with the chosen style.
Children's bed in Provence style
It is very important not only to fit a bed into the interior, but also to choose a cozy and comfortable product. The Provence children's bed has several distinctive features
- Material. The best choice in this case is a product made of natural wood, ideally with artificial aging.
- Color. Calm and soft colors that go well with other interior elements.
- Finishing. We recommend openwork elements, the application of stylish patterns, and fabric finishing of the headboard. The forging also looks good.
Children's sofa Provence
If we talk about a nursery in the Provence style for a girl, then the sofa is a particularly important detail here - these products perfectly convey the moods and preferences of the inhabitants of French villages in the south of the country. Furniture for a Provence girl should contain sophisticated decorative elements: figured frames, colors that reflect French charm and the sun rays of Provence. The upholstery for the sofa can contain interesting designs and patterns, frills and ruffles. Very often, such products are decorated with pillows that match the upholstery or are combined with other decorative elements.
Children's wardrobe Provence
The wardrobe, like the rest of the elements of a Provence-style nursery for a girl, should be made of natural wood, preferably decorated in the form of various curls, patterns and matched with the rest of the furniture. Facades can contain mirrors, which will advantageously visually enlarge the space. The ideal solution is a Provence children's set, but if it is not possible to purchase it, then using available means you can personally style discreet furniture in a country style. More often it is a technique of decoupage and aging, which can be mastered without special skills.
Children's table Provence
Provence (country) children's furniture is simplicity, convenience and comfort. This also applies to the table. A Provence-style nursery for a girl must have a place for study, games and entertainment. Table and chairs in the style of the French province of Provence are a combination of comfort and rustic simplicity. Such products are decorated with curly curls, but a very simple, unpretentious design without additional elements is possible.
If we talk about a cosmetic table, then this element of furniture often contains openwork elements, indicating that the owner of the room is a representative of the fair half of humanity, a gentle and romantic nature. Mirrors for such products are made in a form that does not have sharp corners, and are often decorated with additional decorative elements on the mirror surface. The main thing in this element of the interior is the unique charm inherent in French women from early childhood.
Manufacturing materials
Mostly beds made in the spirit of the French province are made of natural wood or metal. In budget-type models, instead of solid wood, cheaper analogs are used - chipboard and MDF. Features of products made from different materials:
- Wooden beds. The frame is made of solid wood, the following species are chosen: oak, pine, birch, ash. The last material on the list lends itself well to painting. But most often, wooden models are left in their natural form with a natural cut pattern.
- Forged Products. From metal, modern forging technologies are used to create openwork twisted headboards, bent legs, elegant armrests or frames. This bed looks very elegant and sophisticated. Painted white, it is ideal for a girl's bedroom.
- Models made of chipboard or MDF. When you need inexpensive bedroom furniture, choose the first option. MDF beds are more expensive and are of higher quality. Chipboards may contain harmful impurities, so you need to make sure that you have a certificate confirming the safety of the product. Externally, both options are practically indistinguishable from natural material and look very decent.
The best choice is a bed made of MDF. The product will not require large expenditures, will demonstrate high performance characteristics and will last a long time. Such furniture retains its presentable appearance for a long time, it will not be damaged by insects, and it will not begin to rot or deform over time.
Wooden
Forged
MDF
Chipboard
French country
Whether you have been to France or not, you probably imagine French country as something like a weathered barn among fields of lavender and friendly sun. French country is a mixture of elegance and modest simplicity. It provides an Old World aesthetic that is enhanced by the stability and presence of rustic finishes, timelessly attractive with sophistication in curves and details.
In French Country, there is a contrast between the ornate, intricate and elegant details and the rough, rustic, rough-hewn ones that serve as much of the style's charm.
Don't shy away from adding elegant fabric to the space by placing a wooden chest nearby.
Show off the scuffs, chips and grace of once elegant furniture. Use lantern-style pendants as lighting elements.
French style kitchen
French country is predominantly pastel, in several tones of a neutral palette. It has a lot in common with the Provence style, which is also the embodiment of the village life of the French countryside.
French country is popular around the world for its effortless elegance, splashes of color and accents of natural or rustic accessories. Decorating your home in French style won't cost you a fortune. In fact, you can use your creativity to repurpose existing furniture to create a delightful space.
Basics of French Country Decor
French country has a warm and comfortable feeling. When it comes to colors, it's best to stay on the warm side of the color spectrum, with colors that have medium to low intensity. Think about:
- soft yellow (the color of butter);
- warm pink;
- soft blue;
- creamy
The furnishings should have graceful and simple lines. French country style has a lot of painted furniture. Buying old, damaged furniture works well for this style. Wrought iron or rusty metal accents are also often included in this shabby chic look.
The fabrics are always thick, always relying on traditional fabric. You can keep it in stripes, checks or add wool - anything will do.
Kitchen
Tip There are many jars in the kitchen where basic food items are stored. Find old identical cans to duplicate the look. Add hand-drawn labels or print them on your home printer. For the walls, imitate the decor of old streets with their distinctive “Grocery” signs and such.
You can make your own signs. Just find craft stores that have inexpensive wall signs or metal signs. Use wrought iron stands to place pots or utensils with hooks for security.
Simple lines with accents
Dining room
For a traditional French Country dining room, choose distressed white single chairs and use a round wrought iron patio table or garden table for an inexpensive dining room.
You can also repaint your wood set or purchase a new one painted in pastel or natural wood tones.
Living room
Country houses should not be burdened with heavy drapery, as in the traditional style. Add openwork panel curtains to let the sun flood into the room while maintaining privacy. In front of the window, place a wrought iron bench with cushions for seating near the window.
Bright living room in light colors
Bedroom
An old iron garden gate would look great as a headboard if you're looking to add French Country style to your bedroom. Use an old metal garden bench at the end of the bed as a sitting area. Dressers painted in warm, pastel colors, slightly distressed, will bring a feeling of comfort to the room.
Bathroom
Use wrought iron towel racks or antique wrought iron fruit bowls to hold towels. An old painted buffet under the sink works well here.
Chandelier and lamps for the bedroom - Provence
[ads_block] Lighting devices, when talking about Provence, can be divided into two popular groups.
The first is a conservative-looking, curly chandelier with glass shades. They are complemented by inserts made of forged metal, bent brass, and chains. The lampshades themselves are in the form of lilies, candles, lanterns, birdcages or bells.
The second group is lamps with cozy fabric lampshades.
You can combine both options: hang a not very large, but expressive chandelier under the ceiling, and place a lamp under a cap made of cute chintz by the bed.
Small sconces are mounted near the bed, near the dressing mirror. Most often these are lamps stylized as candelabra, with shades on forged mounts.
Advantages of beds
- High stability;
- Durability;
- Small in size compared to wooden models.
If we talk about the headboard of the bed, it is made from a special frame; it is often made in a rather soft version, covered with stylish leather or fabric. Designers of various furniture use the so-called carriage screed method. Buttons, beads, and textile flowers look good as a variety of decorations.
Pay attention to transformable sofas, they are ideal for use instead of beds. Such models are characterized by extraordinary functionality and practicality.
Do not forget that such sofas must certainly be quite soft and made of fairly high-quality natural materials with patterns.
The legs must certainly have a curved shape. The bedspread often acts as the main assistant. You should be careful when purchasing it. Choose exclusively natural materials; they should also be well painted. Satin works great, as does cotton. Warmer and denser fabrics include fleece, as well as six and jacquard.
When decorating, you can use various bedspreads. The bedspread should have floral motifs, but it can also be plain. It can depict both cells and stripes.
An interesting detail that can complement the appearance of the bed can be a so-called bedspread with a beautiful valance. This is a frill that reaches to the floor, which falls on both sides of your bed and slightly covers its legs.
It is often customary to use bedding made from fairly environmentally friendly materials. For this purpose, linen, calico, and silk are used. Embroidered monograms are used, as well as other elements in the form of lace, frills and even ribbons.
To make everything especially charming and to emphasize the characteristic chosen style, most designers also advise placing several pillows by the bed that would match the main shade of the bed. Everything can be decorated with floral patterns or ruffles. Forged beds in Provence style look beautiful.
Pillows can also come in different shades and are often rectangular in shape. The most important thing is to always remember to have a sense of proportion and don’t get too carried away with the decor. Some designers advise installing your bed with the headboard facing the window.
Naturally, this will allow you to see the view. The landscape can often turn into part of your interior
Also pay attention to the canopies, they can be made of beautiful materials. With it you can also somewhat enhance the feeling of your comfort.
Provence style is the most gentle and romantic of all country options. For this reason, a bed in this style is an ideal solution for those who are romantic in nature.
If we talk about finishing, then it must certainly be very natural. It can be either wood, ceramics or stone. These are not always quite affordable materials, for this reason it is worth using some analogues. It can be either artificial stone or veneer. Plaster is excellent for these purposes, and whitewash for the ceiling. And on our website you can see a photo of a bed in the Provence style.
Friendly directions in design
If, when looking for a bed, the choice of Provence raises some doubts, then you can look for a solution in another similar direction - Country style.
Literally, “Country” translates as “village,” and everything in this style speaks of the homeliness of village life. Country music is characterized by simplicity, a desire for everything natural and cozy.
This style originated and developed in North America, but due to its democracy it has absorbed many different trends. Country style is characterized by simplicity and functionality, many small details typical of a village setting, the use of natural colors and shades that convey the atmosphere of forests and fields.
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As in Provence, the central motif here is a floral pattern, and the preferred materials are natural wood with the effect of a raw surface without painting.
The main difference between these two styles is their national connection. Provence reflects the atmosphere of the south of France with its sophistication and grace, while Country repeats the aesthetics and flavor of the countryside as such, making simplicity the main element.
When choosing beds in the Country style, preference is given to models made of unpainted solid wood with a massive headboard decorated with carvings. The bed is decorated with textiles made from coarse fabrics (such as tapestry or linen) with a floral pattern or a striped pattern.
Shabby chic, which means “shabby luxury,” largely repeats Provence, but in addition to floral patterns, it uses images of angels, stucco molding and gilding. A bed in the Shabby Chic style is more suitable for a girl’s children’s room to create the image of a fairy-tale princess in her bedroom.
The Rustic style, on the contrary, is distinguished by deliberate roughness of shapes and lines. Rustic literally replicates rustic interiors; furniture in this style is made exclusively from solid wood and metal (copper, brass, cast iron, imitation blackened silver), the shapes of the furniture are angular, and the tones are warm. Rustic is perfect for decorating rooms in country houses.
What rooms is it suitable for?
The birthplace of the direction is the French village. Therefore, recreation areas designed in this way are more often found in private homes. There is unlimited natural light and large areas.
But you can bring features of French country into city apartments. They look especially harmonious in children's rooms and teenage girls' rooms. Although the family recreation area will look gentle and cozy.
Color palette
Provence has always been characterized by the use of exclusively watercolor and pastel shades. It is often possible to use a huge number of shades in one combination. However, rather sharp contrasts should not be allowed.
The most popular shades are white; ivory, cream, and baked milk tone also look beautiful. Lemon and olive also look quite good
Note the light lilac and lavender, gray, powder pink shade
The front of the bed can be created using the artificial aging method. For this purpose, craquelure or patina is applied to the surface itself, with their help you can imitate scratches, as well as other interesting effects that are mainly caused only by the influence of time. After which the surface remains covered with varnish or matte wax.
To create such beds, exclusively solid wood and metal are used. It is worth noting that the products are characterized by incredible sophistication, as well as lightness due to forged patterns.
Furniture for Provence is often made from wood and carefully painted. If we talk about iron beds, they are very compact. Such beds look beautiful with openwork curls. Double beds in Provence style also look good.
Review of manufacturers
Products from furniture factories in France, Italy, and Spain with representative stores in large Russian cities are in particular demand. After all, who else but the bearers of European culture themselves can make furniture that fully corresponds to the atmosphere of Provence. At the same time, many European manufacturers fundamentally do not work with Chinese factories, and when ordering furniture from them, you can be sure that the materials used are natural and environmentally friendly, as well as the absence of toxic MDF and chipboard. When painting furniture, environmentally friendly and safe paint is also used. Factories in such cases are located in France, Sweden, Poland, and Romania. Most stores are ready to offer delivery of furniture to its future place of residence.
Beautiful interior design ideas
However, no matter how beautiful the exterior and facade design may be, the interior is still more important, because we have to live inside the house. It is possible to create a very beautiful interior in different ways. You can choose plain wallpapers and natural materials that will emphasize the simplicity and sophistication of the interior. Or you can go the other way: choose elegant wallpaper with monograms and antique furniture. It all depends on your preferences.
Princess bedroom
The first room that can be considered as an example of an ideal room for a Provence style home is a bedroom in delicate shades of pink. This room is equally suitable for a teenage girl and a young couple. Everything in it is kept in the same range. The main colors are white, light pink and beige.
The ceiling is decorated with stucco, which also emphasizes the beauty of this style. The simple light wood floor is accented by a rug. The furniture in this room is also light and appropriate in style. This is a beautiful bedside table with graceful legs, a chest of drawers, and a chair.
Mini dining room
It’s also very easy to style the living room or dining room as Provence. If you have a small family, a neat wooden table complemented by a couple of chairs will be enough. Light colors will make even the smallest room cozy. And in order to free up maximum space, choose neat shelves instead of a massive cabinet. You can also turn a wide window sill into a seating area. Place a colored blanket and a couple of pillows on it, and you will no longer need to buy a sofa.
Antique living room
If you like the classic Provence style with all that shabby furniture and matching decor, you can decorate your living room this way. In such a room there is room for a small fireplace. You can place a mirror, figurines and other decor on the mantelpiece. Opposite the fireplace there is a comfortable sofa and a couple of armchairs next to it. In this case, tables with bent legs serve not only as a place for arranging pots with fresh flowers and storing various small items, but as a decorative element. Decorative little things can also be placed in an antique sideboard. These could be candles, photo frames, and so on.
A house in the Provence style is the choice of romantic people who do not want to surround themselves with appliances and other modern little things. Natural wood, an abundance of little things dear to the heart and antique furniture - this is what distinguishes the interior in the Provence style.
Finishing (walls, floor, ceiling)
The main materials of Provence are wood and stone. It is enough to plaster the bedroom walls. If you want something like that, you can cover them with light-colored wooden panels.
In a Provencal bedroom you can often find wallpaper made of paper or textiles. The pattern will be small flowers (they are reminiscent of French meadows) or scenes from pastoral life.
If the bedroom is small, then you should get by with whitewashing the walls: this will visually increase the space.
In France, ceramic or brick slabs are laid on the floor, so this option is quite suitable for the Provence style, but it is worth remembering that it will be cold to step on the stone in winter. For Russian weather, a good old tree is more suitable. For a budget option, a laminate that imitates wood is also suitable. The main thing is that it is light in color. You can make it a little darker than the ceiling and walls, for example, beige.
Provence bedroom interior: photo of a floor laid with brick tiles
Wooden caissons are suitable for the ceiling. The word comes from the French caisson, which means box. This is an element of ceiling division, that is, the ceiling is divided into square niches that look like boxes.
Color solutions
Inspired by the landscapes of the south of France, Provence is characterized by the use of only natural shades of pastel and watercolor tones
It is possible to combine a large number of colors, but it is important to avoid too sharp contrasts - the shades should flow from one to another and complement each other. Bright and flashy colors are strictly prohibited
When choosing a bed in the Provence style and decorating it with textiles, use the following colors and shades:
- the most popular are all kinds of shades of white, often in warm colors - cream, ivory, the color of baked milk;
- beige, creme brulee, coffee with milk;
- pale lemon, olive;
- light blue, shade of sea wave;
- lavender, light lilac;
- light gray;
- pink powder color.
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Where to begin?
The most important element of the bedroom is, of course, the bed. Wooden beds are the most popular for creating Provence style. Usually they are not painted at all or painted in light colors. Artificial aging adds zest and creates that same atmosphere of measured village life, where there are no city problems and worries, but there is peace and lightness.
A bed in Provence style will take a central place in the interior: it will be large, with a painted headboard and a comfortable soft mattress. It’s also convenient that to create a rustic flavor, you don’t have to buy a new bed when renovating, but use an old one, adding the necessary elements to it: paint it, add carvings or patterns...
If there are already chips or scratches on it, then this is even for the better: this is precisely what is a constant attribute of furniture in villages.
Window
Provence style rooms should be as bright as possible. Achieving this is quite simple - install wide windows that will let a lot of light into the room. For French country style, simple wooden windows are best. Although plastic windows are a more modern solution that allows you to retain more heat in the house, they look too modern and do not fit into the Provence style.
The inside of such windows should be decorated with properly selected curtains. For the kitchen you should choose short curtains, and for the bedrooms and living room it is better to find luxurious long curtains. This is explained by the fact that short curtains are more practical in the kitchen, and the material will not get dirty during cooking. And in living spaces you want to create coziness, here long thick curtains come to the rescue, which completely hide you from prying eyes.
