French country decor, like most of farmhouse styles, can vary greatly. French country decor can range from super elegant (think old world chateaux) to simple and rustic (think cottage in Provence). One rule that defines the look of a French country room, however, is how the decor is always a seamless blend of rustic and refined. French country style is both effortlessly elegant and homey and welcoming.
Designing a French country bedroom can seem pretty intimidating at first, especially if you're looking at all the perfectly styled rooms on Pinterest. Those rooms may look perfect and impossible to achieve in your own home, but it's really not. Here are some good tips for creating a beautifully elegant, beautifully welcoming French country bedroom!
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12 Essential Elements of a French Country Bedroom
1. Use light-colored neutral paint on the walls.
One trademark of a French country style bedroom is the neutral colored walls. Whether you choose a warm neutral (like cream or beige) or a cool neutral (like gray), neutral walls are a must. If you need help finding the right color for your room, go check out my Modern French Country Paint Guide. It's full of great paint colors!
2. Choose a more refined headboard.
The bed should be the focal point of your bedroom, and your headboard needs to be the star. Several styles of headboards would work beautifully in a French country style room, but tufted headboards and vintage, painted headboards seem to be the most popular. Surprisingly, you don't have to spend a lot of money on a beautiful headboard! Here are several options for affordable headboards that would look amazing in any French country style bedroom:
French Country Headboards:
3. Add a vintage piece of furniture.
The French love their antiques and family heirlooms. You can't have a French country style bedroom without incorporating at least one piece of vintage or antique furniture. What about a french country chandelier? Or, it can be something as simple as a bedside table or something as refined as an antique vanity (I have my grandmother's in my bedroom). Whatever it is, it will certainly add that old-world feel that is such a hallmark in French country design!
4. Frame your windows with pleated linen curtains.
Gorgeous pinch-pleated curtains are a must in a French country bedroom! The fabric of the curtains makes a big difference, too. Linen is pretty much a staple fabric in French country design, but cotton is also pretty widely used. Both linen and cotton curtains hang beautifully and linen has a gorgeous texture. Personally, though, I can't afford linen curtains (I wish I could) so I like to fake the look of linen by using bleached drop cloths. Yes, you read that right! I will go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy two 6X9 or 9X12 drop cloths (depending on the size of my windows), bleach them, wash and dry them, and hang them up using curtain ring clips. They look amazing and they're so much cheaper!
Pinch Pleated Curtains:
5. Hang an antique door or sophisticated sliding barn doors.
A beautiful antique door or a pair of sliding barn doors in place of a bathroom or closet door makes a huge impact on a room! If you're lucky enough to find an antique door at a flea market, snatch it up! Or you can build your own barn door (it's not as hard as you think!) and buy a barn door kit on Amazon here. Adding this element to your room is a bit of a project, but it is well worth it!
6. Choose your fabrics wisely.
The fabrics on your bed will really make a difference in defining your French country style room. Fabric like cotton and linen, like I mentioned before, are key. Fabric that are light in weight and color make the room fell welcoming, inviting, comfortable and elegant. Don't forget to pile those pillows on and toss a chunky knit throw over the bed, too!
French Style Bedding:
7. Pepper your room with flowers.
Florals are essential for French country decor, especially in French country bedroom! They add a beautiful touch to any room, but in this particular style, it's a must. Roses, peonies, lavender…just about any flower you love will do. And when the seasons change, it's so much fun to switch your florals to match the time of year! I love to add pumpkins and hydrangeas in the fall, and evergreens in the winter. I use really well made fake florals (Hobby Lobby has great flowers!), but if you're brave enough and have the budget for real flowers, more power to you!
8. Fake a fireplace.
I have always, always wanted a fireplace in my bedroom! Unfortunately, it's rare to find them in modern American homes. If you're lucky enough to have a bona fide fireplace in your bedroom, I am super jealous! But if you're like most of us and don't have a fireplace in your room, you can fake the look by buying or building a faux mantle. I recently added a faux mantle to my bedroom and I can't tell you how much I love it (don't worry, you'll see it in a blog post coming soon!).
9. Add a touch of rustic charm with distressed furniture.
Distressed furniture is also a big element in French country style design. This can be the same vintage or antique piece that you rescue and refinish or paint! Remember, rustic meets refined is the trademark of French country style, and distressed furniture is one way to add that look very easily.
10. Don't forget a bit of bling.
Touches of gold or silver adds that hint of effortless elegance into a French country bedroom. Add a mirrored pair of picture frames or some mercury glass candlesticks to your faux mantle to add that hint of bling. Or you could glam it up big time with mirrored side tables or a gilded headboard! The possibilities are endless–just add bling!
11. Hang a chandelier.
Whether it's rustic wood or dripping with crystals, a chandelier is a perfect finishing touch for a French country bedroom. This is one element that I am dying to add to my bedroom but so far my husband has blackballed the idea. He is convinced that if we don't have a ceiling fan in our bedroom, he's going to shrivel up and die. One day, I will wear him down and get my chandelier!
French Country Chandelier Options:
12. Create an intimate seating area.
I have always loved the idea of a seating area in my bedroom. Even if you have just a small corner, you can create a beautiful little area to sit and have a cup of coffee in the morning or do your quiet time while the kids nap. You can find a chair at a thrift store and refinish it or you can buy a pretty little French style chair and place a small table next to it. Add a little lamp, some books and a vase of flowers and you have a comfortable, cozy, inviting spot to relax and enjoy your own French country bedroom!
Perfect French Country Chairs:
Whether you like your French country style bedroom more rustic or gilded to the max, incorporating these easy essential elements will help you create the look you're hoping for!
How have you added touches of French country to your bedroom? What would you like to do next?
