Hankering for a touch of French Country romance to add a splash of Gallic nostalgia to the bedroom?
It’s an increasingly popular look and it’s certainly not difficult to find plenty of inspiration on the internet and within magazines to set the ball rolling.
And indeed, as with most decorative projects, there are only a few simple elements that form the basis of great results that are sure to captivate!
Firstly we need to look at colour and style. The majority of French Country decorative designs are set against a background of gently whitewashed woodwork and accordingly are able to harmonise with a wide palette of colours.
In a bedroom setting, toile and flower patterns can be used to great effect and wherever possible choosing materials that are luxurious to the touch will set the tone. Consider also adding some traditional French lace to the room design or even some traditional brocade for a truly vintage feel. For those fond of a splash of colour, it might be nice to consider a light sky blue or light leaf green wall treatment or even that soft gold colour, so quintessentially French. The trick is to make the colour palette look a little faded and sun bleached, although not tatty.
Match the colours in the walls with accent colours in the rugs, bed linens, curtains and accessories to ensure a common thread that holds the theme together. Including some antique painted wooden furniture and accessories in the room, that appear well loved and worn or even a little chipped will evoke an authentic look of rural French living that is hard not to adore.
The days when genuine old French furniture pieces could be picked up for a song, is long gone, although a trip to France might unearth some old treasures for the truly committed, and closer to home there are still the odd bargains to be found.
Alternatively why not achieve the look with a little artistic flair a pot of paint and a paintbrush? Many a tatty old piece of English furniture can be distressed with ease in a somewhat Shabby Chic fashion to achieve the French country look. Or for the less adventurous, replicas abound!
And of course, please don’t overlook the bedstead. Again, genuine French original metal beds are hard to come by and anyway were often oddly sized.
Better to opt for a romantic reproduction with graceful lines and lovely detailing that would look totally at home in any French Country themed bedroom and form a charming centrepiece from which to take inspiration for the soft furnishings, linens and accessories.
Take your pick from a host of different traditional designs.
As an expression of our tastes and personality, a French design inspired bedstead is sure to do just that. Inspire…..!
Coming next: More French Country bedroom romance…





