A Guide to Interior Design Styles: French Country Style

If your dream home is a picture-perfect balance of elegant and rustic, then French Country design is exactly what you've been looking for. Its antique inspiration and country comfort are perfect for creating relaxed, beautiful, and timeless spaces.

As a style, its origins are a bit hard to define. It’s a look that is fundamentally about channeling French countryside living in centuries gone by. However, it didn't become popularized as an interior design style in America until post-World War I. Soldiers returning home sought to build houses that mimicked the architecture and aesthetic they’d seen abroad. In the decades that have followed, French Country has passed in and out of fashion, but never really faded from prominence. Today, in the Instagram era of warm lighting, flowers, and rustic finishes, it's exactly what we've all been craving.

French Country homes are fundamentally about their warm and inviting design. To achieve that with color, start with a neutral base. Beige, tan, and ivory are popular choices. Bear in mind, though, that any neutral can vary from warm to cool. Make sure you're staying on the warm end of the spectrum. As for accent colors, French Country homes have been known to incorporate almost any color imaginable. Once again, though, focus on warm tones. Popular shades include rusty reds, soft yellows, and earthy greens.

Color isn't just about the paint you pick, either. Vibrant tile backsplashes are an especially pleasing element of many French Country homes. Geometric and floral patterns were both popular choices in antiquity. Replicas of those antique tiles are available today if you want to nail that historic look.

The furniture is where elegance really comes out in this aesthetic. Inspired by the 18th century, furniture lines are all about flow and curves. The arms or legs of a chair can become miniature works of art in their own right, with intricate carving and elegant tapering. Doors on cabinets and desks will often be highly decorated as well, with medallions, inlay, or panels.

On top of all these sculptural elements, upholstery is also a focal point. Toile fabric is especially sought after for a French Country home. This fabric typically features a white background with an intricate, repeating scene printed across it. Blue, dark red, and black are the most common colors, but almost any shade you can think of has been used at one time or another. Other fabrics that work well with French Country design include gingham, stripes, and tapestry. If the pattern and texture evoke antique elegance or rustic charm, it'll suit this style well.

If you're fond of antiques, worn paint and rusted metal, then now's the time to indulge your fancy. Decorating with actual antiques will give your space a sense of history and depth. Consider old mirrors, old books, woven baskets, iron accents, antique and copper cookware, and porcelain. In terms of artwork, paintings of nature and portraits tend to work well. Another approach is to look for antique or reproduction prints. Lithographs of animals, plants, or maps are a popular choice for French Country walls. They evoke the feeling of a refined French retreat, dedicated to the study the natural world.

If you're not as fond of antiques, then consider using natural elements for decoration. To bring the countryside indoors, fill vases with bright, cheerful flowers. No need to pursue blooms that are expensive or exotic, either. Common garden flowers and wildflowers are more in keeping with the aesthetic. You can also consider using potted herbs, especially as kitchen decor. As an added bonus, you'll never have to buy fresh herbs again.

It's hard to imagine a more perfect finishing touch for a French Country home than a sliding barn door. The design of these doors invokes the core style elements of rustic and elegant. Not to mention that the space-saving, sliding mechanic maximizes the coziness of the space by allowing the easiest possible movement from room to room.

This one-of-a-kind set of Antique Double Doors is the pinnacle of French Country style. Each one is a unique, true antique barn door, with stunning weathering and patina. Everything that this aesthetic demands. If you'd like assitance in finding the perfect set of sliding barn doors for yourself, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 713-400-6626 or contact us through our website. We are passionate about design, and we can't wait to help make your French Country dreams a reality.