Provence style living room: how to create a beautiful rustic interior. Provence style living room design - we decorate a stylish interior with taste (80 photos) The interior of a small Provencal style living room
Living room furniture in the Provence style should be made of natural wood or a material that imitates it qualitatively. French country is characterized by furniture painted with paint, with traces of scuffs, the so-called shabby chic. Another option is staining, through which the structure of the tree appears. Furniture should have a slightly antique look, like "from my grandmother's attic." Only light colors: blue, olive, coffee with milk, terracotta, ocher, milk, wheat, beige, lavender. The main color of the Provencal living room is white. The upholstery of upholstered furniture should not be contrasting, choose all the same light shades. The fabrics are natural. These important nuances should be known to everyone who has decided to buy modular living rooms in Moscow, given the wide range of stores in the capital.
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Provence style in interior design is the most striking expression of the so-called "French country". It has gained worldwide fame due to the extraordinary lightness and comfort that radiate rooms decorated according to the rules of provincial France. Vivid features of the style are rustic naivete, comfort and original simplicity. It is often chosen by people who are tired of ostentatious luxury and want grace.
This is a rather complex style and you will have to carefully consider thousands of details. Today, we are also betting on the inner warmth and romance of the rural lifestyle of this warm and cozy corner.
A bit of history
Provence is a region in the southeast of France, the ancestor of the French country style. The French bourgeoisie settled here in the 17th century to be away from the city noise of the capital, to enjoy the silence, serenity, picturesque landscapes that surround this place from all sides. They began to build houses for themselves with the inherent, purely French elegance, which absorbed all the best - natural lightness, naturalness, the charm of the Old World. All these features are still reflected in the authentic French country, and in this sense, Provence is its quintessence.
The Bohemian public immediately noticed and picked up this style. He very quickly became popular, first among artists, poets and writers, and then among the wider public. By the 19th century, Provence became known throughout Europe. And today we are inspired by its special energy and atmosphere, which disposes to calmness, contemplation.
If you like simplicity and originality, then this style will suit you. It will look great in country houses. The atmosphere of lightness and relaxation under the canopy of nature is a feature of Provence.
How to create a Provencal style?
Think about transforming the interior with characteristic vintage furniture, shabby chic decor, small details, modern accents into a room that will be reminiscent of the French province. The simple Provencal-style interior brings the comfortable simplicity of a French county house, natural fabrics, period furniture.
Provencal style calls for open interior design, delicate colors complemented by white decorations, pastel colors, bright accents and floral prints. French provincial home decoration is a mixture of flavors of local markets, shops, French cafes, seasoned with delicious spices, flowers of Provencal cuisine.
Houses in Provence are warm, bright and cozy. Decorated with wooden doors, large windows and shutters, they are hospitable and welcoming. Beautiful gardens and breathtaking views are reflected in the interior, bringing nature into the living spaces.
Living room Provence in the house
In a spacious country house, this style can be achieved much easier; it looks more organic in cottages, especially in the south. But you can also create Provence from a small living room.
A Provence-style living room should plunge its inhabitants into the world of exquisite decorative art, without which the room will look too cold and empty for this style. Therefore, you should carefully consider all the details for walls and other surfaces that will enrich the interior with a special “shabby chic” characteristic of it.
How about wall painting? You can pick up a ready-made fresco or hire an artist who will professionally paint cozy Provencal streets in the rays of the hot sun on the entire wall, there will even be enough floral motifs against the background of roughly plastered light walls. Or add a few paintings on canvas depicting spacious meadows, blue sea, bright flowers of Provence. Put decorative ceramics on the shelf to add coziness, as well as decoupage boxes.
Furniture
It is the furniture that makes the atmosphere in the living room and is responsible for the overall impression. It should be not only and not so much functional, but primarily decorative. Unpainted furniture was made in the province of France from expensive wood - walnut or cherry, and had many carved patterns with motifs of animals, flowers and musical instruments.
Chairs were made from lighter waxed woods such as mulberry or walnut, and the tops of the large family table were typically covered in green, brown, or yellow glazed tiles. By the way, tiles are also desirable for the floor, and not carpets, as you might think.
Thinking of a typical Provence style living room, I immediately imagine these characteristic curved legs of wooden furniture - where would I be without them. And upholstery - always with watercolor floral patterns on a light background, preferably with a craquelure effect.
Furniture should look like it came from a sixth-generation bourgeois great-grandfather. It can be really old furniture with a patina of time, worn paint on the legs and faded upholstery - that would be perfect! But it is unlikely that you will find the original furniture of this era somewhere. It's good that they learned to reproduce it - this technique is called "artificial aging" and is widely used in interior design. Regarding the Provence style, this technique embodies many possibilities, imitating chips, scratches, scuffs from imaginary use, traces of wood bugs and much more.
Pay special attention to this "wear and tear" effect when working on the style, as it is very important here.. You can complete it yourself. The main thing is to get the feeling that the furniture in your living room has been standing for at least a dozen years. Too elegant and sophisticated things will look out of place here, since it is necessary to achieve the effect of a simple village life, a little rough simplicity and ease in design.
Composition of colors, materials and furniture
The living room is the most luxurious room in an apartment or house and decorated in Provence style it looks especially cozy and hospitable. To transform a standard living room into an unusual room with a modern provincial feel, you need to change the furniture to look aged, add light pastel colors, decorate with exquisite accessories made of wood, stone or porcelain and, of course, present it all correctly.
Sometimes it will be difficult to achieve a sense of harmony when working with this style, as it contains a large number of details and accessories that can easily clutter up the living room. Therefore, it is necessary that each item play its role.
Flowers are of great importance. The walls and ceilings are clad in pastel colors, mostly white. Use rough stucco or raw wood to accentuate a simple rural setting. All these materials should be complemented only with wooden furniture - furniture made of another material will break the whole image.
Wooden furniture can be painted not only in light colors, but also in bright ones, imitating the colors that are found in the nature of Provence - meadows, lavender, sea. Such a play of colors will create a feeling of eternal summer and bring a particle of warmth from Southern France to your home.
The fabric is also very important. It should look harmonious with your design, it is best to choose a simple cotton textile with patterns of flowers, trees and grasses.
Kitchen-living room
A new trend towards combining the kitchen and a small living room is aimed at creating a single comfortable space for living. And this is a great reason to make effective areas - living room, kitchen, dining room - in an elegant and at the same time comfortable Provence style. Let these zones become the embodiment of comfort and warmth - it will not be difficult for you to achieve this effect with the help of soft shades on the furniture.
Fill the kitchen-living room with light, pastel colors, slightly aged furniture, accessories made from natural materials, flowers and knick-knacks made of stone or porcelain.
Use a practical set of wood to match the living room furniture, light curtains with floral motifs, pots and spice jars. If Provence-style kitchen belongings and containers are best placed on open shelves, then modern kitchen appliances are best stored in a built-in and maximally “camouflaged” form.
The kitchen needs good lighting from various sources and, preferably, a large window. Light pastel walls, old, cracked and slightly stained furniture, abundant use of forged metal elements, copper and bronze accessories, flowers in clay or porcelain pots, open shelves with plates, wicker elements, natural textiles - all these will unite your kitchen and living room design. .
Use shades of beige, mustard, olive that will make your mood. Shades of blue, lavender or turquoise, traditional white or cream colors are also often used for kitchen furniture. Dark furniture can also be used in the kitchen. For example, chocolate brown or walnut, but this is rather an exception.
Fireplace
Each region in France has its own style of fireplaces. Provence style fireplaces were traditionally made of white stone, which is found in abundance in the region (Estaillades stone). It was carved from a monolithic piece by hand, and had a rather rough appearance. It also originally had a fairly large size - enough to cook food in it.
Today there are different ways to reproduce the Provencal living room with a fireplace - you can choose an authentic look or replace it with newer solutions that are often found in country styles not only French, but also of a different direction.
For example, you can use masonry, brick, tile.
Lighting
Forged objects for lighting - such as candelabra, candlesticks, chandeliers - nicely complement the living room and give it charm. It is worth noting that all these details must be present, because in the 17th century the bourgeois did not yet know electricity and used these particular items. You can paint them yourself in light colors if you found only black products in the store, or if light ones are many times more expensive. Any touch of manual labor is appreciated here, perhaps more than in other styles.
Colors of Provence
The Provence region has amazing natural beauty with fabulous landscapes, lavender fields and glorious sunny skies. All this is reflected in the interior - especially impressive shades of blue and golden colors, lilac, purple hues and soft white tones that reflect the natural vitality of Provence.
Warm neutrals are always relevant here - from pale cream to sandy and soft dark purple shades. These colors create an atmosphere of a calm French province, where peaceful life flows through the centuries to a leisurely rhythm, organically combined with comfortable and modern ideas.
Decor and accessories
It is difficult to imagine this style without fresh flowers and indoor plants:
- roses;
- lavender;
- alfalfa.
The French love of flowers is reflected in many household items, textiles and shades: plant-like embroidery, patterned wrought ironwork reminiscent of winding stems, even dishes are traditionally decorated with floral prints.
Advice
The Provencal atmosphere can be achieved with handmade ceramics known as faience.
Paintings
For your Provence project, the following details will come in handy in large quantities:
- photo frames;
- ceramic trinkets;
- various vases and candlesticks;
- home craft items.
But as accessories, the most important place is occupied by painting.
Artists are often inspired by the Provencal landscape and humanity has a large collection of a wide variety of works that will satisfy every taste. This cannot but rejoice, as a tastefully selected picture does a lot for decor. To say the least, a well-chosen picture can define the whole decor and set the leading role in the perception of space.
The Provencal style radiating warmth and comfort in the interior of the hall or living room is associated with the landscapes of the southern French provinces: fields with blooming lavender and the brightness of the summer sky, warm sunbeams.
The Provencal style has another name - "French country", the peculiarity of this style direction lies in its provincial features. It is imbued with the spirit of old villages and home comfort.
Style Features
Provincial Provence is considered one of several varieties of country style, they are united by similar features, but they also have certain differences.
Provence style living room: interior photo
Provence has the following features;
- elegance of furniture;
- dominance of shades of pastel palette;
- exceptionally light colors in the finish;
- interesting flower drawings;
- unusual kitchen utensils and textiles;
- many embroidered appliqués and laces;
- plant motifs, including fresh flowers.
These features make this style special, distinguish it from others. Provence is a style that is personified by lavender, olive tree and sunflower.
Original, natural, not accepting pretentiousness - this is exactly the Provencal style.
Provence living room furniture, photo Provence in French means "province", the name itself speaks of the features of this style direction. Such an interior is suitable for those who are tired of the everyday hustle and bustle that accompanies life in a big city.
The illusion of a leisurely village life can also be created in an urban setting. A small village corner in a city apartment, reminiscent of the blue sky and the warm sun, is quite real.
Provencal style can be called universal, it is suitable for a living room of any size and layout. But the simpler the configuration of the room, the better.
Tint palette
In the living room, decorated in a Provencal style, shiny surfaces are not allowed. To decorate the room, it is necessary to use materials with a matte or semi-matte finish and the same paints.
The furniture and the general background are decorated in beige, greenish, white and pale blue tones. Gloomy, overly saturated shades should be avoided. Oppressive colors have no place in Provencal decor.
French-style living room, photo As if the sun-bleached shades make the Provencal decor so warm.
Important! Bright shades are acceptable, but only in certain details, for example, in flower arrangements.
The design of the Provencal style living room does not allow for colorful tones - do not forget about this when creating an interior that reflects the atmosphere of village houses lost among the mountain peaks.
Many have seen the pretty houses of the French villages in the paintings created by talented artists. The picturesque natural landscapes in most of us make us want to go on vacation to the mountains or the countryside, towards peace and natural silence.
If desired, you can create a similar environment in a city apartment. And for a country house or a summer residence, the French style is generally one of the best options.
Living rooms in Provence style, classic, photo In the French interior, lavender, saffron, ocher, pistachio, terracotta shades will be appropriate. Light natural colors, which are most often found in nature, are the basis of the color scheme of the Provencal interior.
This style direction is environmentally friendly, because only natural materials and the same colors are used to create it.
Wall, floor and ceiling decoration
The best material for wall decor is decorative plaster. The color of the plaster is predominantly white.
On a note! There is one secret of applying plaster on the surface of the walls - the material should be applied so that areas of light brick masonry remain visible.
Plastered surfaces look stylish, give the interior a modern touch.
French-style living room: interior photo It is better to forget about wallpaper for wall decoration, but if you still prefer this material, choose colors with a small floral print. But wallpaper is still an exception, classic Provence, as such, rejects such a finish.
For many, wall decoration with plaster seems too complicated, in this case, wood decor with subsequent painting or wood-imitating panels can serve as an alternative.
Attention! When decorating the walls, remember that they serve as a backdrop for furniture and decor items.
The flooring is usually made of wood. The floor can be plank or wood panel parquet, depending on your budget.
Provence style curtains for the living room, photo One of the most affordable options is a board, but the tile beloved by many should not be used. Tile is too cold material; it will not fit into the Provencal style.
If you do decide to use ceramic tiles, make sure they look aged. Do not spoil the look of the interior and wooden tiles (and its imitation).
Provence style living room, photo In a spacious living room, in the absence of funds for the purchase of real wood, you can lay a laminate with a pattern that imitates the pattern of natural wood. The cost of the laminate is quite acceptable, and such a coating looks presentable and natural.
The floors are also made of fired clay slabs.
Aged elements of artistic forging look very picturesque in the Provencal interior.
Materials of natural origin are expensive, and not everyone has the means to purchase them. As an alternative solution, interior design experts offer artificial counterparts.
To make the interior more comfortable, you can put a fluffy carpet on the floor.
The ceiling in the room, reminiscent of the picturesque rural landscapes of the French provinces, must be decorated in light colors. To prevent the coating from looking monotonous, you can supplement it with decorative beams.
But decorating with ceilings is important to do skillfully, it is better to entrust this work to a professional master. The design of the beams can look different, for example, they can be dark, and the ceiling, on the contrary, is white - you get a game of contrasts. Beams almost in their natural form, covered only with varnish, will not spoil the overall picture.
An important detail of any interior, and the living room is no exception, are interior doors. For Provencal design, you should choose door leaves with a white, artificially aged finish. Doors can also be decorated with a floral pattern using the decoupage technique.
Decoration of window openings
When creating a provincial living room interior, the decor of windows must be given special attention.
On a note! To create the impression of a French house, paint the area surrounding the window in a snow-white color.
Light curtains are ideal for decorating window openings. Among the most winning options, it is worth noting the curtains with a floral pattern.
Do not forget that the curtains must be sewn from natural material. Linen, cotton, silk, print - the choice is yours.
Dark curtains and curtains made of thick and dense fabric should be discarded.
Live plants will allow you to emphasize the features of the Provencal direction: place a planter with indoor flowers on the windowsill. Real plants allow you to get closer to nature, and it is for this that most people go on a summer vacation to the village.
The atmosphere in the spirit of "French country" should look stylish. In such interiors there is always a lot of sunlight, and the decor is rich and in absolute harmony.
Learn how to decorate beautifully: advice from designers on the selection of furniture, textiles, accessories. A photo gallery with examples of industrial-style rooms will also be useful.
Space planning
If you carefully study the photo with examples of living room interiors decorated in a sunny Provencal style, you can understand that it is difficult to decorate a small area in this direction. But if desired, the optimal result can still be achieved, and the key to success lies in the correct use of decorative elements.
First of all, it is necessary to correctly arrange the pieces of furniture in the room.
Important! For the Provencal style, it is necessary to purchase only aged furniture.
Furniture with traces of antiquity is one of the main features of the Provence interior. But where to get vintage interior items? Antiques are worth a lot of money, and the furniture that can be found in the attics, in most cases, is not in the best condition.
In fact, in stores you can find a line of furniture, the design of which meets the requirements of the Provence style, for a very reasonable price. More and more manufacturers offer furniture collections and walls in the Provence style for the living room, artificially aged.
Pieces of furniture with matte facades should look a little rough. Put in the living room an antique chest of drawers with a slightly cracked finish, a sideboard, a wicker sofa, a table and chairs with carved legs.
The photo below is an example of a small Provence-style living room:
Small living room in Provence style, photo What other furnishings do you need to buy for a living room interior in a cozy Provencal style? Here is a list of required items:
- wicker things;
- chests;
- hinged models of cabinets.
In almost all rustic interiors you can find wicker baskets.
It is imperative to complement the decor with forged gizmos, for example, chandeliers or lamps with lampshades with light finishes.
A rocking chair and even a fireplace can be included in the design project.
Provence style hall: interior photo A business card of the interior of a living room or hall in the Provence style is a small sofa with an original wicker seat. From the side, it looks like three combined chairs, complemented by armrests.
The bedspread on the sofa is best to choose white. In general, white shades dominate Provencal decor. Textiles with a printed pattern in the form of floral bouquets refresh the environment.
In interiors furnished in other styles, spacious wardrobes are used for storing things. In Provence, such furniture is unacceptable; a chest of drawers with an aged facade and a large cabinet are suitable as a replacement.
In the photo below - another modern living room in a country house in the Provence style:
Provence in the interior: photo of a modern living room In the Provence-style living room, you can also put a round table with massive legs: such a piece of furniture is a classic, it is he who will make the atmosphere at home more colorful and comfortable.
Floral patterns on surfaces are welcome, as another reminder of the blooming alpine meadows.
Accessories
To decorate the space of the hall and the living room in the Provence style, you should be creative. The emphasis should be on decorating the walls: it is important to create a colorful presentable design.
Place a clock on the wall (preferably vintage or looking vintage), paintings of natural scenery, decorative panels and mirrors.
Plant motifs pressed through on furniture upholstery, sofa cushions and curtains will help to make the atmosphere more comfortable. Floral prints are one of the main touches of rustic decor.
When choosing accessories for the Provencal interior of the living room, focus on the floral theme.
The following elements are suitable for decorating the room:
- flowerpots with flower bouquets (both live and artificial);
- pots with indoor flowers on windowsills and cabinets;
- black and white photos;
- porcelain figurines or service;
- fittings with forged parts.
Framed black and white family photos and other personal “treasures” will add individuality to the interior.
See a selection of photos of the interiors of a country house in the loft style,.
The design rules and features of the interior design of an apartment in a modern style are described in the article at:
Lighting
Creating lighting in the living room requires a thorough approach. In the daytime, the room is flooded with sunlight, and in the evenings, artificial lighting is turned on. Provence-style light sources are placed outside the box.
All artificial light sources are located at a small distance from the floor surface. Due to this, it is possible to create a dim and non-irritating lighting. The luminous flux seems to spread in the lower part of the room.
Provence style living room design, photo The design of lighting fixtures is also of great importance. It is preferable to choose forged lamps with lampshades made of natural materials.
Place in the hall a comfortable chair with floral upholstery and massive armrests next to a round table on which there is a lamp with an openwork shade - and the relaxation area is ready. Sitting in such an armchair, you can read your favorite book in the evenings and feel the true comfort of home.
Provence in a small living room, photo The interior of a modern Provence-style living room is warm, cozy and comfortable, this design evokes memories of warm summer days, a wonderful time spent in the countryside.
The charm of French traditions, recreated in a Provencal interior, turns the living room into a cozy meeting place for family members, ideal for receiving guests and family gatherings.
photo gallery
Immerse yourself in the warm atmosphere of Provence by recreating this style in your living room from a photo with examples from our photo gallery:
The Provencal living room is not only a sample of interior design for country houses, but also a smart choice for urban dwellings.
In this guide, you will find a photo of a Provence-style living room and a detailed description of all the nuances for recreating it.
French Provence is the epitome of the interior of a quiet Mediterranean hinterland. However, this is not a primitive rural setting, but an exquisite provincial comfort.
This style got its name in honor of the region of the same name in the south of France, distinguished by its authenticity and originality in all facets of its way of life.
The purpose of the Provence-style living room is to convey the feeling of a warm hearth and create a cozy corner where a large company can easily fit in for family and friends gatherings or a festive dinner.
Characteristic and stylistic features of Provence
Important features of the Provence-style living room interior are: the absence of any pathos, conciseness, authenticity, display of the surrounding flora in the decor.
Distinctive features:
- Palette of light colors;
- Floral patterns and floral ornaments;
- Artificially aged or antique furniture;
- Decorating the space with live flower arrangements;
- The combination of natural light and openwork fabrics with embroidery;
- Variety of decorative attributes.
Space organization
Changing the standard plan is a common method. You can expand the room at the expense of the kitchen. But if this is a radical option for you, then it is better to recreate the atmosphere of style with the help of characteristic details and decorative items.
Palette selection
Very important in the design of the living room in the style of Provence is the choice of palette. The main color is white, but this is not a mandatory requirement.
In this style direction, warm pastel colors and light shades are used, as close as possible to natural, for example, cream, milk, Champagne or ivory.
Floral patterns and floral ornaments, which seem to have lost their brightness from the sun over time, are an important stylistic sign.
The use of contrasting saturated colors is only allowed in some decorative elements or accessories, such as clocks, pots or bouquets.
The specifics of finishing work
wall decor
The walls, characteristic of the interior of the living room in the Provence style, are a plain, roughly plastered surface of light colors, with deliberately created irregularities. Complete the design with various paintings, mirrors and other decorative components.
Floral ornaments on the wallpaper in the living room are rarely resorted to. This can greatly reduce the list of suitable furniture, curtains and decorative elements, in addition, the plaster finish is very relevant and sophisticated.
ceiling finish
In an individual residential building, a ceiling made of natural, slightly blackened from time to time or artificially aged wood will be very advantageous.
For the ceiling in urban apartments, it is advisable to use just white or light paint in warm colors.
Flooring
A floor made of natural boards or laminated parquet imitating wood will emphasize the originality of the Provencal style. Floor tiles with a characteristic pattern or stone will also fit perfectly into the style of the decor.
Selection of stylized furniture
You can furnish the living room with a professionally decorated wall in the living room in the Provence style and other designer furniture elements or an expensive antique furniture set.
Living room furniture should meet the following points:
- natural material;
- Light colors;
- Characteristic features of the decor: openwork metal, forged, gilded and painted elements;
- Natural fabrics.
A rocking chair and a fireplace are nice little things, not unconditional attributes.
window decoration
Although the main idea of the Provencal style is rustic simplicity, and the atmosphere needs to give the impression of the past more than one generation and pay tribute to traditions, the interior should not be musty and seem dilapidated.
To avoid this, you should carefully approach the choice of drapery. Light fabrics in light colors are suitable, and not thick dark-colored curtains.
A wide selection of natural textiles is at your disposal: chintz, linen and cotton or other materials. You can pick up so that they will be harmoniously combined with upholstery, pillows, tablecloths and napkins.
Old photos, ceramics, porcelain, framed embroideries will complement the composition.
Do not ignore such important decorative additions that are typical for a Provence-style living room, like living plants in pots or vases, floor lamps, clocks and stylized photo frames - all these little things will color the interior and make it unique.
A selection of photos of living rooms made in the Provence style will send you to the peaceful French province and suggest great ideas for your own projects.
Photo of a living room in Provence style
From the word "Provence" breathes romance. However, this is not something naive, like bows, roses or toy kittens, but the warm charm of simplicity, home comfort, the breath of nature itself. Provence is just perfect for small country houses and solid cottages. But for city apartments, whose owners want to relax every evening in a simple and very cozy atmosphere, Provence fits perfectly. And this style is also for those who love antique furniture that has the “seal” of age on its facades: cracks, scuffs, spots of peeling paint. Some people look for Provence-style living room furniture in antique stores and elite sales, and some in the houses of grandmothers and aunts. Moreover, the older such chests of drawers or creaky chairs, the better for a style that emphasizes not innovation and original cabinet solutions, but respectable age and antiquity.
For city apartments, whose owners want to relax every evening in a simple and very cozy atmosphere, Provence suits perfectly.
Someone, having heard about antiquity and cracks, will decide that such furniture is the lot of those who cannot afford anything new. In fact, country-style living room sets are often acquired by “aged” modern methods and by no means for little money: this is how much the true spirit of noble antiquity is valued in this style. But even more luck will be if the main room of the house or apartment is furnished with real old furniture, inherited, for example, or transported from a real family estate. And such furniture has a lot of advantages:
- beautiful noble appearance;
- natural materials (mostly wood);
- the presence of carvings, other spectacular handmade accessories;
- naturalness, simplicity.
Today, many designers are working exclusively on how to “age” entire furniture lines “under Provence” as naturally as possible.
Today, many designers are working exclusively on how to “age” entire furniture lines “in Provence” as naturally as possible. And this direction is incredibly popular, because age, even artificial, is highly valued in the interior. It is not easy to buy such furniture, but it is quite possible to search in the house of grandparents: the find will become the pride of the owner of the living room, fill the room with charm and special warmth.
Almost all furniture is made of wood, and expensive varieties, certainly light shades.
One of the main advantages of Provence furniture is its naturalness. Almost all of it is made of wood, and expensive varieties, certainly light shades. If the family set has a dark shade, it can be painted: such a stylization will make it look very “French”.
Carving, expensive fittings, forging elements to a large extent decorate the facades of "provincial" furniture.
In such furniture, a special “burn-in” effect is valued, and each element of the natural texture of wood is emphasized and highlighted. To do this, you can use varnish or wax. After this treatment, the chest of drawers will look as if it has stood all its life on the sunny side of the backyard in some Provencal wilderness, surrounded by lavender and jasmine bushes. Carving, expensive fittings, forging elements to a large extent adorn the facades of "provincial" furniture. And they do not look trite, boring or trivial, but stylish and expensive, despite the fact that simplicity and peace are valued in Provence. The natural structure, light colors and the breath of history, setting in a contemplative-philosophical mood - that's the magic that such headsets conceal.
Provence-style living room furniture should be exclusively wooden. You can also find wicker items, a rocking chair, for example. If you are not lucky enough to find furniture in white or pastel shades, you can paint it in the appropriate colors. More often, milky, pale pink, blue, slightly greenish shades are chosen for this. Old furniture, which has a half-century history, will be especially highly valued. And any of its facade "flaws" - scuffs, creaking hinges, dry cracks - will only decorate. Such elements of "decor" are emphasized in every possible way, highlighting with special processing, or they are added artificially. Fortunately, there are an infinite number of options for how and with what to “age” furniture.
Old furniture with half a century of history will be especially highly valued.
White furniture in the living room in Provence style
Provence is native to southern France. He has a special airy manner, grace, breathes, as if glowing with something kind, soft, weightless. This style is both classical and French at the same time. And white furniture is his calling card. Just looking at the ultra-white facades of chests of drawers and walls, the light "frame" of soft sofas and armchairs, any connoisseur of style will say: "This is French Provence." The fact is that white is not just an established classic. It looks incredibly airy, light, as if it exudes light, charm, warm vibes. Such furniture has:
- curved smooth lines;
- carved fragments of decor;
- plant motifs;
- openwork accessories, patina, gilding.
White color is not just an established classic. It looks incredibly airy, light, as if it exudes light, charm, warm vibes.
The white color of the country "in French" deprives the furniture of heaviness, powerful bulkiness, solidity, allows it to soar, significantly pushing the space. Some consider white to be too sterile, cold, but it is Provence that fills it with special warmth and comfort, combined with royal elegance. So if you want your living room to look like it's in a French villa, furnish it with white furniture, combined with a pastel-vegetal palette in the wall decoration and upholstered sofas.
So if you want your living room to look like it's in a French villa, furnish it with white furniture, combined with a pastel-vegetal palette in the wall decoration and upholstered sofas.
Style basics
So, it’s clear: Provence does not tolerate dark tones, various innovations, glass, plastic, any synthetic materials. Only light, pastel, milky, white shades, only old or artificially “aged” furniture. When furnishing a living room in French country style, you should pay attention to such important points:
- main material - painted wood;
- only a light palette;
- the presence of vintage handles, legs, carved elements, paintings, forged inserts;
- natural fabrics upholstered in soothing neutral tones, with floral prints;
- the predominance of upholstered furniture;
- the presence in the room of rocking chairs, cupboards, fireplaces, large round dining tables;
- a special wooden couch by the window for reading and relaxing.
Among other things, the living room will not be itself without additional decor.
Among other things, the living room will not be itself without additional decor. It should definitely be filled with family photographs, porcelain and ceramics, designer dolls, baskets, vases, deadwood compositions. The absolute highlight of such a room can be a large cage with birds, vases with natural flowers, a fireplace (ideally with real crackling logs). Provence living room furniture must be soft - this is the best place for an afternoon light sleep near the fireplace. Its upholstery should have a floral color, but not bright, not cutting the eyes, but discreet, neutral and warm. For upholstery, you should choose only natural materials of the tapestry type. Legs, backs should be gracefully curved, with elements of carving, forging.
Be sure to fill in with family photographs, porcelain and ceramics, designer dolls, baskets, vases, deadwood compositions
Wall in the living room in Provence style
Not a single living room, especially made in the Provence style, can do without the main element - without a wall. This is the perfect turnkey solution for the main room in the apartment. And French country is no exception. Most often, for Provence living rooms, headsets with a single height of elements are chosen; slides that differ in different lengths of parts are not customary to use. The very name "wall" does not imply the installation of one piece of furniture. Therefore, in country living rooms you can often find modular sets with a special “antique” styling.
Not a single living room, especially made in the Provence style, can do without the main element - without a wall.
However, if it is not possible to install real antique furniture or factory-made, artificially aged sets, you can add a couple of decades to an existing chest of drawers or sideboard on your own.
Most often, for Provence living rooms, headsets with a single height of elements are chosen; slides that differ in different lengths of parts are not customary to use
This can be done mechanically (special tools) or thermally (blowtorch). And from materials for such a process, acrylic paint, matte glaze (polyurethane), oil or water varnish, sandpaper, special stencils should be prepared. And after a very short period of time in your living room there will be a wall stylized as a true French country, giving the impression that it belonged to your family for several generations.
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