French style in the interior (21 photos): classic and modern chic
If you want your home to be filled with light, grace and luxury, you will no doubt enjoy the French style in the interior. It combines style, chic and luxury. But unlike the pompous Baroque and Empire style, the luxury of the French style is unobtrusive, more concise and modern. In the article, we consider the features of this interesting direction in design, its main advantages and distinguishing features.
History
The French style appeared at the beginning of the 18th century, when raising the standard of living helped merchants and bourgeoisie to get money, and they began to take an example from the aristocrats in decorating their houses, gradually replacing the country and rustic style with a more refined one. But since there was not enough money for real chic, every Frenchman dodged as best he could. From here their peculiarity and talent went even to discern depth, beauty and harmony even in unpretentious things. Thus the taste of the French developed, which then glorified this nation throughout the world. For lack of funds, the average Frenchman tried to highlight some detail of the interior of his apartment, diverting attention from the rest of the unpretentious decor. This technique formed the basis of the style that is now known as “French”.
This style carries an alloy of Empire, Baroque and Rococo. However, unlike these pompous and fanciful directions, the design in the French style is more restrained and simple, which, however, does not prevent it from being considered one of the most popular style trends in the world. In this, he recalls the country and rustic styles, which are also simple, but nonetheless loved by many decorators and designers.
Features
What features distinguish the French style in the interior of the apartment:
- The French style is simple, but at the same time, and with undoubted grace. Real French are opponents of deliberate and ostentatious luxury, therefore the design of the French interior is striking in its thoughtful harmony and seeming simplicity.
- The palette of the kitchen, bedroom and living room is tender, pastel, muted. The main distinguishing feature is the special color scheme. The French style does not use bright, flashy colors. Classic colors - natural shades. Usually the main color is taken, for example, brown and its close tones - from light to dark. Based on these shades, the entire interior of the premises is built - both the bedroom, and the living room, and the kitchen.
- The most popular colors that are used in the French interior: white, green, natural shade, gray, brown. You can also often see lilac and its nearest derivatives. All shades are dim, muted, delicate gamma. They are also popular for the country style, which in many details echoes the French. A soft pink hue, caramel and pale yellow are also often used.
- For the facing of the bathroom, it is advisable to choose ceramic tiles or stone in natural shades. The French style in the interior often uses quite dark colors, giving the room a special noble atmosphere. In addition, these natural finishing materials not only look beautiful, but are also very practical: they are easy to clean and wash, not afraid of household chemicals. They are suitable for the kitchen, which also has to be washed often.
- The floor in the French interior can be made of any natural material: parquet, stone, tile, less often - laminate. A simple wooden floor painted in a suitable color also looks great - a certain French chic is visible. In this regard, the style resembles country.
- The ceiling is usually white and simple, without excessive decor. But sometimes, especially in the living room and dining room, you can see elegant stucco with delicate gilding. This design decorates the interior and gives the room a solemnity, a festive look and undoubted chic.
- A luxury that does not scream, but is visible in the interior details of the apartment.
- The use of techniques such as forging and carving. Also design involves stucco molding.
- The presence of high ceilings is a feature of the French interior. They allow you to hang a suitable luxurious chandelier with many pendants, making the room of the kitchen or bedroom more light and harmonious.
- Often in the French interior, as in the country style, there is a fireplace.
- An abundance of light is what distinguishes the French interior. No wonder French windows to the floor were created in this country. Therefore, do not equip such an interior in poorly lit rooms.
Walls
- For decorating the walls of the apartment in the French style, wallpapers should be preferred. Paint is used less often and only opaque.
- Wallpaper with a vintage pattern gives a special chic: stripes, flowers in delicate shades. They are suitable, including, for decoration of the kitchen.
- Wall murals are also used, but their design should match the style of the room.
- Modern decorative stone brings an interesting touch to the French interior. The stone design is suitable for decorating hallways and corridors. Also, the stone is appropriate on the walls next to the fireplace in the living room or to highlight the niche in the space of the apartment where the collection or some other attraction of the home is located.
Furniture
Consider the choice of furniture for the French interior. Features:
- The French style in the interior implies the presence of furniture made of natural material. Suitable wood, stone, metal, glass. Plastic, as in country style, is not used.
- Often used such a technique as elegant metal forging. She adorns beds and other furniture for the bedroom, chairs for the kitchen and dining room, legs of coffee tables in the living room.
- As for upholstered furniture, its upholstery is usually woven from soft velvet, velor or other cozy material. Satin is also often used for the living room - a beautiful dense material with a slight soft shine. Upholstery is usually plain or striped. Often a strip is interspersed with floral motifs matched to match the primary color. Be sure to select upholstered furniture so that the color of its upholstery is combined in color with the decoration of the walls of the apartment. This technique is always used in French and country style.
- If you choose wooden furniture, then it is better to prefer its antique and vintage options. To do this, it is not necessary to look for auctions of the 19th century at auctions. And modern products with appropriate processing can take an old look and a special retro chic - this design fits perfectly into the French interior of both bedrooms and kitchens.
- Massive oak table will be an excellent decoration of the kitchen or dining room. Such a solid design also often adorns country-style interiors.
- Often, screens are used in the interior of a French apartment. Graceful, decorated with beautiful paintings, they serve as a decorative feature of the interior. With their help, it is easy to divide the room into zones, highlight what is needed and hide what requires privacy. Great for bedroom and living room.
- French-style interiors often use wicker furniture. Especially often used elegant rocking chairs made of twigs. This design is more suitable for country houses.But wicker furniture will look good only if the main interior is built mainly on a wooden base, for example, in the country style. In the event that metal prevails, it is better not to use wicker furniture.
Decor
Consider the main decorative features that create a unique image of the interior of the apartment in the French style:
- The most important part of the decoration of the French interior is textiles. These are heavy curtains made of expensive fabric, and pillows neatly laid out on the sofa, and carpets, and tapestries on the walls.
- An interesting feature of textiles is simple shapes and complex texture. Luxurious fabrics such as velor, velvet, brocade, organza, which give a certain chic to the room, are suitable.
- Curtains are often decorated with draperies and elegant lambrequins. It is this feature that gives the room in the French style such a cozy, homely look. Even the French-style kitchen design is done with curtains on the windows, and not with blinds.
- No French-style mirrors anywhere. They are used to decorate any room in the house - they can even be on the walls of the kitchen, not to mention decorating the space of the living room or bedroom. Mirrors are usually decorated with luxurious carved wood frames with gilding.
- Often paintings hang on the walls of the apartment, also selected in accordance with the general style. Among the areas of painting, the most popular are still lifes and graceful landscapes. Like the country style, French also prefers these areas of painting. But for the bedroom, sometimes more frivolous drawings are chosen.
- If the height of the ceilings allows, then decorate the room with a chandelier with crystal pendants. Also often sconces decorate the walls, which are suitable for decoration to the chandelier.