Traditional French styles are beautiful, but keeping up with the classic details and expensive accents can get difficult.
The French provincial style is a gorgeous subset of the french style. It’s a bit more casual and approachable than traditional styles.
You won’t see the heavy drapes, gold-finished accents, and candlesticks with this style. Instead, you’ll find sensible furniture and country-inspired decor.
Here are a few key elements of the French Provincial style.
Elegant Chandeliers
I love this style because you’re still going to see elegant chandeliers. They won’t necessarily be finished in gold and have tons of crystals, making them more affordable and casual, but they’re still elegant.
You can still have a “wow” moment with an elegant chandelier by choosing a more modern and affordable option.
You can mix metals and use a black metal finish with exposed bulbs even if you have gold accents in other parts of the home.
Adding a chandelier is the best way to achieve a French look, but keep it modern and sensible for this specific style.
Sensible White Furniture
Another staple of the French provincial style is sensible white furniture. Using an off-white or even a light tan color for your furniture fabric is a great way to achieve this look.
The light furniture will complement your dark or metal accents, and it makes the space feel clean and crisp.
White furniture has a way of drawing you in and making a room feel large and welcoming. You can even mix and match shades by using an off-white couch and a tan for your recliners or sitting chairs.
The best part is you can decorate with vibrant throw pillows to add a personal touch without taking away from the space or style.
Board and Batten Walls
An essential element of this style is incorporating board and batten walls. The unique paneling technique creates a sophisticated and elegant moment for your walls.
Using this technique becomes an accent all on its own, meaning you won’t have to find the perfect pictures or decorations to hang on the walls with this technique.
You could even make this a cost-efficient project and do it yourself, or you can hire a local contractor to create the stunning walls for you.
Installing board and batten in your dining room, living room, and bedroom will help you achieve the French Provincial style and add elegance to your home.
Countryside Inspiration
The French Provincial style is a blend between traditional French living and countryside inspiration. So it’s only fitting that these homes have natural countryside inspiration throughout them.
You’ll see authentic pieces like old wooden coffee tables and rustic decor that’s original to the countryside era.
This style will have subtle touches of masculinity, such as leather accents and metal finishes. It makes the space feel elegant but approachable. It transforms what you be a fancy living room into a sophisticated but comfortable living room.
The home will feel authentic and sensible instead of overly decorated or staged.