If you were a design-savvy individual back in the late 90s, you might remember the French country aesthetic being an ever-present fixture in home décor magazines, catalogues, and of course, HGTV. If so, let us be the first to say that French country is back—but before you start in with visions of that former trend, know that the new French country is a far cry from what you might remember.
If we're honest, part of what we love so much about the return of the French country bedroom is that it's easy to incorporate elements of other styles—and things you might be able to "shop" from around your home—to great effect.
Texture is key in this look, so layering various knits and woven materials in a neutral color palette is a great place to start. And pro-tip: a rustic, vintage chandelier is a great way to fast-track your transition to this style.
A good French country space will have a bit of a collector's look to it, with pieces that have been—or appear as if they have been—accumulated over time.
Regency-era silhouettes can mingle with more modern ones, but make sure you're able to pull the scheme together with a unified palette or shared details that make the composition really click.
Tufted furniture, like the plump, button-accented upholstery you see here, is an easy-to-incorporate tenet of French country style. Luckily, it's also a fairly traditional look that never really goes out of fashion, so it's easy to find tufted pieces from modern retailers if you're not blessed with a massive backlog of vintage wares.
Nailhead trim, in antiqued brass or another patinated finish, is another great detail to incorporate—and unlike tufting, it's relatively easy to DIY in a pinch.
Even if you don't live in a historic home, you can incorporate aged elements into your space to really emulate the character of a vintage French farmhouse. In this space, non-functional wooden beams were installed to evoke a more historic vibe, and reclaimed wood was used to build the headboard.
Leaving furniture finds and woods in a natural or otherwise imperfect state is preferable for this style. Not only does it keep the look from appearing too fussy—which can be a slippery slope, with all the tufting and florals—it also adds lots of depth and texture to the space.
We'll be the first to admit that there are certainly French country spaces that incorporate a lot of color. But, if you're just starting out with this style, it makes sense to limit your palette to a strict selection of neutrals—or even all white, as shown here.
Even within the all-white color scheme, there are lots of opportunity for variation. Some whites skew blue, grey, yellow, or pink, and these tones beautifully showcase the colors and the textures of any French country bedroom.
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