Here is what it looks like: you enter your bedroom and start feeling like you have been brought to a romantic Parisian flat or a country castle. Sounds like a dream, isn t it? Well, it does not have to cost as much as a designer budget or a visit to Europe to make that effortlessly romantic French look. I was a self-proclaimed aficionado of French interior decoration (possibly, I spend too much time on Pinterest :)) and believe me when I say that these 12 styles will make your bedroom so gorgeous it shouts ‘ooh la la!’
The Classic Parisian Chic Look
There are some ways you can get that casual Parisian style. The neutral colors and modification of old-style furniture represent the starting point. Creamy whites, soft grays, and those lovely antique gold highlights which make everything look costly.
Texture combining is the secret sauce of this effect. Wear-and-tear wooden headboard marinated with pristine white beddings then sprinkle with velvety pillows. French people have made this art of being put-together to seem so natural, with no effort of wearing it.
Key Elements:
- Ornate mirrors with gilded frames
- Wrought iron bed frames or headboards
- Soft, muted color palette
- Vintage furniture pieces
Have you ever noticed the lived in luxury in French bedrooms? This is because they do not over think them but they just topple the periods and styles upon one another.
Provence Countryside Romance
There is no stronger association of French romance than the sun-kissed Provencal countryside. This appearance transports you to those lavender fields and rustic feel, straight into your bedroom.
Imagine pale purples, green-sage and earthy shades of terracotta. I experimented with this decor in my guest room last year, and people actually inquire whether I have shifted to the French countryside. The secret is to use the almost natural patterns such as raw wood and stone surfaces.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Colors | Lavender, sage, cream, terracotta |
| Materials | Raw wood, natural stone, linen |
and toss in a few bundles of dried lavender (They smell awesome BTW) and some vintage pottery and you have a Provenecal slice of heaven.
French Country Elegance
French country style is the countryside look with a classy touch. Imagine battered wood furniture with exotic fabrics and tiny flower nature printed upon it.
This is because the imperfection of this look is its beauty. Worn fabrics, distressed furniture, rustic accessories that present the impression of the real countryside of France. I like that when applied to an even most contemporary bedroom, this style will give it a sense of a history.
Essential Components:
- Distressed wooden furniture
- Toile or subtle floral patterns
- Vintage accessories and decor
- Soft, natural lighting
The Opulent Versailles Bedroom
Are you ready to live as a royalty? The Versailles-style bedroom becomes entirely dramatic glamorous with heavy-weight plush, decorative motif, and anything gold.
This style is not exactly for the weak at heart, but when it is done correctly, it is thoroughly gorgeous. Envision deep jewel-like tones, thick drapes and piece furniture that fits a palace. In my opinion, it is more suitable in larger bedrooms where you can actually let those big elements speak.
Creating Royal Luxury
Begin with a statement headboard including something high(ish), upholstered, and most likely velvet. Reinforce with opulent linens: silk throw cushions, brocade shades, possibly an even canopy should you be feeling very something.
It is all about balance. Yes, you desire the lavishness but you certainly do not desire your bedroom to appear like museum. Combine those decorative items with more comfortable living ones.
Minimalist French Modern
Who told you that French could not ever be fussy? The contemporary minimalism of the French style incorporates the use of clean lines with the traditional and classic French fitting to give an elegant and architectural appearance.
This strategy is quality oriented rather than quantity. Be selective with the statement pieces, perhaps a gorgeous vintage chandelier or an antique armoire and allow that to stand out against a sea of the neutral pure hues and minimalistic furniture.
I have particularly realised that this style works best in small bedrooms when you are not given to choose the overpowering French style.
Vintage Boudoir Glamour
Be a Marie Antoinette in retro boudoir style. This style is feminine beauty, pastel colors, and romantic details, which make you feel like you are in the French fairytale.
Imagine pink and cream color schemes, furniture covered in ornate pattern and ruffles and a lot of mirrors to reflect the light. The French never failed to realize that bedrooms must be the personal havens.
Boudoir Must-Haves:
- Vintage vanity table with ornate mirror
- Soft pink or cream color palette
- Delicate lace or silk textiles
- Crystal or glass accessories
Industrial French Loft
Paris is more than a place where you can find chateaux; it also has beautiful lofts of industrial spaces. This style mixes the crude industrial with the more established French style into something very smart and very urban.
That old loft look is achieved through exposed brick walls, metal bed frames, and old restructured leather furniture. However this is the fun part, when you throw in some good old French elements such as a crystal chandelier or fancy ornamental mirror and hey presto, you have something special.
Balancing Raw and Refined
The secret of the industrial French style is to understand when to keep everything raw and when to bring some sophistication to the table. I prefer to base the look on industrial material and to heat it up with some French accessories and fabrics.
Shabby Chic French Cottage
Shabby chic sounds like a contradiction but the French have mastered this concept of imperfect beauty. Brights, faded finishes, garage sale treasures and worn pieces and the faded looking palette with romanticism is in.
This style is dominated by white and cream with soft blues, pale pinks and sage green. The furniture is to appear as though that furniture is a story teller, chipped paint, worn edges, and just the right amount of imperfection that only comes of age over years (or a few days with sandpaper :::/).
Art Deco French Glamour
French design was in its apogee in the 1920s and Art Deco glamour replicates jazz-age chic in your bedroom. This style is everything about geometric figures, metallic dominance and that feel of a motion that characterized the period.
Deep colors such as emerald, navy blue and gold are used as a dramatic focal point to geometric patterns and smooth pieces of furniture. I adore the fact that the style is old timey but it is surprisingly contemporary.
Art Deco Elements:
- Geometric patterns and shapes
- Metallic accents (gold, silver, bronze)
- Rich, jewel-toned colors
- Sleek, streamlined furniture
Rustic French Manor
Just imagine, a French manor built centuries ago with thick stone walls, dark, heavy wooden beams, and rooms where many generations of the family life had passed. This style will introduce that heritage beauty in your contemporary bedroom.
The colors remain down-to-earth and natural, think of warm browns, dark reds, and green of forests. The furniture ought to be solid and classic, which seems to have been in use since generations.
Adding Authentic Character
It is all about a nice detail to look just right. The steel furniture, steel ornaments and the wrought iron all give it that real manor house look. Don not be afraid of combining the tones of wood, French manor houses used to collect the pieces one by one.
Modern French Apartment
Most modern French apartment style begins with all the Modern elements of classic French style but with modification to modern life. This style is ideal when you are fond of French style yet are seeking something that can be considered modern and comfortable.
Refined colours, simplified lines, classical proportions exceed requirements in looking sophisticated instead of being stuffy. In your mind visualize some charcoal grays, warm whites, and the most perfect French blues that seem to match anything.
I have realised that the style is very effective in smaller rooms as it preserves this feeling of French chic without the load of more classical methods.
Maximalist French Eclectic
Ready to get rid of their scruples? Extreme eclectic French style adheres to the philosophy of the more the better, with several layers of patterns, colors, and textures that significantly but somehow fit together perfectly.
This style presupposes self-confidence and the skill of combination of various details. The French have always been expert blenders of different eras and styles and this one takes such blending to its logical conclusion.
Maximalist Success Tips:
- Start with a cohesive color story
- Mix patterns in different scales
- Layer textures for visual interest
- Include pieces from different eras
Bringing It All Together
Which is the French-influenced style that is close to your heart? It could be that you are attracted to the romanticism of Provence, or maybe that Versailles glamour is asking you back. The quaint aspect of French style is that no one should care about rules, it is all about designing a place that represents the real you.
Note that the finest of French-inspired bedrooms gives out a narrative. They carry an impression that they have been accumulated and not purchased wholesalelessly at a showroom. Begin by using a single piece or two and then proceed with your styles slowly. Your bedroom (and Instagram feed) will be happy that you did it.
The French never fail to picture the role of the bedroom being more than a slumbering district, it has to be a personal retreat wherein you feel the best of yourself. What is your first of these 12 looks?