We advise how to arrange a bedroom in the style of the French countryside

The French countryside has made its mark in interior design under the name Provence. Everyone who appreciates romance, cosiness and a bit of the old days will love it. Provence awakens positive feelings and emotions in people, so it’s no wonder that it is a popular style when furnishing bedrooms. What rules should you follow to make it feel like seaside Provence?

Today’s country style was originally a reaction to the opulent French palaces

Provence is a historic country found in southeastern France. It is part of the administrative unit of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. In terms of design, the Provençal style reflects the charming areas with sun-drenched vineyards, olive groves and endless lavender fields.

Today, the Provence style is more reminiscent of village design, and that’s because it actually comes from the villagers. However, it was not originally characterised by the patina and worn look so popular today. It originated in the countryside when villagers wanted to decorate their mansions as Paris dictated. Housing was therefore intended to imitate the chateaux and palaces of the French nobility.

The villagers began to make their own furniture and accessories, which were supposed to resemble the lavish furnishings of the nobility. It goes without saying, however, that their quality was much lower than in the mansions of the upper classes, and so over time, wear and tear began to appear in the most exposed places, giving the furniture and decorations a touch of patina. And it was this that became an essential element of the Provence style. Villagers loved patina because it brought cosiness to the home and also captured the atmosphere of the surrounding landscape.

Colour combinations and materials

For the bedroom in the style of Provence, natural elements are typical. Most often you will encounter wood, from which not only furniture is made. In the bedroom, you should have a wooden floor in the decor of bleached oak. Wood can also be repeated on admitted beams, but it can also appear in the form of tiles. Stones are also chosen for tiling, but only in pleasant, warm colours.

In terms of colour palette, it is best to stick to a combination of main and complementary colours.

• Main color – white, grey, cream, beige, butter.
• Complementary colour – blue, yellow, pink or purple, but always in pastel tones.

You should avoid snow white, which is unnecessarily eye-popping and gives a sterile, almost hospital-like impression.

Don’t avoid patterns

Due to the inspiration in the lavish palaces are not lacking Provence-style designs. It works best with floral or animal patterns, or decors that evoke refinement. Lavender, rose blossoms or bird motifs look stunning.

You can add pictures in frames to the walls. Country motifs or family photos look best.

Furniture on which patina is the greatest decoration

Provençal furniture is characterised by white or pastel shades. A characteristic feature is the patina, which reveals that the furniture has been around for a while. Graceful curves and ornamental decoration or milling are typical. There are also metal accessories, usually in a contrasting colour.

The dominant piece of furniture is, of course, the bed, for which the canopy is typical. With a canopy in the bedroom you get airiness, lightness and panache. There are bedside tables on either side of the bed. Armchairs, chaise lounges or upholstered chairs add cosiness to the room. A dressing table with a drawer and a round mirror is a must for ladies.

The bed is most often made of wood, but you can also choose a full upholstered version. A comfortable headboard must not be missing. At Materasso we make beds to order, so you can choose not only the colour of the upholstery, but also the structure of the fabric, the headboard design or the type of legs. Wooden legs will work best with the Provençal style. The wide colour palette of more than 150 shades ensures that you can confidently choose a colour that fits perfectly with the overall bedroom concept. You can come to a Materasso retailer to see for yourself what kind of beds we make.

Soft fabrics and textiles

Not only colours and patterns, but also textiles add cosiness to the bedroom. And there are more than enough of them in a Provençal bedroom. In addition to the classic duvets and pillows, the bed also features decorative cushions and throws. Linen and bedspreads are mostly made of natural materials, including:

• Cotton,
• Only,
• cotton satin.

Bedspreads, but also pillowcases or curtains can be decorated with embroidery, lace or ruffles. Bedspreads are often made using the patchwork method. To let natural light into the bedroom during the day, curtains are made of thin fabric with a little lace or linen tulle. Most often you will find curtains decorated with prints of small flowers. You won’t go wrong with solid-coloured curtains either. Drapes and curtains are usually hung on wooden or metal pelmets. Wooden shutters or Roman blinds are used for night shading.

Fine-tune the atmosphere with accessories

You can accentuate the perfectly romantic and homely atmosphere with accessories.

• Lamps – wall lamps find their place in country bedrooms, but also lamps on the bedside table. Fabric lampshades and legs made of worked wood are typical. However, you can also choose metal lampshades. A wooden or glass chandelier should hang from the ceiling. Lanterns and sconces can be placed on chests of drawers, windowsills or shelves.
• Flowers – you can have both live and dry flowers in ceramic vases or jugs. Lavender, both dried and live, is a must. You can easily grow lavender in a pot. Dry arrangements of pampas grass, corn, roses or hydrangeas will also look beautiful.
• Scent – it is not a tangible accessory, but it can set the atmosphere perfectly. For a French country-style bedroom, unobtrusive scents are best suited. These include lavender and its varieties, sage and thyme.
• Wicker accessories – other natural materials include wicker, so you won’t go wrong if you store blankets and bedspreads in wicker baskets. You can fill shelf openings with wicker storage boxes, and store books and magazines in a wicker holder. Wicker lampshades will also look great.

If you’re looking for a bedroom with a homely feel and a touch of romance, you should decorate it in the Provence style.