Provence style in the interior

Provence style in the interior – a nice charm of the French province, located on the Mediterranean coast. It emerged in the eighteenth century, when the elite of France started to move away from the pompous atmosphere that was inherent in the Baroque and other historical trends.

Provence conquers minds with its simplicity, tenderness, coziness, and peace. To this day, it remains one of the most popular designs of suburban housing in Europe. Here we will tell you how to create a style of Provence in your interior, what are the niceties and secrets of design.

Introduction to the Provence style in the interior

This direction is characterized by lightness, airiness, an abundance of floral motifs, cozy furnishings with plenty of ruffles, and “grandma” furniture. Provence is also called “French Country”, because the emphasis of finishing is put on natural materials. The greatest preference is given to wood. Furniture is styled to be “antique”, with lots of vintage accessories and decorative elements.

Much attention is paid to flowers in the interior. With an abundance of both fresh and dried flowers, an honorable place is given to lavender, which is almost the official symbol of Provence style.

Windows in the room are large, they are covered with white paint, which is then artificially aged. Sometimes you can find delicate floral patterns on the frames. Curtains are chosen from light fabrics (cotton, sateen, chintz), often combined with tulle and decorated with ruffles and frills.

To make the room cozy, add carpets with floral ornaments or striped patterns to the floor. The upholstery of furniture is either light and monochrome, or in small florals.

Features of Provence style in the interior

Among the features of the French style of Provence in the interior, we can put an emphasis on the following:

• predominance of light colors in the design;
• presence of organic fabrics: linen, cotton, wool;
• use of vintage furniture with artistic curves;
• abundance of textile elements, especially handmade ones;
• mock carelessness and traces of use: cracks, scuffs, faded, and sunburnt colors;
• use of forged elements in furniture and decor;
• carved elements on furniture, cornices;
• sloppy painting, with the texture of wood showing through;
• asymmetrical arrangement of furniture;
• paintings with natural and marine themes used for decoration, wicker baskets and accessories, painted dishes, porcelain sets and jugs, figurines, caskets;
• large number of plant patterns, especially discreet small floral designs. 

Provence is characterized by an abundance of decorative elements, but in small apartments, try not to go overboard in order to not clutter the space. But there is no need to go to extremes, as minimalism in furniture or decor deprives the room of coziness.

Main features of Provence style: color palette

The color palette is generally light and warm, its mission is to create the effect of sunburnt paint. The following shades are used most often:

• soft turquoise;
• lavender;
• pale mauve;
• pastel yellow;
• mint;
• pistachio;
• sandy;
• terracotta;
• cornflower;
• blue.

White, in its pure form, is rarely used, but all its muted shades are popular: creamy, beige, milky. They give the impression that the color was once dazzling white, but burned out and faded over time.

Provence style in the interior of a small apartment

A small apartment is not a reason to give up French country style. Provence style in the interior of a small apartment will look just equally great if you follow some rules:

1. Provide access to light: remove heavy curtains from the windows and opt for transparent curtains, hang a chandelier with adjustable brightness.
2. Use a white-gray, white-blue, or snow-white palette. Any shades of brown, green, and blue will visually reduce the space. 
3. If there is no room in the kitchen for a full buffet, choose furniture with glass on the upper facades.
4. Add mirrors and paintings with natural motifs to the interior. 
5. Don’t clutter free space with furniture. In the living room, a sofa and two armchairs will be more than enough, and in the bedroom, stop with a bed and bedside table. Interior can be complemented with some floor lamps with fabric shades, indoor plants, or dried flowers. 
6. Enhance coziness with antique jewelry boxes, candles, small statuettes and porcelain dolls, small cushions, pots, and painted vases.

The ceiling in the bedroom is painted white, and the walls are mainly pastel colors: beige, cream, lavender, light blue. Simple, dim patterns will look good too.
The bed is usually wooden or features forged elements, above, you can hang a canopy made of light natural fabrics.

Provence bedroom is complemented by a vintage chest of drawers, floor lamp with a fabric lampshade, rocking chair, small bedside tables, handmade textiles (decorative pillows, plaids, rugs).

For the windows, choose curtains with floral print or tulle with a large number of ruffles and frills.

Provence style in the general interior of the apartment

For the interior finishing of walls, use decorative plaster with deliberate imperfections. You can change it for an embossed, monochrome wallpaper or wallpaper with a small floral pattern. Wall panels with wood texture imitation are painted white. They can occupy one wall or the entire room around the perimeter, reaching a height of 1.2–1.5 meters.

For floor covering in the kitchen and bathroom, use porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles. You can use monochrome options, with imitation of wood texture, tiles of contrasting colors, which are laid in staggered order.

Kitchens are laid out of tiles with an imitation of “antiquity.” Cracks, scuffs, and small chips will add a certain level of zest. Apartments don’t provide an opportunity to install a fireplace with a chimney, so you can go for a mock one.

Classic French Provence style in the interior

To decorate walls in Provence style, the following options are used:

1. Painting in one tone and covering with a light, as if burned out, ornament.
2. Using plaster with faux irregularities. Part of the wall can be covered with untreated wood or brickwork.
3. Wallpapered with imitations of brick, wood, or a small floral pattern.

The ceiling is whitewashed or covered with wood. Coating it with textured plaster is also a popular choice. For decor, install wooden beams of light color. But in rooms with low ceilings, this option is inadmissible, as it will visually reduce the free space.

The most common option for the floor – wooden planks, covered with matte varnish or painted light paint, so that the texture comes through. You can use parquet, laminate, and ceramic tiles. 

Furniture for the style of Provence is wooden, with elements of scuffing. It can be whitened or painted with light colors. Tables, sofas, and beds are decorated with forged elements, carvings. Wicker chairs and tables look good too.

There are certain rules that can’t be violated when creating designs in the style of Provence. Any manifestations of technological progress violate the harmony and peace of the provincial interior. Therefore, it is inadvisable to expose plasma TVs, game consoles, computers, or modern household appliances. All manifestations of technological progress should be hidden behind wooden panels, masked by screens, or removed after use. 

Also, avoid using:

• bright neon and acidic shades;
• transformer furniture;
• expensive antiques;
• gold or silver surfaces;
• chrome-plated parts;
• hardwood floors;
• LEDs and spotlights. 

Provence style in the interior of the kitchen

The walls in the kitchen are plastered or painted a solid color. In the working areas lay tiles with the effect of aging.

Kitchen sets are selected in a vintage design of white, blue, light green, pistachio colors. Upper facades can have glazing, behind the doors hide modern appliances, which may look out of place in the “rustic” kitchen. Open shelves are also an appropriate choice, you can display vintage dishes, potted plants, or place decorative elements on them. Work surfaces can be wooden or stone. Appropriate for the Provence interior looks a brass faucet.

Dining table and chairs should be made of light-colored wood, feature a simple shape, but have curved legs or carvings. They are painted with white paint or left in pristine condition. Wooden dining groups can be replaced with wicker chairs.

Decorate the kitchen with the following elements:

• oil bottles of interesting shapes;
• cookbooks;
• glass jars with herbs and spices;
• baskets and vases with dried lavender sprigs;
• painted plates, clay jugs, and pots;
• rooster statuettes – the famous symbol of France.

Provence style in the interior of the living room

Living room in Provence style is characterized by lots of light, open space, and rich decor. To create this effect, the windows aren’t covered with curtains but with a light tulle, the ceilings are painted white, the floor is made of wooden boards, parquet, or laminate with the effect of scuffing or whitening.

The main spotlight of the living room are soft sofas and armchairs with floral upholstery. A small coffee table will be a nice addition. An antique chest with light peeling paint blends harmoniously with the interior look.

As lighting devices use iron designs with crystal and glass elements: sconces, floor lamps, chandeliers, candelabras.

Provence style in the interior of the living room encourages a large amount of decor. The room can be adorned with:

• jewel boxes;
• statuettes;
• wicker baskets;
• pillows;
• exquisite bird cages, decorative artificial flowers;
• vintage teapots, buckets, jugs;
• paintings of plants, lavender fields, the sea;
• antique photos in wooden frames.

Provence style in the interior of the house

In the house, there are more opportunities to embody the Provence style than in the apartment. There, it is appropriate to use decorative ceiling beams, and the bathroom can be arranged in a spacious room with a window, which is an inviolable canon of Provence-style housing.

To finish the ceilings in the house, use aged stucco or paint them plain white. For floors – wood with the effect of aging.

Tiered chandeliers with crystal and glass pendants fit the interior perfectly, just like vintage furniture sets and partitions.

To decorate the house, you can use bulkier items than for apartments:

• full-length mirrors in vintage frames;
• wooden wine barrels;
• rocking chairs;
• hanging cocoon chairs;
• antique buffets and china cabinets;
• vintage carts on wheels. 

Photo of Provence style in the interior

Provence style in the interior of a country house

The main elements of country house design in the Provence style are:

• tiled, multi-pitched roof;
• attics and terraces;
• wooden decks;
• facades made with wood, stone, or textured plaster.

The landscape is decorated with flower beds (lavender is, of course, the best choice), a pond with an angel figurine, marble fountains, arbors with roses. In the yard, you can place big clay pots with trees and bushes, and even a miniature antique cart.