The Provence style first appeared in France. Only several centuries later it began to actively spread to different parts of the world. Suitable for decorating country houses, cottages and standard apartments. Reflects the customs of residents, their traditions and way of life.
Beautiful living room interior Source dizajngid.ru
Exquisite Provence Source www.tt-architects.com.ua
Dining room with fireplace Source stroy-podskazka.ru
Checkered sofa Source qulady.ru
Style Features
The coziness and comfort achieved by this design harmoniously combines the simplicity of rural design and the light sophistication of fashionable Parisian salons.
The style itself owes its appearance to the court ladies and gentlemen of France, who periodically went to their own villages to take a break from the intrigues of the throne and relax surrounded by their own subjects.
Since those long ago, interior design in the Provence style has not changed much. It is still characterized by:
- soft pastel colors;
- using natural materials;
- vintage furniture and decor;
- abundance of light;
- high ceilings and spaciousness.
The style should create the impression of a cozy space, not burdened with complex solutions. It will be comfortable for people of any age.
Which textile to choose
Provence is unthinkable without an abundance of textiles made from natural fabrics. It can be coarse linen, variegated chintz, or cotton.
Popular prints are botanical, floral, checkered, striped. Embroidery, ruffles, frills, and lace are welcome.
The bed can be decorated with decorative pillows, openwork capes, and a large patchwork-style bedspread.
A canopy or an elegant screen will look harmonious.
Walls
Wall surfaces are designed:
- paint;
- simple plaster;
- wooden panels.
At the same time, small uneven finishes will give the walls an additional charm of antiquity and manual labor. A brick wall made of white or red painted brick looks stylish. Most often, this option is used to decorate one wall.
Wallpaper in the Provence style in the interior is characterized by a light background on which floral patterns are freely arranged. In more formal rooms, a thin strip or checkered pattern is used.
Finishing: what does it include?
Without finishing the walls, ceilings and flooring, not a single repair takes place. As for the Provence style, an individual approach to finishing is required.
Unusual Provence with accents in the interior Source happymodern.ru Large hall-living room Source remont-f.ru Bright hall Source derevko.com.ua
Wall treatment: the best colors and materials
Decorative plaster always remains relevant. White paint can be used instead. If the walls are made of wood (laminated veneer lumber), then the material is applied in three layers. This is enough to show a partial structure of the wood.
In some cases, it is possible to decorate a small area with stone mined in the mountains of France. It is usually used for the area behind the TV, kitchen apron or fireplace surround.
The use of finishing material the color of ground stone is encouraged. They can be used to paint some areas or decorate the entire partition. This shade invites you to complement the interior with various decorative objects.
Lavender in kitchen design Source roomble.com
If the wall in the house is concrete, then it can be lined with wood. For this, it is advisable to use natural timber. If possible, they are painted white or beige. As the paint dries, it creates minor abrasions in some places.
Design option Source www.remontbp.com
Vertical surfaces can be finished with mosaic tiles. It is important to adhere to the thematic shade.
Wallpaper to match the interior Source modernplace.ru
On a note! Logs do not need to be painted. This will give the room a natural feel. It is enough to treat them with any protective compound to last longer.
Furniture in Provence style
Furniture in the Provence style is a unique combination of simplicity and elegance. To create an authentic design, they use vintage furniture that can be found in the attics of village houses. Small abrasions and restored chips will add additional antique charm to the furniture.
In order not to spend money on buying expensive antiques in special showrooms, you can purchase the most ordinary sets and artificially age them with special varnishes, cover them with paint and decorate them using decoupage napkins.
Furniture items are distinguished by simple shapes and finished lines. They can be quite crude and give the impression of items made independently, somewhere in a home workshop. Carved legs and facades, floral decoration, bronze or porcelain fittings give such items the necessary grace.
Light-colored wood will create a feeling of spaciousness and light. Sometimes it is additionally coated with a thin layer of light paint, through which the original material will be visible.
Rattan wicker items will be a non-standard furniture option. Such cozy chairs are usually complemented by a large number of pillows or knitted blankets.
For Provence there are no restrictions on the amount of furniture used. In large rooms, in addition to the standard set, you can place small chests of drawers, sideboards, and buffets.
Ottomans, couches, chairs, and armchairs placed throughout the house invite apartment residents and guests to sit down and enjoy the comfort of the interior.
Differences and similarities between Provence and country
The rustic charm that is inherent in these two style trends is their common feature, but despite this they still have some differences. If country style expresses simplicity, then Provence expresses sophistication and elegance in everything.
If we talk about similarities, then both have an antique stylization, use antiques and approximately the same color design, they use wood liberally. And also, however, one of the most important features of the style is the relaxed and cozy atmosphere of a country house.
Country music reflects the originality of village houses, close to nature. Rural simplicity is expressed in harmony with nature and a special comfortable mood. That is why, unlike Provence, it can be difficult to decorate a city apartment in country style. These are the main differences and similarities between these two styles.
Textiles in the interior
Home textiles will help create a feeling of home warmth and ancient comfort.
Light curtains made from natural fabrics complement large windows, practically not blocking the sun's rays and fresh air. They can be gathered into pretty folds, decorated with lambrequins and bows, light tiebacks and ribbons. Multi-layer curtains mounted on wooden or iron cornices with forged finials will look great.
Soft plain fabrics or materials with floral patterns, checks, stripes, repeating the wallpaper pattern or complementing the laconicism of the walls are welcome.
Upholstery of upholstered furniture is matched to curtains or walls. Sofas, armchairs, and couches are decorated with decorative pillows; tablecloths and napkins with embroidery or lace are laid out on the tables. The floors are decorated with soft carpets in light colors.
Selecting a good color palette
Loud and too bright accents are inappropriate in the direction. The color scheme is based on pastel, slightly muted tones. In this case, the color of the walls and ceiling can be any. Powdery shades have been popular among designers for a relatively long time. However, when it comes to Provence, preference is usually given to pastel colors.
Pastel shades have their own names:
- green – mint;
- red – coral;
- orange - peach;
- purple - lavender;
- blue – turquoise;
- yellow – lemon.
These colors should be faded, as if faded or bleached by the sun, but monochromatic. There must be more white in the palette.
In addition, the room can be decorated in beige, white, pink, blue or light green.
Subtle colorsSource rehouz.info
Pastel colors have a number of positive properties: they have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and calm the psyche. In addition, they are suitable for a person with any temperament and are neutral. Therefore, these colors can be used in bedrooms with windows facing both north and south. Another positive point is the ability to combine several pastel colors and shades, as they harmonize well with each other. The same cannot be said about the bright color palette. For example, if you imagine a room decorated in blue, yellow, green and red colors, then in such a bedroom a person is unlikely to be able to relax and unwind, since his nervous system will be excited. If you experiment with pastel shades of different colors, then this combination may seem not only acceptable, but also sophisticated.
Still, leading designers recommend combining no more than three or four shades. This way you can avoid bad taste.
Girl's room Source rehouz.info
Decor
Provence, like all other rustic styles, loves a lot of decorative elements.
The following will look great in this interior:
- paintings with pastoral scenes or natural beauties in gilded frames;
- antique mirrors in wrought iron frames;
- caskets;
- vases;
- fresh or dried flowers;
- antique dolls;
- china;
- figurines;
- candlesticks;
- wicker baskets;
- handicraft items.
Homemade items of any kind are welcome. The most difficult thing in decorating Provence is to be able to stop without turning the room into a branch of the museum.
Color spectrum
Traditional Provençal colors are light, as if sun-bleached, pastel shades. Beige, coffee, cream, light gray tones or white are usually chosen as the main background.
But since Provence personifies the spirit of nature, it is permissible to use more saturated shades: pink, green, blue, lavender, olive, lilac, turquoise.
Expert opinion
Irina Klimova
I am 29 years old. I'm an interior designer. I love my profession and have been doing this activity for more than 8 years. About 100 projects have been implemented. I provide professional advice.
All shades of the color scheme should be faded. This will make the surfaces look shabby and worn, giving the impression of antiquity and the influence of time.
Let's consider the nuances of decoration and decor of rooms in the most popular color shades for Provence.
In white
White color is ideal for a Provencal interior. Against a white background, elegant snow-white furniture looks majestic and luxurious.
In this design, one or two walls must certainly be textured, and smooth surfaces can be decorated with artistic painting.
To make the walls expressive, it is recommended to use relief plaster, stone or brickwork.
For the floor, parquet or laminate with a pronounced wood pattern, for example, bleached oak or pine, is suitable.
To prevent a white bedroom from being faceless and boring, you should add some rich shades to its interior. They can be present in decorative pillows and bedspreads, curtains, and other accessories.
You can hang paintings with images of flowers on the walls.
Beige shades
For the main background, choose a light beige shade or more saturated colors - sand, coffee, light brown. They are present in flooring, furniture, textiles and decor.
When finishing surfaces, it is advisable to use textured materials to give the room an elegant and cozy mood.
Bedroom furniture in Provence style is chosen to be wooden, decorated with carved elements. The expressive pattern of its surfaces is ideal for recreating rural life.
If a yellow tint is used in the design, then it should be muted and dim.
Blue color scheme
Sky-sea tones fill the space with coolness and freshness, making the interior airy and elegant.
It should be recalled that blue is a cold shade and, according to the rules of Provence, is not suitable as the main background. It can be used as an additional shade, and white, beige or gray tones can be used as the base.
Curtains, bedspreads, pillows, upholstery, bedside rugs and other accessories can be blue.
To combine with heavenly shades, both wooden and metal furniture with forged elements are suitable.
Green tones
A Provence bedroom, decorated in shades of green, is associated with spring, warmth and unity with nature.
According to the canons of style, the base is made up of the lightest shades: olive, light green, beige, gray or white.
Rich tones of this range predominate in textiles and decorative elements. Floral prints, plant patterns and natural motifs must certainly be present here.
Paintings, panels of dried flowers, fresh flowers in beautiful flowerpots, paintings on walls and furniture - all this is ideal for decoration.
Both light and dark furniture will look great in a green room. For example, a dark brown bedroom set will symbolize the base of the tree - the trunk, and curtains, bedspreads and pillows - its crown.
In pink
A Provençal bedroom in pink is simply gorgeous. She is gentle, romantic and amazingly beautiful.
When decorating such an interior, it is very important not to overdo it with pink shades, so as not to turn the room into a dollhouse.
You can use such tones in the decoration of walls and ceilings in combination with textiles and furniture in golden, lilac, peach, olive or pistachio colors.
Or take any tone of a light palette as a basis and complement it with curtains, curtains, bedspreads, pillows and decor in pink shades of varying intensities.
Another option is to install light-colored furniture with pink trim, patterns or upholstery. In this case, it is better to choose light pink finishing materials for the walls and ceiling, and also add some decorative items in rich pink tones.
Expert opinion
Irina Klimova
I am 29 years old. I'm an interior designer. I love my profession and have been doing this activity for more than 8 years. About 100 projects have been implemented. I provide professional advice.
Black tone is not often used in Provencal design, although the presence of dark wood and small inclusions of black shades in the form of accessories is quite acceptable. The most popular color remains white.
Lighting in Provence style
Provence requires a lot of light. Natural flow will come from large windows decorated with white frames. Artificial lighting will provide several levels of forced illumination.
The main element of lighting continues to be the ceiling chandelier. It is distinguished by its massiveness, which is imparted by a forged frame, and the lightness provided by glass and crystal pendants, fabric and wicker lampshades.
Wall sconces are matched to the tone of the main lamp. Imitations of candles or gas lamps will look great.
An excellent option for decorating a room would be cozy floor lamps, reminiscent of the romance of bygone times. They are placed everywhere, from the living room to the hallway.
All of the listed design techniques are suitable for use in all rooms. But small tricks will make each room even more cozy and “French”.
Simple, stylish furniture
French country furniture balances on the border separating elegance and functionality. Although it is largely free of the embellishment that has historically been the hallmark of French design, it is overall elegant. And although for rural residents, especially in the past, the main thing was that each piece of furniture clearly performed its assigned functions, it was not uncommon to have multifunctional pieces or furnishings that could easily be moved to where they were most needed at the moment.
Stay away from overly monotonous furniture sets. Instead, mix wooden furniture with different surface finishes and metal ones that add an antique touch to the interior.
The seating area in this photo epitomizes the French Country approach to furniture. Upholstered chairs with armrests, a table and shelves merge in refined harmony, connected by a common color scheme of soft white and bluish-gray shades. These pieces of furniture have decorative flourishes that elevate them beyond strict practicality, but their elegance is in no way ostentatious or exaggerated.
Kitchen in Provence style
The Provence style in the kitchen interior will create a joyful mood that will help you prepare delicious food and eat it with pleasure. The kitchen is most often combined with the dining room, and modern household appliances are hidden behind cabinet fronts or items are selected in a retro style.
Small “cafe” curtains will transport visitors to a village hut, where the decor will be painted plates, jars with spices, pickles and jams, ancient Turks and hand mills.
Briefly about the main thing
- Provencal style is often chosen by dreamy people with refined taste.
- The palette of such bedrooms consists mainly of light, restrained and delicate shades. Unnaturally bright or dark tones, as well as contrasting combinations, are rarely found here.
- The most popular colors: beige and warm shades of white (cream, ivory); fawn, pale lemon, sand; peach, soft coral; light green, olive, pistachio; pale blue, azure, turquoise, mint; pearl gray; all muted shades of pink; lilac, lavender, lilac; brown, coffee, chocolate.
- When decorating small rooms, it is better to give preference to pastel colors.
As you can see, Provence is great for decorating a bedroom of any size and doing it yourself is not that difficult. It is enough to include just a few key details of this design trend in the interior to get the ideal space for a relaxing holiday.
So, I told you in detail about the features of decorating a bedroom in the Provencal style. Thank me with a like below! If you still have questions, ask them in the comments.
Living room in Provence style
The Provence style in the living room interior will create a soft corner and fireplace, shelves and chests of drawers. A fluffy carpet or burlap rug will look stylish on the floor. Flowers in vases or living plants will decorate the guest room.
Selection of fabrics.
You can use simple cotton textiles with prints of flowers, trees and grass. Fabrics for curtains should be made from natural fibers; they always look beautiful and advantageous in the interior, and also allow air to pass through well and allow it to circulate freely.
Recently, people often use fabrics in this style separately from it, so there should not be any special difficulties associated with their choice. Fabrics in the interior should be harmoniously combined with the entire design, taking into account the surrounding environment.
Natural fabrics are always sophisticated and gentle, which is very important for Provencal curtains
Bedroom in Provence style
For the bedroom it is better to reduce the amount of furniture. A wide bed (with a base and headboard made of wood or metal) and a small chest of drawers will suffice here. A dressing table is placed for the beautiful inhabitant of the bedroom.
The textiles are decorated with ruffles, flounces, puffs, and lace.
Features of Provence for some types of premises
And now a little about the design of different types of sleeping rooms.
Small room
The pastel palette of shades in its decor will add special comfort.
Also in the design of a small room it is worth considering several nuances:
- It is advisable to choose colors as light as possible;
- It is better to replace colorful textiles and wallpaper with plain materials, and use traditional floral prints in accessories;
- limit the number of decorative elements so as not to create a feeling of overload;
- If the home is intended for one person, then in order to save space it would be wiser to install a single bed.
Arrangement of a place to relax in the attic
The attic can be adapted for a secluded corner, where it will be pleasant to spend a couple of quiet hours with a book or to accommodate guests.
To preserve the slight negligence of the Provencal style, it is not necessary to carry out a thorough renovation in the attic. For example, you don’t have to cover the walls if they are covered with boards.
The ceiling in the attic of a wooden house often has beams and ceilings, which can become the main highlight of the interior. You will need little furniture: a single bed, bedside tables and a few shelves.
Relaxation room in a country house
A bedroom in a wooden house or in a country house is a unique opportunity to recreate the style of the French province.
Simple finishing elements such as rough plank floors or ceilings, log or plastered walls will form the basis of the interior.
Therefore, it is quite possible to do without the use of modern materials and save money. A fireplace will make the atmosphere even more cozy.
Room for a girl
A romantic Provencal bedroom is perfect for a young girl. There should be fewer rough textures here - it’s worth relying on delicate colors and an abundance of airy textiles.
A Provence bedroom set should be elegant. It is worth paying attention to beds with a carved headboard or white wrought iron furniture.
A light and slightly flirty atmosphere will be supported by mirrors in beautiful frames and, of course, flowers - even if they are present in patterns on the fabric and in the form of bouquets on the bedside table.
So, Provence is a light range of shades, a complete lack of contrasts, natural materials in everything, aged and vintage furniture, plant and natural motifs, fresh flowers, exquisite decorative decoration.
Look at the photo below to get inspired by ideas for cozy French Provence.
Provence style for a children's room
The style will be a wonderful decoration for a child's room. It is perfect for young princesses and romantically minded ladies.
To decorate the room of a boy or children of different sexes, choose a blue, green or soft brown color scheme, a pattern in the form of stripes.
No. 4. Floor finishing
It is advisable to use natural boards painted white or another light shade for finishing floors. It’s even better if there are small irregularities on the tree, which should convey a trace of time. It is important that they do not interfere with free and safe movement.
To save money, you can use any imitation of solid wood. For example, parquet or laminate. The effect, of course, will not be the same, but if you follow the color scheme, it will turn out well.
It is also possible to use terracotta tiles with a slightly wiped surface. Preference is given to large format tiles. In the kitchen, you can put a small rug with thick short pile on top of it.
Hallway in Provence style
The entrance area in Provence style will welcome guests with soft couches or ottomans, a large mirror, and floor vases. Photos of Provence style in the interior will help you better understand this amazing design option and find the most suitable details for yourself.
Decoration of different rooms
Now let's see how you can decorate the premises in a house or apartment in the style described.
Bedrooms
When decorating not just bedrooms, but rooms for girls and women, the active use of white is encouraged. The necessary atmosphere will be created by both flowers and cages with or without birds. A small mirror is also an obligatory feature of the room. A small bed is inappropriate in such a room. But the presence of a canopy is quite an attractive idea.
Beige tones are often used in a monochrome bedroom design project. You could also use a nutty, powdery or light brown color. When creating a more masculine interior, blue color is used. It can be used in conjunction with white paint. It is also worth taking a closer look at solutions based on light green tones.
Kitchens
It is also useful to know how to decorate a small kitchen in Provence style. There you can actively use a variety of colors, but provided that they combine well with each other and do not look overly bright. The principle is simple: take a clean, rich color and “clog” it with white, gray or blue tones
It is extremely important: color accents cannot be used, as they will immediately disrupt the harmony and will fundamentally contradict the overall concept. Furniture facades can be made of milled MDF or have transparent doors
Living room
It is very important to decorate this room correctly even in a large cottage. In this case, soft white paint or a combination of coffee and milk is welcome
Light walls with rough plaster filling and floral motifs are often used. The furniture can be made of waxed wood; its obligatory feature is curved legs. For fabrics, it is recommended to choose simple cotton textiles with floral patterns.
Bathroom and toilet
The design of the bathroom and toilet areas in the Provencal spirit has its own characteristics. As in other rooms, the use of light furniture with curly legs is encouraged
Attention should be paid to the execution of mirrors, furniture handles, towel holders and other similar things. Faucets should be large and equipped with a curved spout
Hallway
In this room, furniture that matches the style of modern classics is most appropriate. It is best not to experiment, but to take ready-made kits. The entire interior is created in a maximum of three shades. To separate from other rooms in studios, shelving and bar counters are used. Plaster stucco molding and artistic forging will create the necessary ambiance.
Peach and mint tones are actively used in hallways. Colors are usually clearly differentiated; it is not recommended to create transitions. The surface of the floor tiles is aged. A chest of drawers is placed in the center of the room. On one of the walls there is a shelf for small items (keys, mittens, scarves, caps, phones, etc.).
Children's
The colors in this room are the same as in other areas of the house. In addition to floral and other plant prints, you can also use plaid and polka dots. Both plain and printed wallpapers are used. It is pleasant and convenient to illuminate the nursery with the help of a chandelier equipped with a metal chain. The children's room is an exception to the general order - this is the only room in the spirit of Provence where carpets are appropriate.
Balcony
On the Provencal balcony you can put various embroidered decorations. One of the walls is sometimes decorated with boards. Whether to paint them white or leave them in their natural form is up to the owners themselves. Wallpaper of one or more colors will create the desired mood. Light boards and stone tiles are placed on the floor. The ceiling is covered with natural wood.
In a Provencal style attic, you can use wooden beams of a relatively rich color. If a bed is placed there, it is usually decorated with carvings. Using a large number of family photos helps to add coziness. A separate topic is the design of a veranda or terrace in the spirit of Provencal style. Such rooms are usually plastered like brick without leveling the surfaces.
Terracotta tiles are placed on the floor, the seams between which will have to be sanded. The ceiling will be decorated with ceramic tiles, brick or natural stone. It is logical to install forged couches and tea tables. The cabinets are painted with neat green or blue patterns.
Stairs in a Provencal interior, of course, are made strictly of wood. Its texture may be slightly careless, but this carelessness must be thoroughly thought out. Dark green and brown colors are preferred. A specific color is selected taking into account how it will look in natural and electric light. Without any problems, you can install not only a straight staircase, but also a curved staircase.
No. 5. Ceiling finishing
The ceiling decoration also uses natural materials in calm shades without gloss. The ideal option is plaster, smooth or textured. You can replace it with paint, and if the surface of the ceiling is not very good at all, then a stretch ceiling will do, but choose only a matte, plain canvas.
If the height of the ceilings allows, then you can decorate them with wooden beams, but do not choose too dark colors - a beige or light brown shade will be most appropriate.
