Provence style is a favorite design direction when decorating modern homes. It combines simple rural life and light French character. All this is manifested in paints faded under the scorching sun, evergreens, and natural finishing materials.
Provence style is characterized by a large number of decors that can be made with your own hands or purchased ready-made. They are the ones who fill homes with special warmth, coziness and comfort.
What accessories should I use?
The main decorative items in the Provence style are:
- Curtains . They are sewn from light translucent fabrics (cotton, linen, chintz). Their main task is to let maximum daylight into the room. Curtains for rooms are chosen in light colors and with various floral patterns.
- Natural flowers. They are found everywhere in this direction. Unusual solutions look beautiful when old buckets, rubber boots, boxes, teapots, and wicker baskets are used instead of flower pots.
- Various trinkets. Porcelain figurines, carved wooden boxes, candlesticks, and vases are placed on numerous open shelves and racks. Decorative dishes decorated with artistic painting attract special attention.. It is found not only in the dining room or kitchen, but also in the living room, children's room and even in the bedroom.
- Open shelves and racks. They are an important element when arranging a room in the Provence style. After all, all trinkets and decorations need to be placed somewhere. And you simply can’t find a better place than open shelves. Quite often, shelves are covered with knitted lace napkins, on top of which decor is placed.
- Decorative tableware. It is a distinctive feature of a simple rustic style. Beautiful porcelain sets are displayed in sideboards and on shelves. Decorative plates are often hung on walls in various rooms. These can be either simple porcelain products without patterns, designed in pastel colors, or entire thematic collections depicting birds, animals, and flowers.
- Wicker items. In the Provence style, the main decoration is considered to be hand-made wicker baskets. They contain children's toys, cosmetics, jewelry and other personal items. Wicker baskets are displayed on open shelves in living rooms, children's rooms, and bathrooms.
- Forged decorative elements. The rustic Provence style is characterized by a large number of forged items. In the living room there are forged lamps, sconces, chandeliers, and candlesticks. Furniture with forged elements looks beautiful. Forging should be simple and without elaborate curls.
- Vintage mirrors. They play an important role in the design of premises. Mirrors are hung on walls in massive wooden or metal frames. Their frame should be slightly worn, like from the last century. It is also important to give a shabby look to the mirror surfaces themselves by applying special products.
- Textile. It is used to decorate: windows, doorways, tables, beds, armchairs. Light curtains are hung on the windows, sofas are covered with embroidered bedspreads, on top of which there are numerous pillows. The chairs also have blankets or textile covers. Translucent canopies are hung above the bed, adding romance and elegance to the bedroom.
- Paintings. They highlight the neutral color of the walls and add brightness to them. In a rustic style, paintings depicting animals, still lifes, and beautiful landscapes are hung. For example, in the kitchen you can hang several paintings depicting fruits and vegetables, in the living room - family portraits, lavender fields, landscapes with nature, in the bedroom images of provincial streets look beautiful.
- Bird cages. They are often found in the noble Provençal style. The cells are selected to be round in shape. Their design should be openwork and laconic. Flower arrangements of fresh or dried flowers are placed in an empty cage. You can also place artificial birds sitting on a vine in the cage.
Leaf IMPORTANT : the Provence direction is associated with the fragrance of flowers.
The decoration of any room will be: roses, alfalfa, lavender.
Pillow Shape
It is not at all necessary to make a decorative product of the correct shape. The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round, or in the shape of a letter and an animal.
The most popular are rectangles and squares, but the pillow can be oval, round, or in the shape of a letter and an animal.
For each type, you must first take care of drawing up a pattern. For complex shapes, you can find options in special editions, and simple, ordinary decorative pillows can be easily made with your own hands and according to your own drawings.
It is important to immediately think through not only the shape, but also the option for decorating the pillow. This is of great importance, otherwise the product will not look harmonious. The dimensions of the pillow also need to be selected carefully. For the living room, you should not use large pillows so that they do not clutter the room. But for a nursery, you can sew a large flat pillow on which the baby will be comfortable to play, and parents will not worry that their child will freeze.
Photos of the interior
The main emphasis in the Provence interior is on embroidery , which is present on home textiles, elaborate forging, reminiscent of winding plant stems, and dishes decorated with various rustic themes.
Elegant ornate forging of products in the form of petals on the wall
The interior is decorated with a variety of flowers.
The presence of floral patterns adds an accent of Provence
Provencal style attracts attention with its forged products
Decor in the Provence style attracts attention with various accessories: frames with family photographs, vases, bronze candlesticks, ceramic souvenirs.
In separate articles, you can read more about an apartment in the Provence style, a studio and a room in the Provence style.
Diamond IMPORTANT : in the direction of Provence there should be a lot of home textiles.
Furniture selection
First line indent
The design of rooms in a house or city apartment always corresponds to their purpose. The bedroom can be considered a place for relaxation and privacy; it is not intended for noisy companies or friendly gatherings.
Bedroom furniture should be made of wood, possibly with the use of forged elements, often worn out and with peeling paint. Sometimes it seems like it was made a long time ago. This provincial style is characterized by careful attention to the smallest details and decorative embellishments. The backs of chairs, the doors of chests of drawers and cabinets are often decorated with carved monograms.
Only natural fabrics are used in furniture finishing. Linen and cotton seats and backs of chairs, armchairs and sofas are easy to clean and wash. Although for greater safety they are covered with special covers and capes.
In most cases, the amount of furniture, decorations and decorative elements depends on the size of the bedroom. The interior of a bedroom in the Provence style is most effective for a large room with huge floor-to-ceiling windows filled with sunlight and air. However, if you wish, you can furnish any room; it is enough to put only the most necessary items in it. Small headsets will be especially relevant.
Modern artificial materials - chrome or plastic parts and decorations - are never used in Provence interiors.
The design of the bedroom includes a large double bed (often, just like in a classic interior, a banquette is placed at the foot), a mandatory chest of drawers, bedside tables or tables, a large number of which are typical for Provence. Their style also matches the interior. Mirrors, paintings in carved frames, lamps and a chandelier will enhance the overall impression and give the room a more prestigious look.
Provence style is distinguished by a careful selection of high-quality furniture. In the south of France, where it originated, any furnishings were highly valued, they were cherished and even passed on by inheritance. And now the most popular and in demand bedroom furniture in the Provence style is made in Europe, made of solid wood with additions of cast or forged metal. Furniture makers from Italy, France and Portugal were recognized as the best. Their furniture is distinguished by careful processing, the use of wood carvings, floral patterns made with oil paints, and fittings made of bronze and other metals as decoration. Bedrooms in Provence style can be equipped with either separately purchased items or furniture sets or sets.
A feature of Provencal style furniture is its artificial aging, for which the method of patination and craquelure is used. Thus, the corners of the furniture become darkened and abrasions appear, and the varnished surface has a network of tiny cracks.
A Provence bedroom with furniture made of natural light wood, a predominance of white and pink colors in the interior, is literally created for young girls who can surround themselves with such amazingly beautiful things as translucent canopies suspended above the bed, chandeliers with sparkling pendants and bouquets of fresh wildflowers.
Pillows
Textiles play an important role in Provence interiors . It appears in decorative pillows, curtains, tablecloths, and napkins. The main thing is that it is all decorated in a rustic manner. When sewing pillows, natural fabrics are used. Various ornaments are applied to them - floral motifs, checks, stripes, polka dots, images of animals. Their main tone is white, blue, lavender, light green. To create a little contrast, you can use rich colors. But there should be few of them, and you should not choose too bright and flashy colors.
See this video for decorations and accessories for the home in Provence style.
The color scheme of French decor should echo lavender fields, evergreens, soft blue skies, and endless expanses.
Exclamation Circle NOTE : Hand-embroidered decorative pillows highlight the simplicity of French design.
When purchasing or sewing pillows yourself, special attention is paid to their decorative design. Common elements are:
- Embroidery. This is the most popular way to emphasize rustic simplicity. small flowers on a light background , bright roosters, which are a symbol of France, and floral patterns are embroidered on the products
- Lace. They are connecting components. A horizontal lace stripe in the center of a decorative pillow looks beautiful. Lace is also used to highlight the pattern against the general background.
- Fringe. It is placed along the edges of products and is valued for creating a special rustic warmth.
- Applications. Plant or animal themes are popular here. But the drawing should be easy to understand and simple.
- Shuttlecocks. They act as bordering elements and give the products softness.
As for the forms, decorative pillows are made in the form of:
- Squares or rectangles. This is a classic option that adds individuality and chic to the French interior.
- Log Quite often found in Provence and decorated with flounces and buttons according to class=”aligncenter” width=”1462″ height=”1115″[/img]
- Oval or circle. They can be complemented with decorative pillowcases or without ornaments.
DIY Provence style pillows
This is a way to update your interior yourself without significant expenses. Decorative pillows will give your room more warmth and comfort, which is important when decorating a home. There is nothing better than cute decorative pillows in the Provence style, which the hostess herself worked on. They can become not only a wonderful decoration, but also your real pride in front of your guests.
Selection of material and filler
We already know that we will make a pillow with our own hands in Provence style. Now you can safely move on to choosing fabric and internal filling. Here are the basic tips for selecting these materials for making your own pillow:
- This style is characterized by natural materials and natural, calm shades, where the most popular color is white. You can embroider on it with threads or satin ribbons, or decorate the product with lace ribbon. For work, it is advisable to choose cotton or linen fabric, but not synthetics and jeans.
- You can use holofiber or padding polyester as a filler. Unlike cotton wool or fluff, these materials hold their shape perfectly and do not roll up at all. Such pillows are very light and comfortable, suitable for decoration or as a product for sleeping and relaxing.
Important! The pillowcase is the main detail for a decorative pillow in the Provence style. The overall picture of the entire room depends on the color and themes in which it will be decorated. Sometimes it is pillows that are an integral part of the interior, which can either improve or worsen the appearance of the room. That is why you should pay special attention to these products.
We sew Provence pillows with our own hands:
- Determine the desired size of the decorative pillow.
- We make a pattern by drawing a square, rectangle or other shape on paper, adding 1.5 cm seam allowances on each side of the product.
- We transfer the pattern to previously prepared double fabric.
- We sew the three edges together until a certain point, and then turn them inside out.
Important! At this step it is very important not to forget to leave a small hole to fill the pillow with padding polyester.
- We sew the opening on the front side of the product with a hidden seam.
- Let's start making the outer pillowcase. We make a pattern based on the previous pattern, adding an allowance to the sides not of 1.5 cm, but more - 3 cm.
- If you do not sew in a zipper or sew on buttons, then do not forget to make a special hole on the bottom, right or left side, which will serve as a supporting element for the product. To make it, cut out a long strip of fabric and add 2 cm to the seam allowance on each side. We sew the cut to the desired part of the pillow, fixing it on both sides so that the product can be aligned through the third.
Important! If you just want to sew a decorative pillow (not for sleeping), then make a pattern, mark the allowances, pin the product, baste it, machine stitch it and turn it inside out.
Decorative wooden boxes
Decorative boxes will also help to add the charm of the French province to a Provence-style interior. They must have an aged appearance and be made of natural wood.
Wooden boxes are used for things and accessories
Good for planting flowers
Wooden boxes are used for storing personal items, linen and accessories, as well as for planting flowers. The color of the decor varies from white, pink, blue and brown. They are placed in hallways, kitchens or living rooms. In a child's room, toys can be stored in such a box.
In the Provencal style, wicker boxes made of wicker have proven themselves to be excellent
Wicker boxes made of wicker deserve special attention. They serve their owners for many years and are passed on from generation to generation.
Lamps
Chic chandeliers made of crystal or glass will also help complement the romantic style. Bronze lamps are covered with a patina to give an antique effect. Ceramic and forged products look good in this direction. Forged lamps are complemented by elements such as vines, butterflies and leaves. And chandeliers, with light bulbs in the form of candles, will bring aristocracy and sophistication to the interior of the living room or bedroom.
Light bulbs in the form of candles will add sophistication and elegance to the interior.
Unusual chandelier with antique effect
Joomla ATTENTION: lamps with polka dot shades look harmonious in the Provence style.
Crafts
Handmade crafts are in great demand when decorating a simple rustic style. This could be a painting painted on canvas with acrylic paints, depicting a landscape, still life, or poppy field.
Watch the video for a DIY decorative cage in Provence style.
You can make decorative pillows for sofas, beds and armchairs, covers and bedspreads yourself. Natural fabrics are used when sewing them. Additionally, the products are decorated with lace, ruffles, and flounces.
DIY paintings made from dried flowers look great
Antique clock with Roman numerals
With your own hands you can make antique clocks with Roman numerals, photo collages, wall panels, wicker baskets and much more.
It will also be useful to learn how to make furniture with your own hands in the Provence style.
Bedroom in the attic
First line indent
Typically, attics are preferred by young couples or teenagers. In a country wooden house, before you start finishing the room, you should take care of appropriate lighting and insulation. For a comfortable stay, you need to install underfloor heating or think about different heating options.
A Provence style attic bedroom can be small. Its walls are most often plastered and then, if desired, whitewashed or painted. Wallpaper is also suitable, but its design should not be large or very bright. Choose floral patterns, stripes, checkered patterns.
Furniture for the attic room must correspond to its characteristics. The height of the ceiling is very important, since the dimensions of cabinets or mirrors depend on this indicator. Lighting fixtures can be installed on ceiling and wall beams that need to be varnished or painted.
Attic rooms are designed not only depending on the height of the ceiling, but also on the number of sloping walls. A Provence style bedroom on the top floor of a house can be small and low. In this case, you should choose one, the lightest shade for the ceiling and walls. The most suitable color is neutral white, which helps to visually enlarge the entire room. However, if this option turns out to be unacceptable, then one of the walls, preferably the one with the head of the bed, can be painted in a darker or brighter color. The chosen style allows this.
If the windows in the attic face north, then the entire color scheme of the interior should be warm shades.
For a room with low ceilings, it is best to use a low bed and other furniture that will visually increase its height. Bedside tables and cabinets should not be bulky. It is better to place the desk near the window, where there is maximum natural light. If there is a wide enough window, then you can install a bench-lounger near it, on which you can put a whole set of decorative pillows of various sizes. If you install closed cabinets of the same color close to the sunbed, or rather, on both sides of it, you will get a small and compact seating area where you can lie down and read a book after lunch.
Interior doors
As for interior doors, special requirements are placed on them. They must be wooden and painted white. On the inside there is often artistic painting in the form of flowers, seascapes, and olive branches.
Joomla ATTENTION : an interior door in the Provence style should have an aged and shabby appearance. This applies not only to the door leaf itself, but also to the artistic painting on it.
To decorate the door leaf with a beautiful pattern, stencils are often used that are fixed to the products. Paint is applied on top of them with a brush. After the paint has completely dried, the painting is varnished.
In Provencal style, doors should be painted white
An aged look and artistic painting will only add a rustic style
Star Half Empty ATTENTION : the painting on the doors should not be bright or catchy. And the overall tone of the picture should be combined with the main background of the door.
In addition to decorative painting on doors, the use of decoupage techniques .
Making decorative pillows
The making of pillows should be taken seriously. Then you will be able to create products that exactly match the Provence style. It is necessary to choose the right material for the base and pillowcase, as well as decorative elements.
Suitable pillow material
Only natural material is suitable for production. It can be soft, gentle or rough. Depends on the chosen design direction. It is preferable to use the following types of fabrics: blue, cotton, linen.
- The fabric is made on a cotton basis.
- It is soft, bright and light.
- Decorated with a variety of floral patterns and designs.
Chintz fabric with floral pattern
Advice! Before sewing, the fabric should be washed, dried and ironed. It will shrink, the initial length will change and acquire the final size.
Cotton (Coarse Type)
- This fabric looks like burlap, so it is ideal for a rustic style.
- The fabric is stiff and dense.
- It comes in gray or beige.
Coarse gray cotton for bedding
Important! Cotton also shrinks after washing. You need to pay attention to this before purchasing fabric in order to take the material with a reserve.
- The material has good strength and density.
- Pairs well with embroidery and lace, which serve as a wonderful complement to the rough base.
Fireplace
Fireplaces in Provence are installed in a spacious living room and are an important accent. They are distinguished by simple forms, without hints of luxury and sophistication. Ideal finishing materials are: brick, tile, plaster. Additional decors include forged elements and ceramic parts.
A fireplace in Provence is an important accent in the interior
Info Circle ATTENTION : Provence style fireplaces are finished in muted tones.
