How to Create a French Country Bedroom

I’ve written about French country style many times: from great French country gardens, to the best French country paint colors. You name it ~ I love all things French country! So here, we’re extending our interest to the boudoir: I’ve curated a gorgeous collection of bedrooms that would be right at home in a high-end Parisian apartment, or in a relaxed Provence cottage. Which is one of the reasons I love French style so much: it can be very sophisticated, or very rustic ~ or anywhere in between. So let’s learn how to create a gorgeous French country bedroom…

Soft, simple, & lovely: this is a quintessential sophisticated French bedroom. Photo: Edward George.

I’m excited to say that I’ve been asked to curate my own Wayfair Storefront ~ which includes my own personalized French Country Bedroom Collection!

Click on any photo in this article to shop my collection!

French Country Style…in the Bedroom

This bedroom is the ultimate in terms of true French country style. Photo: Veranda.

When designing your French country bedroom, you may want to incorporate one or all of these French country signatures: 1) The use of wood & other natural materials, 2) Softly-patterned fabrics in muted colors, & 3) Some element of distressed, vintage, or antique furnishings & accessories.
For the color palette: think lots of muted tones, all manner of blues, soft greens, light pinks, lavender, even yellow, all pastels, & creams & whites ~ which are often the most important feature of a French country bedroom. For specific recommendations on French country paint colors (all of which could work in the bedroom), read this article.
As for fabrics: toile is a French country favorite (where pastoral scenes are used repeatedly) & can be used on a bedspread, curtains, or even pillows. Floral patterns are also popular in the French style, which opens up a huge world of fabrics. To “masculinize” the French style, look for a floral pattern in darker colors ~ such as earthy browns or dark greys.
For window coverings: soft drapes & curtains are the way to go. I’ve never seen blinds in a French country bedroom! In my room, I’ve got soft white curtains that frame my garden view. Pick anything that matches your bedding & overall look.
No French country bedroom is complete without flowers: either fake or real. A rustic French bedroom might display them in a simple metal tin. In my home, I have blue hydrangeas displayed in a glass Mason jar.
There’s one thing that will make your bedroom stand out more than anything else: & that’s to display a beautiful French-styled chandelier.
End tables, instead of being square, will be round & softer-looking in the French style. A round, natural wood table is the perfect piece for a French bedroom ~ but you can also use antiques or distressed furniture as well.
What’s the view from your bedroom window? If you look out towards a garden, trellis or patio: extend your French country style outside as well. Think about the view you want to have from your bedroom. You might use pea gravel, a beautiful tiered fountain (I have one right outside my bedroom), trees or boxwood planted in rows, & flowers like roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums, & wisteria for a truly romantic feel outside of your bedroom.