This is a perfect example of a more relaxed, French country outdoor dining area: the pea gravel & central water feature are two crucial elements of French style ~ & neither need to cost a fortune. I’ll give you many ideas below…

There are many elements of French style in this home: old stone walls, French doors, a quaint outdoor seating area, containers used by the home for a cozy feel, with larger trees further away for privacy & beauty.

This is a lovely example of a relaxed outdoor patio in the French country style. Note the color of the shutters: a near-perfect Provence Blue. Photo by Veranda.

I recently dog-eared this oh-so-French look in “Victoria” magazine: an idyllic outdoor setting.

The most famous French garden is at Versailles, which is definitely on the formal end. BUT: there are elements you can copy here: play with geometry & shapes. Use trees to form hedges & draw the eye towards one, central feature ~ like a pond. Photo courtesy of Paris Insiders Guide.

French style can also be very simple: the stand-out here is the gorgeous golden tone of the stone wall & the simple, rustic table set. Photo by The Spruce.

When I think of French country gardens, I picture something more like this: a beautiful stone building covered with trailing vines, an informal seating area surrounded by flowers, & an irregular, cobblestone walkway. Rustic perfection like this can be found all around Provence. Photo courtesy of Cottage Garden.

If I could create this exact scene in my garden ~ OH MY would I ever! If you have a beautiful shaded area that’s protected from the wind: it’s possible to create a delicious scene like this… (Note the mismatched chairs & distressed table: French country does NOT = perfect!)

A charming entrance like this is signature of a more cottage garden feel. Photo courtesy of The Cottage Journal.

The abundance of flowers here brings in an English cottage feel surrounding this She Shed. Photo by French Country Cottage.

Don’t simply place a fountain in your yard randomly! French style tells us to bring DRAMA to that fountain: create a path that leads up to it, surround the fountain with either stones or flowers ~ or BOTH, to really create a statement.

Hidden “rooms” are not only a French thing ~ but many English gardens use the same idea. The idea is to create different areas within the garden: these could be sitting areas, a hidden area with a fire pit, etc. Photo courtesy of Holly Lepere Studios.

This garden has a slightly more formal feel with fewer flowers, but both the wrought-iron furniture & series of large urns are quintessential French style.

Perfect French country style with a muted palette. Aged urns create repetition with boxwood, while wisteria climbs up the trellis. Photo by Veranda.

The “Shabby Chic” style, created by Rachel Ashwell, is a cousin of French style ~ with its subtle color palette, distressed & weathered-looking furniture, & an overall tranquil feel.

Chateau Villandry is one of France’s most famous gardens. Here, you can see several elements of French style: pea gravel pathways, symmetrical garden planning using distinct shapes (both square & rectangular), & grand, wide paths that lead up to the Chateau.

The gardens at Chenonceau were my absolute favorite, & I found, more charming than Villandry’s ~ with the decorative use of ornamental grasses, hearty shrubs, & trees shaped into globes punctuating the edges of the lawn.

Finally, in the far South of France, you’ll find rows upon rows of one of the most famous French flowers of all: lavender.