by Lauren Busser The House Designers’ Editorial Director
French Country style has been very popular ever since its introduction after World War I. French Country designs are popular because of the intriguing blend of rich details with rustic elements. The result is a comfortable yet rich-looking space. Whatever your decorating style, your color palette is a great way to tie the room together and get that inviting feeling that French Country homes are known for. There are lots of color palettes that can be defined as French Country and here are a few basic palettes to draw from.
Red, white, and blue is one classic French Country inspired palette. This highboy dresser features paint from the Benjamin Moore® Williamsburg Collection. Washington Blue walls provide a great contrast to the Cornwallis Red dresser. The white trim completes the look.
Red, White, and Blue
You may recognize these colors as being the colors of the American or French flags, but they are definitely not the bright shades you will see on a country’s coat of arms. When it comes to red, white, and blue, designers think of subtle shades that evoke the idea of this classic palette but don’t scream the colors of the flag. Reds can be anything from tomato to pomegranate or raspberry, blues can go from aqua to midnight blue, and whites can run the gamut from milky whites to gray stone colors and ivories.
Using this color palette successfully means that you have to translate it so that it works in your space. Keep most of your walls in one color, preferably white or gray. If you are adding an accent wall or painting trim you can add a discolored or muted red. While you are furnishing the room you can bring in other colors, maybe even some bright tones to tie the room together and give it a dimensional look.
While not strictly necessary, this color palette usually works best when one color dominates over the neutral background. Pick red or blue furnishings and use a variety of shades for your accents.
Benjamin Moore’s® Color Trends 2014 includes their Color of the Year. Breath of Fresh Air is a breezy blue that will fit perfectly into your French Country color scheme.
By the Sea
You may think that seaside colors have to be reserved for the sea but in reality you can use these colors anywhere in the country. Seaside palettes usually consist of blues and greens.
You can play the look of the blues and greens up or down by adding yellowish wood-tones that are complimentary to the blues and greens. These tones inject some warmth into a cool color combination if you want it. You don’t have to pair seasides blues and greens with wood tones only. This palette looks great with brick floors, terracotta tiles, and cement flooring.
If you want to go for a completely cool look you can do so by adding antique white tones to the blues and greens. Linen and lace can create a real sense of luxury. You can also create a vintage feel with unbleached linen and darker hues of green, blue, and gray. Adding off-white and ivory accents can also help bring together a room’s vintage feel.
Nightingale and White Dove, from the Benjamin Moore® Color Trends 2014 palette, are the perfect backdrop for this dining area. Aqua accents on the back wall and the addition of beautiful aqua and green glass provide a subtle splash of color to this room.
Natural Beauty
Neutrals are another favorite when it comes to contemporary French decorating. Neutral color palettes vary widely with some people favoring entirely French neutral color schemes. While neutrals transcend all decorating styles they look great, particularly with a restrained color scheme.
Additionally, neutrals can be paired with an accent color. Some popular colors that work really well in French Country decorating are: green, blue, pink, red, and yellow. Any of these colors can mix well in a variety of shades.
This beautifully vignette takes another page from the Benjamin Moore® Williamsburg Collection. This beautiful red wall is a great backdrop for this ornately framed mirror. This plum pigment is called Carter Plum and its historical origins may be traced back to the 18th century.
Gilded Accents
There is nothing wrong with adding a touch of gold into your French Country color scheme. Remember, the cornerstone of French Country design is luxury mixed with a welcoming rustic atmosphere. If it's good enough for a castle there's no reason not incorporate some gold into your cottage.
If you decide to take this approach, start by adding little touches of gold to your picture frames, glass and china, and even your wall stencils. The more gold you add, the more glamorous your space will feel.
The new neutral color palette found in Benjamin Moore’s® Color Trends 2014 collection are perfect for French Country decorating. The walls here are painted in Clay Beige and the linens create a beautiful palette focused on neutrals that still has a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Remember that the goal of French Country design is a luxurious feel juxtaposed with a welcoming atmosphere. French Country color palettes are extremely varied. With a little bit of time you are sure to find a palette you will really love and Benjamin Moore’s® extensive color palette is a great place to start your search for the perfect color.
FAQs
What are the colors for French country? French country design has a neutral color palette including white, beige, gray and taupe. The French also like to add subtle and faded colors like light green, french blue, pale pink, or lavender.
What color palette is French country? ›
French country homes bring to mind a color palette of pale yellows and pinks, shades of off-white, and just enough refined elegance and je ne sais quoi to any space.
Is French country still in style in 2024? ›
French country house chic is a design trend that never seems to go out of style, and it's gaining renewed interest in 2024. This aesthetic combines rustic elements with elegant details, creating spaces that feel both comfortable and sophisticated.
What are the best colors for a French country kitchen? ›
French country kitchens are often neutral spaces that include light, earthy colors that range from shades of white, beige, gray, and brown, or colors such as yellow, red, and blue depending on whether the inspiration is a Provençal farmhouse, a rustic thatched cottage in Normandy, or a provincial chateau.
What colors look good in a French country bedroom? ›
Neutral Colors
It's a mix of white, beige, taupe, and gray. These timeless and peaceful colors create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere in your home. Generally, the walls are in white, light gray or beige, as well as the main furnishings (sofa, bed…).
What are the colors of the French countryside? ›
What are the colors for French country? French country design has a neutral color palette including white, beige, gray and taupe. The French also like to add subtle and faded colors like light green, french blue, pale pink, or lavender.
What is France's most popular color? ›
A recent survey found out that blue is the favorite color of French people.
Is French country out of style? ›
Though perhaps overshadowed at times by a classic farmhouse, a French country farmhouse is still very much in style. Outfitted with a modern base and ornamented with antique touches, the style crafts a distinctly timeless feel.
Can you mix French country with modern? ›
Stick to a simple colour palette of one or two colours and paint both the ceiling and walls in the same hue. The reason the French Country and Modern works so well comes down to conflict and contrast. Where French Country is soft and rustic, Modern is fresh and sleek. Where French Country is warm, Modern is cool.
What is the difference between French country and farmhouse style? ›
Two of the most popular options are “French country” and “farmhouse,” which may seem similar to some but are widely different in design philosophy. The former interior design aims to be elegant, soft, and chic, while the latter leans more toward casual, American choices.
What design elements are featured in a French country kitchen? According to Houston-based interior designer Amitha Verma, French country kitchens are defined by weathered stone floors, exposed wood beams, honed marble countertops, aged hardware, and traditional cabinetry with ornate, furniture-like detailing.
What is the best flooring for a French country kitchen? ›
Large format stone-look LVT and laminate tile will work beautifully in these spaces, realistically emulating the gorgeous look of marble, limestone, and other natural stone varieties. Remember that larger and wider plank and tile sizes will produce fewer seams in finished floors and make your home feel larger!
How do I decorate my home country style French? ›
French country style is defined as a mix of rustic and refined decor inspired by homes in the French countryside. It's characterized by antique furnishings, ornate details, weathered finishes, warm neutrals, rustic patterns, and soft colors. The result is timelessly elegant, yet comfortably lived-in.
What makes French country decor? ›
Antique furnishings, weathered finishes, natural materials, and warm neutrals are a few of the characteristics you'll often find in rooms with French country decorating. The overall effect is meant to appear welcoming and casual yet effortlessly elegant.
What colors do French girls wear? ›
I am wearing the Sezane: the Gaspard with the buttons at the black. Classic colors are black, grey, ecru and camel (shown here). The brighter colors are also lovely and would make a nice accent in spring or summer, but I prefer neutral colors to build a French wardrobe.
What is the most beautiful color for a room? ›
According to leading design experts, the best wall colors for a bedroom are warm pastels, soft white paint shades, and neutral-leaning blues and greens.
What are the colors for French style? ›
The color palette of Country French design reflects the colors of nature: blue, red, green and and yellow.
What color represents France? ›
Bleu de France (Blue of France) is a colour traditionally used to represent France.
What are France culture colors? ›
The "tricolore" (three-colour) flag is an emblem of the Fifth Republic. It had its origins in the union, at the time of the French Revolution, of the colours of the King (white) and the City of Paris (blue and red). Today, the "tricolour" flies over all public buildings.
What colours do French people wear? ›
Classic French Cardigan (un gilet)
I am wearing the Sezane: the Gaspard with the buttons at the black. Classic colors are black, grey, ecru and camel (shown here). The brighter colors are also lovely and would make a nice accent in spring or summer, but I prefer neutral colors to build a French wardrobe.
