There is nothing better than a Provence-style living room. With the help of such a design solution, you can get a visually light, warm and pleasant interior for the soul. A room decorated in this style automatically becomes more comfortable, and, as you know, this is exactly what a living room should be like. Provence is artificially aged furniture, colorful curtains, massive comfortable sofas and armchairs, wooden windows, in general, everything that is associated with the countryside. Interesting ideas, interior features and useful recommendations will help you realize your plans and design your dream room - the warmest and most comfortable in the house.
From France with love
The very word "Provence" will remind us of charming lavender fields, small cozy houses and old wooden furniture. The name of the style is given in honor of the region of the same name in France. Literally translated "Provence"means "province". The region is located in the southeast of France, on the Mediterranean coast. Near the beautiful Provence are the Alps and the Cote d'Azur. The picturesqueness of the region is inspiring, and everything that is around is carefully moved to nearby houses, making them so cozy and tender that it is impossible to refuse to live in such a wonderful place for at least a week. But there is an opportunity to organize this fairy tale in your home! A living room decorated in Provence style is a great option for both a private house and an apartment in a high-rise building.
Provencal design features
The main rule is to use only natural materials when decorating a room and choosing furniture. It can be clay, stone, wood, as well as natural fabrics and vines. A special place in such an interior is occupied by decor and textile products. The French are very fond of decorating the house with what was made by their own hands and in a single copy. This means that this will not be found anywhere else and with anyone, and therefore will become an exclusive thing. For example, knitted doily, textiles with lace trim, woven and wicker products.
Selection of colors and combinations of shades for a living room in Provence style
The region is located next to the blue sea and purple lavender fields, there is almost always a blue sky and the sun shines brightly, and olive trees grow. Therefore, when decorating the interior, the following colors and shades are mainly used:
- white;
- beige;
- cream;
- coffee and milk;
- purple;
- pale turquoise;
- olive;
- champagne;
- sand;
- umbra;
- pink;
- pale blue;
- pistachio.
That is, only light and gentle tones are used. Dark colors can also be used, but only for the purpose of adding an accent. For example, for a Provence-style living room, you can pick up a black or brown piece of furniture (coffee table, mirror), fittings, forged items for a chandelier, and more.
Accent - interesting, but do not forget that everything is good in moderation. Otherwise, it is important to adhere to a certain color balance. That is, to select shades that will be in harmony with each other. Not everything has to be in the same color, but always in close tones. White, indigo and lilac are perfectly combined with each other - such a set of shades is considered classic for the Provence style.
Choice of materials for wall decoration
The most common method used by designers is plastering. Walls can be painted in one of the above colors. If the choice fell on paint, it is better to choose pastel, muted, whitened tones that seem to have faded under the sun. It is also allowed to decorate the walls with brickwork or its imitation, simple drawings (usually floral motifs). Natural stone will look very nice.
Some photos of the Provence style living room showing design projects show the use ofwood panels and fabrics. Such finishing methods are also acceptable and will help to achieve the creation of an original interior. In addition, you can link the two options together. For example, paint a large area of the walls, and in some parts of the hall that I would like to highlight, lay out brickwork or use stone for decoration. The main thing is that all this is harmoniously combined together.
Decoration of the floor and ceiling
Classic style suggests the presence of beams. Ceiling ceilings made of logs can only be made in a private house. In an apartment, if you really wanted to make such a “decor”, then it is better to use polyurethane or polystyrene, since these materials are much lighter. The beams can be left in their natural color by covering them, for example, with a stain, or completely (together with the ceiling) painted with a lime solution. In general, the ceiling color should be in harmony with the interior of the Provence-style living room.
As for the floor, laminate flooring is acceptable. But it is better to give preference to natural wood boards or ceramic tiles. So the interior will be more harmonious. Both the ceiling and the floor should not be made pretentious, they should remain like a background, giving all the attention to the walls, furniture, textiles and decorative elements.
What furniture to choose for a living room in a Provence-style house?
The use of high, bulky cabinets with mezzanines is excluded. Provencal style symbolizes simplicity and lightness, and thisfurniture will only disturb the peculiar peace in the interior. Small cabinets are selected, made mainly of wood. The style is characterized by the presence of features of antiquity, so either old or artificially aged furniture is used. In this regard, polishing is excluded - it is better to preserve the sophistication of the lines and at the same time the natural "roughness".
What is the best upholstery for sofa and armchairs? Here, too, it is necessary to select materials with a rough texture, like canvas and linen. Depending on the area of the room, one sofa and 2-3 armchairs, several chests of drawers and a coffee table are enough. You can also put cabinets to place decor or lighting fixtures on them. Armchairs can be from one set with a sofa or wicker. It is allowed to use forged elements in furniture. It is possible to create a living room in Provence style with a fireplace. Decorative, electric or real - it does not matter if it is not too large in size and harmoniously fits (including color) into the interior.
Choice of lighting fixtures
It's worth starting with windows, since the quality of daylight depends on them. Like doors, frames should be wood, painted white or a shade that matches the color scheme of the interior. Ideal if they have the effect of antiquity.
In France, houses are usually built with practically panoramic windows, there are high ceilings, so windows are most often made directly to the floor. This suggests that there should be a lot of daylight. As artificial lighting, a chandelier of a simple or complex design is used with forging elements or fabric lampshades imitating candles, street lamps, and so on. To make the design of the Provence-style living room a success, become even more comfortable and “warmer”, it is recommended to install several table and / or floor lamps, as well as hang wall sconces.
The role of textiles and decorative elements in the Provencal style
Curtains, tablecloths, furniture covers and other similar products should be natural. Most often it is bleached linen, chintz and wool, silk is used much less often. Curtains on the windows should be chosen light and airy or contrasting and eye-catching - one of the two. As a rule, in color they are combined with the upholstery of the sofa and armchairs, as well as decorative pillows. It is important to remember that you should not resort to complex drapery - it will ruin everything. Alternative options are Roman fabric or wooden blinds (blinds).
For the kitchen-living room in the Provence style, you can pick up various napkins and towels, curtains for the glazed facade of the headset and a rug to match the furniture upholstery. Textiles can be with floral motifs or plain. Decor plays an equally important role. Again, if the living room is one with the kitchen, then this part of the room can be decorated with dried herbs, decorative olives or even lavender, albeit not real. Arrange potted flowers, the buds of which have a shade suitable for the interior.
There are many more decor options in the living room. Here you canarrange interesting caskets, porcelain vases, glass jars of bizarre shapes, in which dried fragrant herbs will stand, paintings with flowers in an aged frame, decorative plates on the walls and other things decorating the interior. Through accessories, you can arrange the "points". Forged wall clock painted black can act as an accent.
We invite you to watch a video review of a country house, completely made in the beautiful Provence style.
