Living room in Provence style: design rules and beautiful examples

The modern Provencal style originates from the eponymous French province located in the south of the country. This region, which has a unique climate, has been repeatedly sung by famous artists and artists. Its landscapes, teeming with pastel colors and bright colors, evoke feelings of serenity, lightness, joy and happiness, warmth and comfort. Provence or the style of “French rustic chic” is a worthy alternative to the newfangled industrial style of decoration.

Provence is a style characterized by comfort, simplicity and naturalness of textures, lack of pretentiousness and complexity of details. The presence of a special rustic chic in it does not exclude the use of romantic elements in the decoration of rooms. Of the materials, wood with patina and textile products dominate.

The interior of the hall, made in this style, conquers with its unobtrusiveness, the somewhat deliberate roughness of the plastered walls, shabby furniture in some places and absolutely warm, calm tones of the atmosphere.

Such interiors are always filled with air and give a pleasant antiquity. Style involves the use of natural materials, a relaxed lifestyle and complete natural harmony. The main symbols of the style are olive branches, lavender flowers and sunflowers.

The style has a number of features relevant to the design of living rooms:

• fireplace - an extra element of style;
• dominance of wood furniture;
• use of natural materials in finishing works;
• simplicity in everything;
• neutrality of the used shades of a color spectrum.

A must-have item for a Provence style living room are Significant size of windows, usually decorated with light curtains. To convey and display style strokes on the walls are paintings framed by aged frames.

Another advantage is that Provencal style is universal. The desire for simplicity dominates, and the whole interior is created with the help of decoration, decor and furniture features.

The living room is made using:

• forged parts;
• faience and ceramic objects;
• weaving from a rod;
• wood, brick and stone;
• natural fabrics.

The decoration of the walls, as a rule, does not carry a special style load, but provides a certain background for the installed furniture and decor elements. Using wallpaper is not recommended. but there are exceptions, for example, in the form of a canvas for painting.

When wall decoration is used stone masonry or wood paneling. After that, the walls are painted in tones corresponding to the chosen design option, or leave them in their natural form.

Flooring is done using boards or aged floor tiles. They are painted in bright colors, and often covered with a varnish composition. Looks great made from terracotta tiles or matte porcelain tiles, which is often used with chips to create a style effect.

Wood flooring is usually laid using the simplest parquet pattern. - “decked”, or covered with a laminate with a pattern for a wood texture. Light flooring is also used, covering the tree with pastel colors.

To create a more solemn look, use and a parquet board executed under a stained oak. As flooring, wood boards (square, rectangular, hexagonal) or from burnt clay are quite suitable.

Wall surfaces just bleached. Sometimes, in addition to white, moderate light tones are used.

The traditional option is in wall decoration with boardsfixed to the full height of the walls, which are then painted in muted colors. The use of light tinting varnish, emphasizing the unique patterns of wood, contributes to a pleasant effect.

You can diversify the interior and use wall panels made to match the plaster and covering the bottom of the wall up to 1 m high.

Window frames, usually made of wood, are painted in light colors or with shades compatible with the color of the ceiling beams. The dimensions of the windows should be significant, giving a lot of light and emphasizing a sense of spaciousness. In the manufacture of frames, it is possible to use materials that mimic the natural texture of wood.

The ceilings are made using wood and wood beams, which are usually painted in light colora. It is allowed to leave these details in their natural form or to change their appearance fragmentarily, processing with special varnish.

For ceilings also apply board and lining, which are covered with paint, often pastel shades.

Often ceilings are complemented by aged decorative beams. For some lightening of the interior they are painted in the same tone as the ceiling, but dark shades are also possible.

Furniture in this style, fulfilling its main function, also carries a significant decorative load. Furniture items must be made from natural materials.Quite suitable for this vintage elements or artificially aged. Deliberately rude furniture design will be a natural complement to the overall design of the room.

For furniture use upholstery in light colors. Gloss will be redundant, preferably matte surfaces. We also avoid chrome elements, plastic and glass parts. Suitable furniture options:

• buffets with artificially aged elements and scuffs on them;
• open (without doors) lockers;
• oval old tables;
• chairs with carved legs;
• dressers with slightly peeling paint;
• wicker chairs, sofas, etc.

Soft furniture is complemented by wooden details. Forged products are used as complementary decor.

As a central element of the interior of the hall is usually a sofa, the armrests of which are made of wood. More sophisticated furniture elements in the form of original seats with wrought-iron legs are quite acceptable.

In accordance with the style for the elements of upholstered furniture, textile covers of a single color are used, with light ornaments in the form of floral patterns. Furniture items should not be placed exclusively along the walls - It’s important to creatively group them in random order. Acceptable models of sofas with thread on the legs and patina. Next to them will be harmoniously looking armchairs, slightly different in shape, and in color, muted tones.

A wonderful addition to the living room furniture will be old photo albums, frames, paintings with landscapes and mirrors. Perfectly fit into the style old chests, baskets, as well as wicker furniture elements.

An oval table covered with an embroidered tablecloth will mark the center point of the hall. Chairs can be made of antique metal. To do this, they are painted, and then in some places the coating is erased. Above the seats lay decorative pillows.

A magazine table with tinted, aged wood can be used for its intended purpose or as a TV stand.

In addition to the classic options for upholstered furniture, typically southern options are often used. For example, sofas with forged metal frames. The original effect is made in the interior of the seats with wicker backs, designed for 2-3 people.

The basic ones for Provence are slightly burnt, natural light tones - an abundance of bright, intrusive tones is foreign to this style.

The dominant color spectrum is more likely moderate and includes tones:

• unsaturated indigo;
• white
• saffron;
• pistachio;
• lavender;
• olive.

Perhaps the use of black elements:

• in decorative ornaments;
• in forged lamps;
• when finishing furniture surfaces.

Bright fragments may be present as fresh flowers or deadwood compositions. Floral design is quite appropriate for curtains, sofa textiles, in other elements of the decor. A combination of colors is welcome. So, for furniture, executed in light blue tones, rugs and curtains of other moderate tones will be a wonderful addition. If these tones are basic in the interior, it would be useful to dilute the color spectrum with brighter accessories.

Wherein emphasis should not be made too explicit, it is more useful to choose smooth color transitions. Often terracotta and ocher tones dominate the interiors. However, style and green and blue shades are given due.

The visual range of the interior should look so lively that you could smell lavender and floral aromas. In this case, it will be possible to consider the image of the interior completed. To revitalize the background, use separate inclusion of tones:

• lavender;
• citrus fruits;
• sea ​​wave.

Ideally, the windows of the hall, designed in the style of Provence, should "look" to the south. At the same time, it is recommended to equip the room with large window openings. In other cases arises the need for a more thorough approach to the selection of lighting order, effectively deciding and stylistic content.

The presence of a central chandelier is often supplemented by other lighting fixtures. This allows you to organize a sufficient level of light and optimally zoning the space of the hall. Preferred devices with different shades made:

• from textile;
• from weaving;
• from glass.

Glass shades are often decorated with floral shapes. Forged lamps are used as additions to furniture elements with a similar design. The unity of design must be strictly observed. At the same time, fine forging on a light background allows you to diversify your surroundings, while maintaining the overall style of the interior.

When choosing a chandelier it is important to adhere to a number of requirements. Massive chandeliers are installed in rooms with high ceilings. For small rooms where ceilings are low, ceiling-mounted models with several shades are suitable.

In the evenings and at night, massive wrought iron chandeliers, varieties of sconces, lampshades, wall and floor lamps imitating antiquity are perfectly suitable for lighting. Wherein lampshades should give a soft pastel light, contributing to a serene setting of complete relaxation.

The decorative sector of the interior is its most important element. For halls of this style, a variety of handmade crafts are suitable, for example:

• dolls;
• family photos as part of;
• porcelain small plastic;
• caskets;
• wicker baskets;
• landscapes.
• jugs;
• shoes;
• teapots and cups;
• barrels, etc.

Bird cage is the most popular element of Provence, which may well replace the chandelier. Provence is characterized by the use of a significant number of flower pots, filling the color of the hall with folk motifs. How pots use different objects:

Fine details of the interior will be Homemade items made using decoupage technique: saucers, cuckoo clocks, shelves, etc. Shelves are quite appropriate to decorate with hand-painted painting using acrylic paints. It can be floral arrangements made in a muted color spectrum.

Tables and sofas are covered with light bedspreads with light, unobtrusive patterns. The walls of the hall are decorated with painted plates and saucers, wall clocks, masks, various wooden or porcelain.

Immutable attribute of provence - Natural flowers, pleasing with the beauty and freshness of natural aromas. Place them anywhere.

Provence involves the mandatory use of textiles. To form a special chic fit:

• chintz material with drawings;
• lace napkins with ruffles, lace embroidery;
• striped fabrics and checkered curtains and bedspreads;
• linen linen.

Silk and velvet products do not combine with this style. Items with rich fringe and gilded patterns are not recommended. Pretentiousness is alien to simplicity. It is recommended to lay manual tracks on the floors. On the windows there are loose curtains in combination with chintz and linen. The color of the products is light with large colors and patterns.

Small living room, not more than 17 square meters. m., executed in the Provencal style, will turn for you into a comfortable place for real relaxation and does not require costly repairs. Here are some suggestions.

• Experts advise applying moderate aging effects to wall coverings. Fragments of masonry can be seen in places on the walls.
• Grassy-floral motifs and patina harmoniously look not only in the halls. This design is quite suitable for interiors and dining rooms, and kitchens. Even an apartment in the city can be given elements of rustic chic, not to mention the suburban option. For this purpose, several rooms are usually combined, for example, a living room with a kitchen or a hall with a dining room.
• In order to create a spectacular design, experts often play on contrasts. For example, ceilings are painted in bright colors, and beams are tinted in dark shades.
• In rooms of a small area, it is not advised to place large furnishings. For example, the use of modular furniture, which allows you to combine it in any size and configuration of the premises, will be a good option in the country or in a small country house.

Let's look at some successful examples of rooms made in the Provencal style.

• Light olive walls, an abundance of floral prints, white furniture, decorative plates and pillows are classic Provence style.

• A more modern interpretation: the walls have golden striped wallpaper, the floor is covered with a laminate like wood, olive cabinets with glass doors, and beige furniture. The accent accessories are marble busts, a floor lamp and an antique tea set.

• And this may look like the situation in a country house or in a country house: deliberately rough dark ceiling, light floor, large window, next to which stands a pale blue sofa, decorated with white pillows. The style of Provence here is reminiscent of aged furniture - a hanging cabinet, tables. Screens with floral prints, a floor lamp on a twisted wooden leg and a decorative roe deer head in a wreath of flowers perfectly complement the interior.

You will learn about the features of the interior in the Provence style in the next video.