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 soul-pleasing interior. A room decorated in this style automatically becomes more comfortable, and, as you know, that is how the living room should be. Provence is artificially aged furniture, colorful curtains, massive comfortable sofas and armchairs, wooden windows, in general, everything that is associated with the village. Interesting ideas, interior features and useful recommendations will help to implement our plans and design your dream room - the warmest and most comfortable in the house.
From France with love
The word "Provence" itself 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. In the literal translation, "Provence" means "province." The region is located in the southeast of France, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Near the beautiful Provence are the Alps and the Cote d'Azur. The picturesque nature of the region is inspiring, and everything around it neatly moves to nearby houses, making them so cozy and gentle 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! Decorated in the Provence style, the living room is an excellent option for both a private house and an apartment in a high-rise building.
Features of the Provencal style
The main rule is the use of exclusively natural materials when decorating a room and choosing furniture. This 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 done by their hands and in a single copy. This means that this will not be found anywhere else and no one, and therefore will become an exclusive thing. For example, a knitted napkin, textiles with lace trim, woven and woven items.
Provence color matching and color matching for the living room
The region is located next to the blue sea and lilac lavender fields, there is almost always a blue sky and the sun shines brightly, and olive trees grow. Therefore, when decorating the interior, these colors and shades are mainly used:
- white;
- beige;
- cream;
- coffee and milk;
- lilac;
- pale turquoise;
- olive;
- Champagne
- sand;
- umber;
- pink;
- pale blue;
- pistachio.
That is, exclusively light and gentle tones are used. Dark colors can also be used, but only to add emphasis. For example, for a living room in the Provence style, you can pick up a black or brown piece of furniture (coffee table, mirror), accessories, forged elements for a chandelier and more.
The emphasis is interesting, but do not forget that everything is good in moderation. The rest is important to adhere to a certain coloristic balance. That is, to select shades that will be in harmony with each other. Not everything must be in the same color, but always in similar colors. White, indigo and lilac are perfectly combined among themselves - such a set of shades is considered a classic Provence style.
The choice of materials for wall decoration
Most often, designers use the plastering method. Walls can be painted in one of the above colors. If the choice fell on the 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 (often floral motifs). Natural stone will look very beautiful.
Some photos of the Provence style living room showcasing design projects show the use of wood panels and fabrics. Such finishing methods are also acceptable and will help to achieve the creation of an original interior. In addition, you can put two options together. For example, to 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 harmoniously fit together.
Floor and ceiling decoration
The classic style assumes the presence of beams. It is possible to make ceiling ceilings from logs only in a private house. In the apartment, if you really wanted to make such a “decor”, it is better to use polyurethane or polystyrene, as these materials are much lighter. Beams can be left in a natural color, covered with, for example, stain, or completely (together with the ceiling) painted with a solution of lime. In general, the ceiling should be in color in harmony with the interior of the living room in the style of Provence.
As for the floor, the use of a laminate is allowed. But it is better to give preference to boards made of natural wood or ceramic tiles. So the interior will turn out more harmonious. Both the ceiling and the floor should not be pretentious, they should remain as if in the background, giving all the attention to the walls, furniture, textiles and decorative elements.
What to choose furniture for the living room in the house in the style of provence?
The use of tall, bulky cabinets with mezzanines is excluded. Provencal style symbolizes simplicity and lightness, and such furniture only violates the peculiar peace in the interior. Small cabinets are made, 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 natural “rudeness”.
What kind of upholstery is best for a sofa and armchairs? Here, too, it is necessary to select materials with a rough texture, like canvas and linen. Depending on the size of the room, one sofa and 2-3 armchairs, several dressers and a coffee table are enough. You can also put cabinets to place decor or lighting on them. Armchairs can be from the same set with a sofa or wicker. Forged furniture is allowed. 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 fits harmoniously (including color) into the interior.
The choice of lighting
It’s worth starting with the windows, since the quality of daylight depends on them. Like doors, frames should be wooden, painted white or in the shade that matches the color scheme of the interior. Ideally, if they have the effect of antiquity.
In France, usually houses are built almost with panoramic glazing, 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 simple or complex design with forging elements or fabric lampshades imitating candles, street lamps and so on is used. In order for the living room design in the Provence style to succeed, to 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 Provencal style
Curtains, tablecloths, furniture covers and other similar products should be natural. Most often it is bleached flax, chintz and wool, silk is much less commonly used. Curtains on the windows should choose light and airy or contrasting and eye-catching - one of two things. As a rule, according to the color scheme, 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 complicated drapery - it will ruin everything. Alternative options are Roman fabric or wooden curtains (blinds).
For the kitchen-living room in the Provence style, you can pick up various napkins and towels, curtains to the glazed facade of the headset and a mat to match the upholstery of furniture. Textiles can be floral motifs or plain. No less important is the decor. 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, even if not real. Arrange potted flowers whose buds have a suitable shade for the interior.
Much more decor options in the living room. Here you can arrange interesting caskets, porcelain vases, glass jars of bizarre shapes, in which there will be dried aromatic herbs, paintings with flowers in an old frame, decorative plates on the walls and other things decorating the interior. Through accessories, you can set the "dots". The forged wall clock painted in black may play the role of an accent.
We offer you to watch a video review of a country house, completely made in the beautiful Provence style.