How often do you catch yourself thinking that you are tired of the hectic city and its endless work regime? That you want at least for a couple of days to return to your life the atmosphere of carefree childhood in the village at your grandmother's house? Often? Then, it seems to us, you will like this article, because today we are talking about Provence is an interior style, which embodied all the most atmospheric and cozy design details.
Provence is the name of the region, located in the south of France, it is famous for its incredible landscapes, playing with the notes of the sea, green fields and bright sun. It was the shades of faded colors in the sun, complemented by brighter colors and became the main thing of this style. Let's find out in detail, thanks to what Provence manages to recreate a unique atmosphere of childhood coziness.
Features of the style
The style of Provence is somewhat similar to the Country style, which embodied the best of French lifestyle. If you want to decorate your house in the style of Provence, you should immediately refuse to buy modern furniture. The best way to enter into such interior would be things that are more than a decade old, such as: a wooden dining table, remembering more than one generation; worn cabinets, bedside tables, chests of drawers, forged elements, boarded floor, whitewashed walls, etc. All this furniture will create an incredibly cozy atmosphere in your home.
In the Provencal style particular attention is paid to details (figurines, knitted plaids and pillowcases, ceramic and earthenware, decorative cutlery), because they create the uniqueness of this style. All this decor will fill your interior with the atmosphere of French rustic luxury.
In Provence there should not be any glamor or minimalism with its rigid lines and forms, but the furniture in "chebby-chic" style is very appropriate. If you have only new furniture, then you can "olden" it on your own, a little scuffing and damaged corners will perfectly convey the mood of Provence. If you are just starting the repairs, you can look for suitable options in antique stores and flea markets.
Materials and colors
Correctly chosen color palette of the interior will easily convey the sunny atmosphere of Provence. The following colors are most typical for this style: beige, cream, milk, sand.
The Provence interior often uses natural colors, which feed the tenants with energy and tranquility. Also, a variety of decorative items look favorably against their background. And here is what should be kept to a minimum in the style of Provence, so it is dark colors, it is better to give preference only to lighter shades.
As mentioned above, Provence is associated with summer sunshine, so good lighting is another indispensable part of this style. We advise to use light curtains with pastel curtains (if necessary).
The game of contrasts is irrelevant to the French rustic style, only smooth transitions using light natural shades: olive, turquoise, lavender, soft lemon. All these colors are best suited for textiles, various decorative elements and furniture, as for walls, floors and ceilings, here it is best to use light neutral shades.
Design subtleties
The whole charm of Provence is in the details, so to recreate this style you should pay attention to them. This way you can greatly change the interior, avoiding major repairs.
For the basis of the interior it is better to take light walls, which will greatly simplify the selection of decorative elements and furniture. This can be a single-colour painted wall, or wallpaper with an unobtrusive pattern.
It is not necessary to majorly change the furniture, it can be artificially aged and painted in pastel colors. The couch should be of light color, and cushions with floral and vegetal ornaments will help to create a special atmosphere.
An important part of Provence is the decor. Therefore it's time to get your grandmother's set and tablecloths, rare figurines, vases and jars. Since Provence is mostly a recreation of the rustic French style, it does not require fancy decor elements, most of the accessories you can find at flea markets and antique stores.
Also, in the interior will fit perfectly forged elements, which are used for tables, chairs and bed headboard, usually they are painted in black or white.
And the final element in the decoration of the house are houseplants, because they can perfectly recreate the atmosphere of the village. Place pots of basil and rosemary on the windowsills, and spread dried bouquets of lavender around the house, which will fill the house with a beautiful fragrance.
