5 Ways To Get The French Look For Less

By Mer, on March 21st, 2012

1. Pick One Focal Piece For Each Room

If you are starting from scratch and don’t know where to begin, consider focusing on buying one main piece for each room.

Spending some extra money on larger pieces of furniture, as they can be harder to find.

If you are just starting out, and don’t have a particular fabric that you are married to, consider purchasing a sofa that is neutral colored. Over time your taste may change, and exchanging out the throw pillows is easier than buying a new sofa. French reproductions are more available than ever.

2. Buy Vintage, And Fix Them Up Yourself

Go for vintage and put your own spin on it. Re-upholster vintage furniture with fun fabrics. Mix and match fabrics to create an eclectic look. Upholstery from Metro Sofa shows us how to mix fabrics and finishes to add drama to French furniture.

– If you are looking for a modern edge, consider re-painting the frame in a darker color of the upholstery fabric. These chairs would look terrific with a gloss in a darker hue of the bright apple green. Even a lighter shade of green like mint in the same color tone would look fabulous.

3. Improve Your Furniture With Gold Leaf

Gold or silver leaf can really make your furniture look like a million dollars. Skip those rub in metallics for real metal leaf. You can buy Imitation 500 Gold Leaf sheets for $30 dollars. Adding gold or silver to the carved areas of your french chairs and tables can add a regal touch. Those little details make a piece of furniture shine.

4. Paint Your Room A Classic French Style

Pastels play up the spectacular color palettes that were popular in the 18th century. Light blues, mint greens, shades of cornflower yellow are all interior colors that would work beautifully in a French styled home.

– Create classic molded walls with painted frames using painters tape.

-Pink and Mauve Combination for a classic French look.

-Lilac and Pink combination for a lighter feel.

-How about a Bright Rich Blue paired with darker hues of navy?

-You can see how lovely a mint green looks paired with shades of darker green.

-Pink looks lovely paired with lighter gray and white.

-Again several shades of blue are paired together to create a dramatic appearance.

-This photo shows a captivating effect as the upholstery and wall shade are in the same color tones.

-Go Dramatic with the walls, and consider very light tones of the same shade for your upholstery. In this room a light blue settee would look terrific.

-If moldings are out of your budget, consider painting rectangles on your wall which will give your home the same effect for less.

– Finally, Victoria Larsen has molds in the shape of wall frames that can be created for just pennies out of plaster. See sells these molds for $25 dollars.

5. Edit Out OLD Accessories, Add in French Style Decor

Consider taking a good look around your home and donate the extra clutter that takes away from the beauty that you want to draw attention to.

French styled accessories include objects such as tiny frames, ribbon works, basketry, ribbon picture frames, attractive trinkets in an array of colors. Chandeliers were commonly seen with crystals, and sconces on the wall in gold. Ornate rococo brass candles are very french looking as well as botanical prints lined on the walls. Colorful flower arrangements were coordinated with the interior color schemes and everything was accented with colorful bows. Consider grouping like objects such as candy tins, and perfume bottles in groups of 3, 5, or 7.

You can make even the simplest of objects available on ebay, flea markets, thrift stores, and antique shops look grand by implementing the right french paint colors and styles.

Iron Mountain by Benjamin Moore

Tim Clinch

Designer Rose Uniacke’s shop on Pimlico Road

Set of 4 French Belle Epoque Gilt Brass Wall Sconces -Greenwich Living Antiques & Design

French Country Cane Back Bar Stools From Penny Long

18th century French secretary in the Alex Papachristidis designed living room of London-based jewelry designer Fruzsina Keehn in Elle Decor in 2006.