French Country Decorating Ideas That Work for Apartments

To emulate a rustic French chateau in your very own apartment, follow these country decorating ideas.

French Country Dining Options for Apartments

Select the appropriate dining room furniture for the size of your apartment. If limited space is an issue, get a round table with a pedestal base. This offers all the charm of country style, but fits nicely in a small dining area. Another space-saving option is a drop-leaf table, which expands when you need it for large dinner parties.

First, select the right texture table for a French Country design scheme. Choose either a distressed, white-washed, planked-top or carved-wood style table.

Next, revamp your dining room chairs in rich fabrics like velvet, brocade, toile or paisley prints. For flat-wood or metal chairs, select French-inspired seat cushions such those with ruffled edges and calico patterns.

Dress up Your Dining and End Tables

Incorporate a wide variety of table linens into your dining area. You can bring to life any apartment with small, but powerful, details. Choose a wide selection of placemats, table linens, tablecloths and napkins. Mix up the patterns to include stripes, botanicals, and countryside prints.

Don’t forget to bring in solid colors popular for country décor, including bright yellows, soft sages, bold blues and spring lavenders. Don’t just focus on your primary eating table, but emphasize end and lamp tables with lace-trimmed cloths, handkerchiefs and embroidered fabrics.

Country Décor for Maximing Space

If you have a studio apartment, try and cluster pieces of furniture together to create “mini” rooms within your space. Nestle together two chairs, a table or a tufted leg rest. Add depth and dimension to your rooms by strategically placing elegant screens. A three-panel folding screen, with soft fabric liners, neatly sections off sitting or reading areas.

Country Decorating Ideas: Lighting and Wall Art

Brighten your French Country apartment with vibrant, old-world accents from lamps to wall art. Start by hanging a vintage chandelier. This sort of design element creates a dynamic focal point for your living space. This way, you can mimic the old-world look of an elegant ballroom or charming farmhouse. Such lighting fixtures are available at antique malls, flea markets and second-hand shops. Easily update old chandeliers with paint, new lamp shades, bulbs and craft spray.

Other country fixtures to consider:

• A wrought-iron chandelier with delicately winding leaves
• Wall sconces in time-worn looks
• French baroque or wood spindle lamps
• Wall mirrors with wood borders or curved metal framing

Country Bedding Ideas that Work for Apartments

To easily create the French Country look, accent your bed frame with a rustic headboard. An antique gate or section of iron fencing, salvaged from country farmhouses, are charming choices for headboards.

A more elegant look is to add a fabric upholstered headboard to your bedroom. You can make your own headboard with a piece of wood (or poster board), fabric and foam stuffing. There are many ways to augment country headboards, such as with button tufting, 18^th century-look patterns, and curved outlines.

Lastly, dress up your bedroom windows. Hang soft flowing drapes so your Parisian refuge gets plenty of sunlight. For a final touch of country charm, top off your windows with printed valances.