French Country Furniture — The 3 Things You Need For A French Country Bedroom

French county furniture for the bedroom, whether it is your bedroom or a guest room, is both simple and elegant. A French country bedroom is a harmonious mix of old and new, and evokes romance, comfort, and casual luxury. Creating a bedroom that feels like you are waking up on a warm, Provence morning is actually quite simple…you only need three main pieces of furniture to do it!

The Bed
The first piece of French country furniture you need to pick out is, of course, the bed. This will be the focal point of your room. A simple four-poster bed will work, but French country beds are often made from wrought iron or wood, and have both a headboard and a footboard. The headboard is most important though, so if you can’t find a frame with a footboard, don’t worry about it.

Headboards can be either simple or ornate, depending on the overall look you want. Wrought iron is either black or painted white, and wood can be left as-is, stained, or painted in whitewash or other light shade.

You can also make your own headboard, and attach it to the wall. Use something that evokes a traditional, handcrafted feeling. Scrolled ironwork, such as an old garden gate, can be used, as can a wall panel or folding screen. Really, you can use almost anything as a headboard, just to define the sleeping space and provide a focal point. What you want to avoid is a padded, upholstered headboard…these are rarely, if ever, found in French country decorating. Use your imagination, and hang something that, to you, says old world French countryside.

The Armoire
Armoires are an essential piece of French country furniture, and are used in almost every room of the house.
In the bedroom, armoires are large and hold a special place. Often, they are painted or whitewashed for bedroom use, which makes them look softer and less imposing among the delicate linens and romantic fabrics. Look for one that has double doors, sometimes with mirrors attached. You can choose an armoire that is simple and plain, or one that has elegant embellishments and scrollwork, depending on the overall look you want for your bedroom.

The Commode
The word ‘commode’ has now become associated with movable toilets, but as far as French country furniture is concerned, a commode is a low, wide cabinet or chest of drawers. The word comes from the French word for ’suitable’ or ‘convenient’. So, a commode is nothing more than a convenient, small chest of drawers! They often have gracefully curved fronts or shaped sides, and can be ornately decorated with gilding, lacquered and veneered, or plain wood. The appeal of a commode is the organic, shapely curves.

With these three essential pieces of French country furniture, you have the basics of a romantic, cozy Provence bedroom that you will actually look forward to waking up in!