The French country style is often confused with farmhouse because they are both characterized by the integration of natural materials and antiques, but they are two very different styles.
The French country style focuses more on feminist vibes, being airy and very soft, whereas the farmhouse style is rather casual and clean. While today’s article focuses on French country bedding, we’d like to take a moment to talk about what it takes to decorate a home into one of the warmest and welcoming styles you’ll ever come across.
Top 3 Picks
Customer’s Choice: Acosta 2 Piece Reversible Quilt Set
“I absolutely love this quilt! It’s so well-made and feels so soft to touch. Exactly as pictured, definitely exceeded my expectations.” (Customer review)
Best Cotton: Jenkinsburg Duvet Cover Set
Featuring a subtle and beautiful geometrical pattern, the Jenkinsburg duvet cover brings forth the softness and breathability you’d expect to see from your cotton bedding.
Budget Pick: Pederson Reversible Geometric 2 Piece Coverlet Set
Considering the quality of these polyester fibers and the gorgeous color options available, one could say the Pederson coverlet set is a true steal.
Tips for Decorating With a French Country Style
The French country style is definitely an immersive experience. Regardless of where you live, when you step into a home decorated in this style, you will immediately get a new feel that’s full of Provence vibes. This is a relaxed style that’s not easy to define in a single phrase, so we’re going to talk a little bit about the elements that you can expect to find in such as home:
- The first thing that’s truly noticeable about the French country style is the fact that it somehow manages to perfectly balance elegant and rustic elements. This rustic country aesthetic is very welcoming and it will probably redefine everything you think you know about what a rustic home should look like.
- Another noticeable thing is the fact that the French country style uses natural materials to achieve this unique look. You will most likely be impressed by wood-beamed ceilings, wood-planked floors, and stone fireplaces.
- Regardless of the materials you see in a French country-style home, weathering is a common characteristic, whether we’re talking about stone or wood. Few items have a perfect polish and instead have a distressed look and a timeless design.
- The colors found in these homes definitely fall on the warmer side. You will commonly see neutral tones with a little color added here and there to add personality to the room. When you combine these two color pallets, you will end up having a home that’s inviting. You can also use a little bit of gray and black here and there, but don’t overdo it.
- When talking about furniture, curves are very common in the French country style. When you want to decorate in this style, you have to ditch stark modern furnishings and clean lines, and opt for natural materials with curved edges. You will notice that comfort is very commonly found in furnishing that fit the style, so chairs will often have plush seats, with wooden models offering upholstered cushions.
- Another important element that pertains to this type of decor is patterns. These help add character and personality to a French country home, whether we’re talking stripes, plaid, or floral patterns. Prints are usually made from cotton or linen.
- Even if it’s rich in decor accessories, the French country style never feels overwhelming, which is truly impressive when you consider that crowded rooms are usually suffocating. You can combine woven baskets with antique wall clocks or pitcher vases with vintage chandeliers.
Related: Farmhouse Bedroom Sets Help You Design Your Dream Country Home
Things to Consider when Buying New Bedding
Not to be intimidating or anything, but buying bedding can be really complicated if you’ve never done this before and have no clue where to start. There are so many different materials and features that you need to take into account, it’s overwhelming if you don’t know what the properties of each are. Plus, there might be different things for you to consider when you’re buying a fitted sheet compared to the necessary know-how for getting a good pillow.
Today, we’re going to guide you through the information you should know before you purchase sheets and pillowcases, as other bedding items that include blankets, duvet inserts, and comforters, won’t be our focus for the day.
When it comes to choosing your pillowcases and sheets, you have to pay attention to the materials used, the weave, and the thread count. As far as materials are concerned, here is what you need to know:
- Cotton is naturally soft and breathable, which is why a lot of people prioritize cotton bedding over other options. It’s easy to wash and available in organic versions. However, high-quality cotton can be expensive and natural fibers are prone to wearing down faster.
- Polyester is a synthetic fabric that’s both inexpensive and durable. It’s also easy to care for, but it doesn’t allow the skin to breathe that much and it’s definitely not an eco-friendly option.
- Microfiber consists of multiple fine-woven fibers. Microfiber bedding is made using fibers that measure 1 denier in thickness (otherwise, the material does not classify as microfiber). These fibers are typically made from wood pulp, nylon polymers, or polyester. They are strong and lightweight, but create static and are difficult to clean.
- Lyocell is another synthetic fabric that looks to imitate the feel of cotton. Even if it’s not organic, it’s biodegradable and strong, but highly absorbent (making it more difficult to clean spills).
- Bamboo used in the bedding industry is actually bamboo pump processed with chemicals to result in rayon-viscose fiber. Bamboo sheets are hypoallergenic, durable, and comfortable, but they tend to be more expensive compared to other options.
- Linen is made from flax plants and is durable and very breathable. However, it is more expensive (because of the intricate weaving process) and it’s also prone to wrinkling.
- Silk represents a luxury fabric which stains easily and is quite expensive. However, it has a very unique and delicate feel to it, sleeps naturally cool, is fairly strong, and doesn’t wrinkle.
The material used to make these bedding items is important, but so is the weave. Weave is basically a process of interlacing two yarns to form a fabric, and the chosen weave has an impact on some of the other qualities of the fabric. Here are the most common weave types:
- Percale is a tight weave that follows the one-over, one-under process. The result is a matte fabric that feels very soft to the touch. Percale fabrics are usually strong but are more prone to wrinkles.
- Sateen uses the four-over, one-under method to create a looser weave. Because of this method, it has a shinier surface compared to percale and is also more wrinkle-resistant. It is, however, less durable and more prone to pilling.
- Twill is characterized by a diagonal pattern, unlike the former two, which have straight weaves. This type of weave is better for bulkier materials.
- Flannel weaves use heavy fabrics that are usually warm and soft. This type of weave is measured in grams per square meter (GSM for short). In the past, the most common flannel-woven material was wool, but you can now find cotton or polyester flannel weaves as well. It’s pretty good for wicking away moisture.
- Jersey weaves result in soft and comfortable fabrics, and are characterized by plain knits with vertical front lines. This results in a nice and stretchy fabric, but one that runs out easily should a piece of yarn break.
Instead of going into many details related to thread count and how some manufacturers trick you into thinking that enormous thread counts results in fabrics of super quality, we’re going to tell you the following: Egyptian cotton fabrics should have between 300 and 400 thread count; Supima cotton should have between 200 and 400; bamboo fabrics need at least 300 thread count; percale weaves should have 250 to 300 thread count; sateen weaves are good when they have between 300 and 600 thread count; and linen should have between 100 to 200.
Best French Country Bedding
Jevan 3 Piece Quilt Set
The Jevan set comes with three pieces that include two shams and a coverlet. All the pieces are made from polyester microfiber, which makes them hypoallergenic and easy to care for, since they can be cleaned in your home washing machine. The floral pattern is perfect for the French country theme, since it uses light and playful colors, but also adds that touch of feminism that’s so common to this style.
Acosta 2 Piece Reversible Quilt Set
Another characteristic of the French country style is the neutral tones that are used to decorate various rooms in the house. This quilt set is available in several neutral tones, but also in shades of blue, lavender, or purple, just in case you want to add a drop of color to the bedroom. The set includes a quilt and a sham, both made from polyester microfiber. The quilt is reversible and looks the same on both sides.
Sikora Reversible Quilt Set
The Sikora quilt set is another perfect addition to a French country bedroom, with floral elements available in all kinds of color combinations, such as yellow and gray or different shades of red. The set includes two pillow shams and a quilt that’s made with a polyester cover and fill that’s a blend between polyester and cotton. It has a reversible design with a different look on the other side, so it’s basically like buying two products in one.
Pederson Reversible Geometric 2 Piece Coverlet Set
Another great addition to a French country-style bedroom is the Pederson quilt and sham set. Much like the others above, this one is also made from polyester microfiber, which makes it easy to wash. It has a geometric pattern and is available in plenty of neutral tones, but also other soft and light colors that will stay true to the French country style.
Tappen Reversible Coverlet Set
This reversible coverlet set comes with two shams, one quilt, and three pillows, which is something that the other sets didn’t include. It’s made from a cotton blend, but it’s more like 90 percent cotton and 10 percent polyester. It’s available in a beautiful green tone and comes in two different sizes: a Full/Queen and a King/Cal King.
Jenkinsburg Duvet Cover Set
Another fresh neutral look for your bedroom can easily be obtained with the Jenkinsburg duvet cover set. This generous offer includes two shams and a duvet cover with button closure. All the pieces can easily be cleaned in the washing machine because they are made entirely out of cotton. You have a choice of three beautiful neutral and light colors, with all options staying true to what the French country style is all about.
Croghan Reversible Comforter Set
Is there anything that speaks French more than the Eiffel Tower? We know for sure that this set speaks French country style all the way through. It includes a comforter, shams, accent pillow, pillow cases, sheets, and a bed skirt, so that’s a pretty generous offer considering the relatively low price. Everything is made from microfiber, which pretty much explains it. You can choose between coral and blue, with both options being just as amazing.
Kucharski Reversible Comforter Set
The Kucharski reversible comfortable set is also made from cotton and feels really soft and cool to the touch. It includes the comforter and a couple of shams, but what we really want to talk about is that gorgeous floral and plant pattern that makes you feel like you’re walking on fields in the spring (it kind of gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “wake up and smell the flowers”). This machine-washable comforter features a baffle box construction and is available in a Twin XL, Queen, and King size.
Erion 3 Piece Comforter Set
The Erion is a three-piece comforter set that’s available in white, ivory, light gray, and neutral, but rest assured that any of these choices will result in a gorgeous purchase. Made entirely out of polyester microfiber, this set comes with ruffled trellis design and a diamond-like pattern that adds style and uniqueness to the pieces. You not only get the comforter, but also one or two pillow shams, depending on the size chosen.
Aurelia Single Reversible Coverlet
The last suggestion for today is the Aurelia coverlet, a gorgeous ensemble with a pattern that’s worthy of a French country bedroom. The vintage elegance of this coverlet has a fleur-de-lis pattern and a pleasant color combination that’s gentle on the eyes and worthy of your bedroom. The coverlet is made entirely out of cotton and can easily be cleaned in your home’s washing machine.
FAQ
How do you decorate a French country bedroom?
There are plenty of tips that we can give you when it comes to decorating your bedroom in the French country style, such as using pleated curtains for your windows, using neutral paint on the walls, adding fresh flowers to your bedroom (you can use a pitcher as a vase), and even adding vintage pieces of furniture in warm tones and finishes.
What colors are used in French country decor?
The French country style is all about warm colors, but it’s really important to keep the colors as light as possible and avoid dark tones. You can combine shades of cream, oyster, custard, off-white, lavender, and even lime.
How do French country styles decorate?
As we mentioned in the first section of this article, French country decor is all about combining modern and rustic elements and creating the perfect balance between them. This decor is focused on light colors, curved edges, and a few drops of color here and there, just to add personality to the room.
What is a French style bed?
French style beds are normally characterized by headboards, footboards, and frames that have all sorts of intricate and elegant details. You are likely to find a French style bed with button tufted upholstery, intricate ornate details, and curved legs with beautiful carvings.
Conclusion
Once you know what to look for and understand the entire concept behind the style, finding French country furniture and decor pieces is pretty easy. When it comes to bedding, you mostly have to know what to look for when purchasing bedding items and just pick the ones that also have a color or pattern that matches the French country style.
The post French Country Bedding Ideas to Spruce Up Your Bedroom appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
0 Commentaires