Provencal decoration: learn how to incorporate this style in your home

Provençal decoration originated in the south of France, in the town of Provence, around the 16th century. At that time, peasants sought to approximate the decoration of their homes to the decorations found in French palaces and did not know that their attempts would result in a unique and particular style that would be perpetuated over the years.

The Provencal style mixes and combines romantic, rustic, and sophisticated elements, and for this reason has unique characteristics. Its romantic side is marked by the presence of flowers, light tones, and delicate and soft objects, while the rustic side presents itself in the form of wood and aged furniture, while the sophistication can be seen in the mirrors and chandeliers, for example.

To incorporate this decoration in your home it is necessary to be careful, because its particularities make the Provencal decoration a style that stands out and calls attention. Make sure that the rooms with Provencal characteristics talk among themselves and with the rest of the house, and also don't forget to balance the furniture and decoration objects in order to create a harmonious environment without exaggeration.

Which elements make up a Provençal decoration?

The Provençal decoration style can be easily identified in an environment if we pay attention to its elements. The items that compose this style are very important to characterize it and combine to form Provençal decorations.

Antique furniture is essential

First of all, it is important to know that antique furniture is an important part of Provençal decorations, since the Provençal style appeared centuries ago. The furniture used at that time is what today we consider antique furniture, so it must appear in rooms with Provençal decoration.

Architect and interior designer Avner Posner points out that "antique furniture, with patina paint, light tones, and plenty of cabinetry details bring the feeling of coziness and delicacy in the small details."

This element can be incorporated in various ways: you can repaint old furniture by giving it a retro look, you can buy new furniture inspired by old models, and you can also age new furniture.

Colors: pastel shades are present

Provencal decoration is characterized by lightness, so it does not use strong, dark colors. Pastel colors are marked by softness and delicacy and are always present in Provencal decorations.

These shades bring out two of the Provencal style's strands combined: romanticism and elegance.

Flowers Bringing Romanticism

We need to remember that Provençal decoration originated in peasant homes. These people lived in the countryside, surrounded by natural elements, such as flowers, for example. Flowers were items that were easily accessible to peasants, so they were always present in their homes.

Provençal style, then, incorporates flowers with the intention of adding delicacy and romance to the decor.Posner also says that flowers can be incorporated in other ways into Provençal decor "through the use of wallpapers, pictures with flower images, coverings on sofas and armchairs or in the fabrics of blankets and pillows."

Toile de Jouy: classic Provençal print

Toile de Jouy is a print style that emerged in the 18th century and is part of the Provencal decoration. These prints have a white background with drawings that portray country life in red, blue or black and are a great choice to intensify the presence of this type of decoration in the environment. According to architect Avner Posner, Toile de Jouy is usually printed on wallpaperor in fabrics such as linen and cotton.

Stripes also appear in decoration

The stripes also appear in the Provencal decoration, although they are not an essential element. They can be combined with the pastel tones or with the elements, for example, collaborating to a delicate and romantic environment.

"The stripes appear complementing the prints, making a composite with the colors and bringing a decorative aspect to the environment," Posner points out.

Chandeliers and pendants

Chandeliers and pendants are objects associated with French palaces, which is why they are always present in the Provencal style. They are elegant and sophisticated items to decorate bedrooms and living rooms, and also contribute to light and bright environments.

Mirrors are welcome

Mirrors are very present and useful objects in our daily life and are welcome in Provençal decorations. To incorporate these objects in the Provençal style it is necessary to pay attention to their frames.

With more delicate frames, we incorporate the romantic aspect, with aged frames, we incorporate the rustic, and with classic frames, the sophisticated is present.

Chalk Paint: the gypsum-based powder paint

Chalk Paint is a water-based decorating paint that has gypsum powder or chalk as its main component. It is versatile and paints all kinds of surfaces and materials. This paint has a wide range of colors and is directly related to pastel tones and vintage aspects.

In addition, Chalk Paint brings the worn and rustic effect in a simple way, which is why it is often used in Provençal decorations.

Provençal decoration at home

Provencal decoration has become more and more present in the homes of people around the world, going far beyond France. Each place incorporates the elements used in Provence and combines them with its own elements.

This decorative style has been used in different rooms of the house respecting its particularities, so check out tips on how to adhere to the Provencal style in your home and how to apply it in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms.

How to apply the Provencal style in the living room

The living room is the room in the house where the family gathers and is also a place where we usually receive visitors, so it is important to invest in decorating this room.

To adhere to the Provencal style in the living room, make use of antique furniture, refurbished and with a vintage look. Opt for wooden, natural, or painted furniture. Remember to also choose furniture in light tones. The sofa, for example, if it is a piece of pastel furniture, can be combined with patterned pillows (perhaps floral prints, to give the room a romantic feel?).

The delicacy and romanticism can appear on the pillows, curtains, or wallpapers through floral prints or striped patterns. Flowers and other plants can be used as center table decorations or as decoration in the corners of the wall, emphasizing the romantic aspect of the decoration.

This room is the perfect place to put a chandelier on the ceiling without fear of going overboard. The chandeliers are very striking elements in the Provencal style and match the living and TV rooms. In addition, it is possible to apply the Provencal style through mirrors and frames in the living rooms as well.

How to decorate rooms with a Provencal style

Like the living room, the Provencal style can also be applied in bedrooms through chandeliers, mirrors, wooden furniture, flower arrangements, wallpaper, and pillows. These items are key pieces to transform a normal bedroom into a Provencal bedroom without much effort.

Light pink, light yellow, light blue, beige, and white are ideal colors for both the walls and the decorative objects in the room. Remember that delicacy and softness are important characteristics of this style.

An item that can make all the difference in Provençal decoration is the headboard, which can be bought separately and, depending on the model, can give a classic look to the environment.

Explore floral prints on the bedding, curtains, and even on the walls themselves, choose carefully the mirrors in the room so as not to break the trend, and decide whether the furniture will be sophisticated or rustic.

Provencal decoration used also in bathrooms

The Provençal decoration can also be used in bathrooms. Some environments may call for a floral or striped wallpaper, for example, but with or without wallpaper, flower pots on the countertops are almost always a good choice for applying the Provençal style in bathrooms.

In addition, the choice of mirror frame is important in establishing this style. Wooden frames, classic frames, white frames, and ornate frames are all Provençal options. Decorative pictures with frames can also be added to the room.

The choice of countertop also makes a difference. Remember not to opt for a countertop that is too modern or cool, since the intention is to decorate a bathroom in a classic or rustic way.

Provençal baby room

The most obvious option for decorating a baby's room in the Provencal style is to go the romantic way, and for that reason one might think that this style is geared towards feminine rooms, but that is not true. The baby's rooms call for decorations in pastel shades, such as pink, blue and yellow, or in white and these colors can be explored creating romantic, classic or rustic environments according towith the intention of the child's parents for both boys and girls.

Wooden furniture is a good option to stay in style, and you can choose cribs that are brown or white and don't deviate from the classic line.

Decorate the room with picture frames, toys, boxes, and other items that are light and delicate.

The chandeliers and mirrors are also items that can be part of baby rooms to collaborate with the Provencal style and without running away from the playful and cheerful, important aspects for a child's room.

Provençal decoration in parties

Birthday parties have incorporated bucolic, rustic, and delicate elements, while weddings make use mostly of more sophisticated elements to create fairy-tale-like parties.

Children's parties with Provencal decoration

Light and delicate tones are almost always present in children's birthday parties, and that's why the Provencal style has been incorporated into these events. It shows up in colorful candies, classic food sideboards, table decorations, and wooden furniture.

Flower arrangements should be placed as decorations on the food tables and as centerpiece decorations as well. Flowers can also appear on the tablecloths and other details of the decoration.

The naked cake is a good option to reaffirm the bucolic characteristics of the decoration.

Wedding parties with Provençal decoration

Most people who are thinking of getting married dream of a fairy-tale style party, and Provencal decoration can make that dream come true.

Beautiful flower arrangements should decorate the entire party, especially the centerpieces, making the atmosphere romantic and elegant. The tables should also be decorated with sophisticated tablecloths in light shades and with glasses, plates, and cutlery that reflect the elegance and classic style of the decoration.

Curtains, chairs, chandeliers, and candles are elements that can also be incorporated into Provençal style decor.

50 environments with Provencal decoration to inspire you

Before you start decorating, you need inspiration. Take a look at the pictures of Provencal decoration, notice the details of each room and identify the elements mentioned. That way you can analyze which items, objects or characteristics may suit your home.

1. mixing country and sophisticated

In this environment, we can observe the combination of elements that vary between rustic and sophisticated, and this is an important characteristic of the Provençal style. The blue cabinet, the wooden chairs, the small flower arrangement, and the curtain are responsible for the country aspect of the environment while the sophisticated is marked by the chandelier.

2. investing in pink with white

Using pink for girls' bedrooms is a good option to highlight the romantic aspect of the Provencal style. The dressing table and the chest have the vintage characteristics that the style requires, the chandelier highlights the elegance, and the romantic aspect is on account of the details, such as the curtain, the pillows, the lampshade, and the flowers on the dressing table.

3. the presence of the rustic

The brick wall and the wooden furniture affirm the strong rustic presence in the environment, reinforced also by the table decorations and the dishes on top of the cabinet. Some small details such as the chandelier, the picture, and the candles bring a classic aspect.

4. romantic and feminine corner

The flowers are present at four different points in the decoration: on the wallpaper, on the pendants, on the pillows, and on the arrangement between the two dressing tables, so the main characteristic of this room is romantic and delicate. The antique and classic furniture, the frames, and the pink also contribute to these aspects.

5. classic and elegant double bedroom

The elements in this room bring elegance as a basic characteristic of the environment. The headboard, the sofa, the bedside table, the dressing table, the mirror, and the tray are the items that stand out the most and contribute to the classic style of the room.

6. classic and rustic present in the baby's room

In this nursery, the main characteristics of the Provencal style are present. The wooden details of the furniture and the curtain mark the rustic and the countryside, while the mosquito net and the smaller objects such as the mirror and the lampshade highlight the classic and also the romantic.

7. the Provencal style present in a make-up corner

A space like this is mainly used as a make-up or study corner and was decorated in a classic and romantic Provencal style. The Toile de Jouy chair stands out against the predominance of white in the room.

8. the importance of the mirror's frame

The mirror's frame makes all the difference when decorating a room in the Provencal style. It needs to be classic, with vintage or retro aspects, collaborating with the antique and sophisticated decoration sensation that the room should have. Choose the color that best matches the rest of the room.

9. the antique furniture

The tip is to bet on mirrors, cabinets, and dressing tables with these aspects to highlight the classic and bucolic aspects of the room.

10. betting on pastel shades in the bedroom

The combination of white, blue, and yellow harmonizes with the classic furniture in the room to create an elegant and coherent room.

11. bed with canopy

We call these curtains around the bed a canopy and this piece, combined with the chandelier, brings classic, elegant, and Provencal characteristics to a simple environment. The plants present in the decoration are responsible for the rustic touch of the room.

12. provençal kitchen and dining room

The classic elements of this room are very well combined to transform the room into an elegant, fine and sophisticated kitchen. The door, the cabinets, the chairs, the table ornaments, and even the plaster on the kitchen ceiling all go together, creating a definitively Provençal space.

13. country dining room

Wooden furniture is a good choice for environments in which the rustic style is sought, as in the image above. Flowers and plants are present in the painting, in the pattern of the chairs, and in the arrangements, and guarantee the delicate and romantic feel of the environment, while the cabinets and the details of some pieces of furniture bring the classic to the room.

14. attention to the headboard

The wood-brick wall and the flower arrangement on the left side are elements that contribute to the room's rustic style, but it is the headboard, with some simple ornamental details, that guarantees the room's Provencal decoration.

15. a decorative corner

The main objective of this corner is to contribute to the decoration of the room, and it fulfills its intention because it also contributes to the desired Provencal style. The antique chair combined with the hydrangeas and the hanging plant bring a country air to the space.

16. 15 years Provençal party

Not only children's parties and wedding parties can use Provençal elements to decorate, but also debutante parties. In this image, the sweets were arranged on golden trays that bring a lot of elegance and sophistication to the party, while the flower arrangements highlight the romanticism of the occasion.

17. wallpaper in the bathroom

Wallpaper can also be used in bathrooms in some situations. In the picture, the wallpaper harmonizes with the mirror frame and the sink faucet to create an extremely classic and elegant environment.

18. provençal living room

This room is both a dining room and a living room and combines many different elements, which could lead to exaggeration, but the decoration is balanced and harmonious. The antique furniture, plants, chandelier, and other decorative objects reaffirm the Provencal style.

19. provençal dining room

The wooden furniture with a retro look brings simplicity to the room while the chandelier brings elegance in a balanced way. Objects such as the flower vase, the picture frames, and other items arranged over the furniture collaborate with the Provençal style.

20. cabinet with Provençal details

This cabinet, arranged next to a bed with a rustic yet classic headboard, has an antique look and has been decorated with a flower vase and a lamp that combine to characterize this room in the Provencal style.

21. avoiding light tones

The decoration of this living room eschewed the light tones normally used in Provençal decoration, but the antique furniture and objects, as well as the Toile de Jouy prints used on the chairs and on the curtain, are responsible for ensuring the presence of the Provençal style within this environment.

22: Country elements for children's parties

In this children's party, country elements such as flower ornaments and bird ornaments were incorporated and transformed the environment, bringing delicacy and simplicity. The entire decoration was based on pastel shades of pink, green and blue.

Combining classic and rustic elements in a room

The decoration of this room chose to harmonize elegant elements such as the bed canopy, the mirrors, the pendants, and the chandelier with simpler elements such as the trunks, the flowers, and the bed, thus combining two very important features of the Provencal style.

24. simple but still Provencal bedroom

The bedroom above has a simple decoration, with few elements and no exaggeration, but it is still characterized as a Provencal bedroom, because it has key elements such as the headboard, the pillows and the comforter that have a classic style.

25. three elements of the provençal style combined

In this space we can observe the combination of three elements that are always present in Provencal decoration: antique furniture, flower arrangements, and mirrors.

26. floral wallpaper and antique furniture

The highlight for the room above is the antique and classic furniture and also the floral wallpaper, which, despite eschewing light tones, still brings out romantic and country elements.

27. curtain, mirror and flowers

Floral-print curtains, classically framed mirrors, and flower arrangements are recurrent elements in Provencal decorating. These elements combine to create harmonious spaces and to highlight the main characteristics of this decorating style.

28. delicate and romantic dresser

This corner has elements that define the romantic style in the environment, such as the pink wall, the mirrors, the flowers, and the bench.

29. mix of prints in the decoration

Although they are both floral prints, the print on the wallpaper used in the room is different from the print used on the upholstered chair. This could be a problem, but the two combine harmoniously and beautifully.

30. classic bathroom decor

The sink, the cabinets, the pendants, the mirror, the rug, and the flower vases are elements that characterize this bathroom very well as a Provencal environment. The light blue tone used in the painting of the walls only emphasizes this characteristic.

31. a Provencal corner

This room has wooden walls, which makes it easy to incorporate this style, and the objects chosen for decoration only enhance the room's simplicity.

32. flowers and wood

The flower arrangement and the wooden wall are elements from the countryside and can be incorporated into environments that wish to be decorated in the Provencal style. These elements bring simplicity and delicacy to the environment and emphasize the rustic aspect, necessary in this style.

33. less is more and it's provençal

The dining room above is different from the classic rooms with heavy decoration. It is simple, with few elements and without any exaggeration. Rustic elements are present and firm the main characteristic of the room, but the chandelier and the flower arrangement do not let the room get out of the Provencal style.

34. bedding can also be provençal

The details are very important to create a Provencal decoration, so each element of the room must be thought of in order to collaborate with this style. The bedding, for example, must be chosen with Provencal in mind, as in the image above, where a floral print was chosen.

35. party table decoration

The Provençal style can be present in wedding or birthday party table decoration through objects such as white wooden chairs, flower arrangements, tableware, and decorated napkins. These elements combine the romantic, elegant, and country in the image above.

36. armchair, wallpaper and plant arrangement

The armchair, the wallpaper, and the plant arrangement are the elements that stand out in this decoration and place the room within the Provencal style. Without these elements, this room would be a simple environment far from the style.

37. printed sofas

For neutral environments, you can choose patterned sofas or buy a patterned sofa cover to transform the room and bring personality.

38 - Provençal in the small details

The room itself is not very Provençal, but it fits the style through details. The curtain and the flower pots bring romantic aspects, while the lampshade and the mirror collaborate with the classic.

39. classic and delicate room

This corner made use of details to become a classic and delicate environment. The pattern of the armchair defines the romantic style, while the mirror, the pendant, and the curtain bring out the elegant and classic in the space.

40. provençal elements in the bedroom

The room above could be an ordinary room, but key elements of the Provencal style were used in the decoration, bringing originality to it.

41. classic and elegant dresser

This dressing table has a classic, romantic, and elegant look, and has the air of an antique piece of furniture, which, combined with the vase of flowers and the frame of the mirror, characterize the Provencal style.

42. provençal style candy table

The Provençal decoration is present in this birthday party candy table through the flower arrangements that match the candy colors and also through the naked cake. Besides, the party was held in the countryside, which collaborates even more with the bucolic style.

43. armchair with floral print

In the image above, it is possible to notice some elements of the Provencal decoration, such as the curtain in a pastel tone and the wooden cabinet, but the highlight of the room goes to the armchair that has a romantic and delicate floral print.

44. an elegant and classic corner

A space like this can be added in the living room, bedrooms, or even in the hallway of your home. It features a mirror with a sophisticated frame, an antique-looking piece of furniture, and two pendants that stand out in a decoration without many colors.

45. classic glass trays and vessels

Glass trays and glass jars for arranging the sweets in a party are a good choice to contribute with the elegance, the romanticism, and the classic desired in the decoration of a party in the Provencal style.

46. floral wallpaper

Floral wallpaper is a suitable choice for environments, especially bedrooms, that aim to emphasize romanticism, delicacy, and femininity. There are many different options and prints, so choose the one you like the most and invest in this item.

47: Flowers and pastel shades at birthday party

For the decoration of this birthday party, pastel colors were used to make the candies. vases of flowers were also added to the environment and these two elements combined characterize this decoration in the Provencal style.

48. flower arrangements for table

In this party, tall, large flower arrangements were chosen as centerpieces. This element harmonized with the pastel pink tones used for the decoration and were combined with the chairs and tableware, bringing elegance and sophistication to the environment.

49. bet on the pillows

The cushions are decorative items used in living rooms and bedrooms and also contribute to the comfort of the environment. Bet on the prints and details of the cushion covers to create a Provencal atmosphere: pastel shades are in line with the proposal, frills on the covers can emphasize elegance, and floral prints should bring delicacy.

50. a princess room

This room has very strong pink and flowers, but it is elements such as the headboard, the mirror frame, the chair, and the lamp details that bring the classic into the space, transforming it into a room worthy of a princess.

Because it is a European trend, Provençal decoration can sometimes be out of our reality, but when Provençal and authentic elements are combined we get unique environments, original and with personality as a result. Start planning your home decoration using the inspirations and tips given and create Provençal environments.