Provence style wardrobe: French charm in the interior

Storage systems are mandatory attributes used in almost any room. They must combine functionality and aesthetics. The Provence style wardrobe looks refined and elegant. It can be appropriate in different interiors and is often the main accent in the design of a room. Details about the materials of manufacture, the features of decorating the product can be found in this article.

The main features of Provence furniture are the refinement of lines, the grace of fittings and natural tones of painting.

Interior features in Provence style: photo examples of room decoration

Certain stereotypes have developed in society regarding old furniture. For example, it is believed that it looks rude, sloppy, and even a single wardrobe inherited from a great-grandmother creates an overall unpleasant impression of the room. Products that have undergone a certain processing will help to dispel this opinion, as a result of which their antiquity, on the contrary, has become the main exclusive and advantage.

The Provence style in the interior is characterized by an abundance of light and warm, natural shades.

This method of stylization implies the design of interior items in the Provence style, when the rustic aesthetics are ideally combined with the sophistication of the south of France, from which the second name of the trend - French country - originated. An old, slightly shabby, but always neat look must have Provence style furniture. Photos of furnishings restored according to this genre clearly demonstrate this.

The style itself goes back to the first half of the 18th century. Craftsmen, inspired by nature in the provincial regions of France, began to create exclusive furniture that combines lightness and nobility. The main features of Provence cabinet and upholstered furniture are the refinement of lines, the grace of fittings and a parade of light colors of painting.

Provence style wardrobes and sofas are successfully combined with wooden beams on the ceiling, walls and fireplace

Most often, French country wardrobes and sofas are used in the setting of country houses.This was made possible thanks to their successful combination with wooden beams on the ceilings, fireplace and walls covered with textured plaster. At the same time, it should be noted that such furniture is actively used in the design of city apartments. It helps to create harmony and coziness, which is very important for a home atmosphere.

Characteristic features of Provence furniture and features of its manufacture

The main feature and highlight of the Provence style furniture is that most of the products are decorated and painted by hand. This makes each piece of furniture original and unique.

Decorative elements and fittings play an important role for Provence style furniture.

Helpful advice! To have an idea of ​​the peculiarities of the direction, before buying or restoring a product, it is advisable to study the photos of Provence style cabinets posted on the Internet.

The following characteristic features of Provence style wardrobes and upholstered furniture stand out:

• severity of forms combined with smoothness of corners;
• use in the manufacture of exclusively natural wood of valuable species, such as beech, oak, walnut, pine;
• a variety of color shades with a complete superiority of light, muted and pastel tones typical of the southern Mediterranean: white, cream, sand, blue, light green, aqua, pale yellow;

In the manufacture of furniture in the Provence style, plastic and chrome-plated metal are unacceptable

• mandatory processing through the use of stencil decor, patination technique, hand painting, decoupage, aging method, as well as forging or carving;
• the natural beauty of wood is preserved by covering the surfaces with a colorless or translucent varnish;
• wardrobes with glass doors are often decorated with floral, checkered or striped fabrics.

Plastics, synthetic materials and chrome-plated metal are unacceptable for the manufacture of furniture in the Provence style, ornate stucco molding and bulky structures are also inappropriate.

For the manufacture of furniture in the style of Provence, walnut, pine, oak, beech are used

Due to their naturalness and high environmental value, country-style cabinets are very popular, which entails their relatively high cost. The main fans of this trend are older people who prefer comfort, tranquility and measuredness.

Varieties of Provence cabinets: classification principles

The classification of cabinets is based on such characteristics as the material of production, type of construction, functional purpose and method of decoration.

Provence style cabinets are available with one, two, three and even four doors.

If we take into account the material of manufacture, then the following types of products are distinguished:

• made of solid wood;
• combined wooden pieces of furniture with glass inserts;
• glass structures;
• wrought iron cabinets;
• mirrored.

The design features take into account the number of doors in the Provence style wardrobe. Photos indicate that such products are one-, two-, three- and even four-winged. They can be combined and have different heights. For example, the lower part usually serves to accommodate things and household items, and the upper, with glass doors, is intended for dishes. Also, the cabinets can be equipped with a different number of drawers of different sizes.

Provence style wardrobes are characterized by high legs, making cleaning much easier

The doors are also characterized by other design features. Loop elements are most often used in this style. The doors can be opened in different directions, as well as up and down. The modern, improved and most compact option is the Provence wardrobe.

If we talk about the functional purpose, here it is necessary to take into account what items will be stored in the cabinet and where exactly it will be placed.

According to this classification, the following types of products are distinguished:

Provence kitchen cabinets can be equipped with a different number of drawers of various sizes

• kitchen or dining rooms;
• for books and documents;
• wardrobe or clothing;
• for children's rooms;
• For bathroom.

Helpful advice! Provence style kitchen cabinets, decorated with drawings depicting fruits, vegetables, flowers or even fish, look original.

Provence cabinets can be mirrored, with wrought iron trim or combined

The type and degree of decoration of furniture depends on the taste preferences of its owners. You can't do without decor, but at the same time, it should be applied in moderation, taking into account the observance of harmony. All sorts of ideas and images are permissible here. The main thing is that the product does not lose its French charm against the background of a rustic drawing.

Related article:

Provence style in the interior: a cozy house in the spirit of the French province

Room decoration rules. Suitable furniture, lighting, textiles and decor. Key points when decorating different rooms.

Characteristics of Provence style wardrobes

Furniture made in the Provence style belongs to the universal type, since it is easy to choose a model designed for a specific room, bearing the expected functional load. All such products are reliable and stable.

For bedrooms, special wardrobes are produced. They are characterized by high legs, which greatly facilitates cleaning and makes even large-sized models lightweight. Drawers and doors are equipped with special fittings with closers, thanks to which they can be easily opened and closed.

A number of products can be decorated with handmade carvings or other wavy elements. It is on the wardrobe structures that the cabinet decor is most often applied with their own hands. Exclusive batches are hand rubbed in three layers to create a unique color scheme for each model. In the production of fittings, only bronze or copper is used. Stencil painting, which is applied to the craquelure surface of the door, contributes to the sophistication of the furniture. A white Provence wardrobe looks especially romantic in the bedroom.

Sliding wardrobe in Provence style: design and application features

A special subspecies of a wardrobe, endowed with modern features, are products with sliding doors, which are called Provence style wardrobes. Photos clearly demonstrate examples of such graceful models. The design option for this type of product appeared much later than the rustic French style. This is a harmonious combination of classic country and modern ergonomics, which makes this furniture especially popular.

The facade of the Provence-style wardrobe is equipped with one or two large mirrors with decorative painting

Facades are equipped with one or two large mirrors with decorative painting or laser engraving. Such products are produced in light colors, which contributes to a harmonious combination with other bedroom furnishings. Most often, Provence-style wardrobes are installed in the hallway, since it is very convenient to store outerwear and shoes in them.

For this furniture, light and pastel colors are used, in particular white, creamy, light sand, cream and beige. Woody drawing is encouraged. Such elements will help to match the style to the smallest detail, and to the same extent as floral textiles, plaid or striped prints.

The interior will be complemented by light wide curtains with ruffles to match the bedspreads and pillows. In accordance with this direction, armchairs, bedside tables, chests of drawers, tables and sofas in the Provence style should be selected.Photos of examples of interior design can be found on the Internet.

Helpful advice! Even in the case of a change in the style of the room, the elegant white wardrobes of the French country will perfectly fit into another interior.

White wardrobe fits perfectly into Provence style interior

Models for the kitchen, living room, storage of books and documents: photo cabinets

Kitchen cabinets that correspond to this trend are equipped with many different shelves and compartments, which makes it convenient to store dishes and kitchen utensils. These are niches for plates, drawers for appliances, systems for storing bulk products and spices. The main distinguishing feature of such models is their colossal capacity, and the main advantage is the ability to store food without fear for health, since Provence-style cabinets are made from natural materials.

Sideboards will perfectly fit into the interior of the living room or dining room. Furniture for the Provence living room has partial glazing, allowing you to flaunt an expensive set. The stability and ability to withstand a high weight load of the sideboards are provided by the wood from which the back and side parts are made. The external decor is a carved or painted cornice, doors with forged details and floral designs.

Provence bookcases are made from natural wood. They look solid, soundly, equipped with open and closed shelves. Most of the models are combined, they have partial glazing. This helps to quickly find the necessary book or documents, and the glass protects against dust.

Elite cabinetry options are equipped with built-in closing mechanisms. This precautionary measure protects valuable documents from external influences.

Provence bookcases are made from natural wood, they can be equipped with open and closed shelves

Features of the design of children's furniture Provence

Children's wardrobe models, in comparison with other products, have a maximum of decor and ornaments in the form of fancy carving and playful, fabulous painting. As an individual order, constructions stylized as a dollhouse, a fairytale palace or a carriage for girls and a car or a pirate ship for boys can be made.

In addition, for rooms of small housewives, Provence-style lockers may have additional decor in the form of monograms on the doors or cornices. Instead of curly handles, special holes in the form of windows, flowers or hearts can be made on the doors. The color scheme for a children's room is all shades of pink or beige, as well as a delicate lavender and “sweet” creamy tone.

In a small Provence children's room, you can put a chest of drawers and a corner rack

Stricter forms in carving and decoupage are used as decor for boys' rooms, and blue, green shades, as well as light brown and olive colors are used for painting. Besides the fact that such cabinets have a very attractive appearance, they are distinguished by their spaciousness and functionality. Rationally positioned shelves for clothes and shoes, a compartment with a bar for tremples, as well as boxes for storing bed linen located at the very bottom help to ensure this in full.

Helpful advice! In a small children's room or living room of a non-standard square shape, a Provence corner wardrobe will look great. This model is quite ergonomic, and only the outer part requires decoration.

Bathroom furniture in Provence style: specifics of decoration and processing

Choice bathroom cabinets - the process is special, requiring a specific approach. The main requirement for such furniture is conscientious processing with moisture-resistant solutions. Otherwise, the product frame and facades will eventually deform due to excessive exposure to humid air.It is desirable that the model has legs that not only match the style, but also provide the necessary air circulation. Moreover, they must match in shape and color with the bathroom legs.

Provence-style furniture requires space, so its placement is desirable in spacious bathrooms

Provence style cabinets require a certain amount of space, so their placement is permissible in spacious rooms, where all the necessary appliances and plumbing have already been installed and there is free space. If the area is not enough, then a corner cabinet would be an excellent option. The dominant color is white, which, in addition to style, goes well with sanitary ware and is associated with freshness and cleanliness.

Provence bathroom furniture is decorated with light carved cornices, partial glazing and wrought iron fittings in the form of exquisite curls. The lower part can serve as a storage space for towels.

DIY cabinet restoration: options and tips

The main distinguishing feature of Provence style cabinets is their decorative finish. At the same time, decor alone will not help bring back the attractive and sophisticated look of shabby furniture. Everyone can organize the process of restoring a Provence style cabinet with their own hands, observing a certain sequence of actions.

Surface preparation. First, the cabinet must be cleaned of dust and old dirt. Then the old coating is removed from the walls and doors. To do this, you can use an iron brush and sandpaper. This type of work is especially important for antiquities with peeling varnish.

Washing and degreasing. Before painting the cabinet, all surfaces are thoroughly washed and dried. After complete drying, they are covered with a special impregnation for wood.

If you have the necessary tools and materials, everyone can restore the Provence style cabinet

Painting. This is the last preparatory stage of the restoration. The shade is chosen in accordance with the interior. Next, fittings are installed. If wrought iron is used as handles, then they can be left in their original form. For artificial material, it is better to choose the color of gold or silver.

Wardrobe decoration. Various methods are used here - from hand painting to volumetric applique. Each owner chooses an option, taking into account his own abilities.

The simplicity of the Provence style interior items is compensated by a variety of decor, which gives a unique sophistication. Facades and walls are decorated in different ways, among which the most accessible are stencil, decoration and decoupage technique.

After cleaning the surface and restoring the fittings, they start painting and decorating the cabinet

Helpful advice! A special set with drawings and materials will help to significantly simplify the process of creating decor using decoupage technique. It can be purchased in specialized stores or ordered online.

Decorating the cabinet using the Provence style decoupage technique

Decoupage will allow you to create an original decor. It is carried out by hand using paper pictures with various images and compositions, which cover the facades in whole or in part. In French country, small floral patterns are preferred. Only abstraction will be out of place here.

To create decor using the decoupage technique of Provence style furniture, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:

To decorate the Provence cabinet, hand-painted or volumetric applique is used

• adhesive mixture based on PVA for decoupage;
• small sharp scissors with thin blades;
• tweezers;
• brushes for glue and paint of different sizes;
• acrylic based varnish for fixing.

First, using a stencil, the desired motif is applied to the surface, which is then covered with glue in a thin layer using a brush.Next, carefully, using tweezers, partially remove a fragment of the picture from the base. The material is applied to the desired place on the surface and leveled with a dry brush.

It is important that no air bubbles remain and the image itself does not have wrinkles. After the air has been driven out, the excess glue is removed. The composition is left for several hours to dry completely. The final stage of decoration is covering the drawing with acrylic varnish. Thanks to this manipulation, the picture will be securely fixed. For best results, apply 3-4 coats of varnish. In this case, each subsequent layer should be applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

How to choose the right Provence style wardrobe: tips and tricks

If a decision is made to purchase a finished product, then before buying you need to take into account a number of nuances and follow these rules:

Decide on the place that the cabinet will occupy, and then, based on the required dimensions, select furniture. It is important to consider the availability of space for free opening of drawers and sashes.

When choosing a Provence cabinet, you need to take into account the availability of space for opening drawers and doors

The color of the cabinet should match the overall interior. If the whole room is decorated in Provence style, then you can choose a model of any color. For the kitchen or hallway, it is better to buy furniture in gray and white tones or simply varnished.

You need to purchase furniture in special stores where the products have the appropriate quality certificates.

In addition, the following details should be taken into account:

• it is necessary that the cabinet is stable, does not swing and does not tip over;
• the number of fittings should be minimal, and its quality should be ideal;
• doors and drawers should close easily and slowly, therefore, preference is given to options with closers;

• on models made of natural wood there should be no roughness and cracks, indicating a violation of the technology of using wood;
• a certificate must be attached to the painted cabinet, which guarantees the safety of the paint and varnish material;
• decorative elements made of glass, mirrors, textiles must be securely fixed.

Helpful advice! When choosing a cabinet, you need to pay special attention to the condition of the decorative elements. The composition should be applied evenly along the contours, and the paint should not be printed when touched.

The choice of a cabinet made in any style and intended for any room must be approached carefully. Correctly selected furniture in the French country style should be distinguished by increased functionality and exquisite appearance. Having mastered the stencils or decoupage technique, you can easily decorate Provence-style furniture with your own hands. If you are guided by the above tips, then the choice or restoration of the cabinet will bring pleasure, and the piece of furniture itself will become a favorite in the interior and will serve for a long time.