I get asked this question a lot. How do you transition a home to country French decor? This is something I did a while ago.
Create a Pinterest board for your new look
The first thing I suggest is to create a Pinterest board for your new look.
You know where your starting point is, but you need to know where you want to go. How will you know where to turn, how to get there if you don’t know where you are going? It’s very important to have a good idea of the look you are going for. You can always make changes as you go along.
This is the board I created when I was honing my look. My house didn’t actually look like these photos at the time. These were my dream looks. See the Pinterest board below.
Farmhouse French Pinterest board
Assess everything in the room
After you have a good feel for the look you are going for, then you can look around at your room and see what is working and what is not working for your new look. I was so excited when I realized I had one corner that had the look I was going for. It was just one corner… in my entire house. But I had a vision now. The table was not to my liking, so I covered it with a linen fabric. See? I was on my way!
Remove/sell anything that you can that doesn’t work with your new look
Well do this as much as you can. I realized I wanted a neutral look and this was my living room. Not neutral at all! Did I feel overwhelmed? Absolutely!
But I bit the bullet as it were and began the transformation.
Put together a buying list
I really wanted a new sofa and chairs, but that just wasn’t in the budget. So I made linen slipcovers. It look a lot of work, and a lot of fabric. The metamorphosis had begun. The walls were still yellow, but one step at a time. When your home is in transition, it may feel like it is going through an awkward phase. I really didn’t like the walls this color, but again, I didn’t want to paint them. We were going to move in about a year or two and I didn’t want to pay for the paint. So I didn’t paint the walls.
Finally we moved into our new home and see, no more yellow walls! The neutral fabric worked in my neutral room, finally.
Try to buy one big thing per year.
I still have that same sofa, the two chairs and the ottoman. But I’ve gotten a new fireplace screen and some new end tables. The rug was also changed. The transition has been slow, but steady. I keep showing you photos of our old house because I want to be real and so you can see that things didn’t change overnight.
At some point I bought the table that goes behind the sofa for less than $500. I moved some chairs into the space from the dining room.
All the while I kept true to the look I was going for, a rustic, neutral farmhouse French look. I didn’t know exactly how the room would end up, but I knew the general direction I was headed in.
It’s not perfect, but I’m very happy that I decided to make the changes, even if there was an awkward transition period.
Everything looks so nice…
I needed to hear the “sell off when you can” any item that no longer works with the vision of your new style. I’ve been hanging on to a refurbished dry sink piece that I bought to serve as a liquor cabinet just because the storage (2 small drawers and cabinet with shelves behind doors) was what I needed, when it is not my style at all and does nothing to enhance my “look.” Since I’m currently doing some redecorating, you’ve given me permission to try to sell it and get something that is not cringeworthy when I look at it. While my style is not french country farmhouse, your ideas and suggestions on style and decor are valid regardless of what we’re trying to attain. Thanks for posting.
Yay Pat!! Go for it!! Let go and get on with your life!
I just moved to a new apartment and began the transition and found adding French farm themed pillows, new white washed frame mirror, a few galvanized trays and decorating ideas from Pinterest made a huge difference. A few years ago I had fallen in love with a stripped old mantle and use it for a headboard.
It is never too late to feather your nest and enjoy every day. I’m 82 and smile every morning because my surroundings make me so happy.
I found and subscribed to Cedar Hill Farmhouse and really enjoy your realistic ideas. Most of the fun is “getting there” one thing at a time instead walking into a perfect place.
You are so right Shirley. Happiness has to do with the gradual process. It’s about enjoying the journey, not just the destination. Bravo Shirley you are MY GIRL!!!
Thanks, and you keep on inspiring us. A kindred spirit for sure.
I love the phrase feather our nest and knowing I am never too old
This post is so encouraging. We have been in the process of paring down our look to a simple, neutral, minimally decorated modern farmhouse style. That’s a mouthful I know, but it takes all those words to grasp the feel I’ve been wanting. We kept our big French armoires, and the basic sofas, but sold a lot of our antique heavy, ornate pieces either on local sites, or at auction. We are slowly moving out of “awkward” into “awesome”. One of the most dramatic changes was changing the paint color from yellow tan to light grays, whites, and a very muted blue/green/gray. I would encourage others to go for it, and get the look that makes your home the happy place of your dreams.
Yay Sharon. It doesn’t happen overnight, for sure. I’m so glad you made the changes and are happy!
Yay Sharon. It doesn’t happen overnight, for sure. I’m so glad you made the changes and are happy!
Well said, Anita. I so agree! Like everything else in life, it’s a process. I love Shirley’s comment that it’s never too late, enjoy every day, and smile every morning because you love your surroundings.
Thank you for this article, I have told you before how at 62 we are down sizing and moving into a patio home from our family home that we raised our boys in. I am so excited to start this new phase of our life and loved reading how it is a process, because I can’t do it all at once, so it made me feel better. I have lost so much sleep over what to do for flooring and all white rooms and how will it all work, etc. Now I see it will work and as one of your fans wrote, enjoy every day!! That is my plan, enjoy every moment of this change!! All the best, Pattiann!
Patti, yes that’s excellent advice. Enjoy each day, even if things aren’t perfect.
Gorgeous, and I wish I had half of your talent, because you truly brought life back into your furniturings. Love how everything turned out.
Great advice on starting a new style. I love seeing the transition pics. It gives real hope to those trying to do a makeover. I love how your home came out.
It was a slow transition, and felt painful at the time, but here I am on the other side!
Your advice is spot on! I have wanted to transition from the our current mission-style interior, with its dark colors and masculine lines, to a light and bright rustic european country look. I bought your book and wondered where to begin. We decided to start by painting our walls. They used to be a yellowy-green-tan color. Now they’re a light, soft ivory. It’s lovely and I can now better visualize completing the look over the next few years.
Oh smart move Kathy! That should be very helpful as you transition. How exciting for you!
Hi Anita, I live in Sydney Australia and have been following your tutorials for a month or so. Your style is so lovely and achievable. I particularly like your advice of going shopping in your own home when you feel like a change of decor. My husband went for a run yesterday and when he came home the dining table and sideboard had been restyled as well as the outdoor table. Add a tray and a jug of flowers here or there and voila! All the items just went from place to place and in a new configuration. My kids joke that if you sit still long enough mum will fluff you up and move you to another chair! Thanks for your lovely ideas.
Jenny
That’s funny Jenny. So glad to hear from you. Keep up the great work!
Am I the only one who loves the original red sofa? I like the bright spot of color and would incorporate a Persian-style area carpet with light tones and neutral background to tie the colors together. Remember the history of France when trying to emulate the “look”. Trade with the eastern Arabic countries opened during the Crusades and they liked color and intricate designs which were brought back to France a thousand years ago. The peasant class were Catholic and were exposed to the grandeur of the Catholic churches. You may like the totally washed-out look but also remember the painters of classical masterpieces of art. If you really want inspiration, research the French museums on-line and you will see what I mean. I do love the French country look and appreciate your suggestions to achieve it which I am anxious to start on too. (As an aside, when I was a young girl I wanted French Provincial furniture in my bedroom. I got 60’s modern instead. I’m almost 70 and am more determined than ever to get the surroundings I want. Thanks especially to your 82-year-old fan!.)
Pam yes excellent points! I loved the red sofa, but wanted a fresh new look for me. I’ve had tons of color in my home for many, many years, and wanted to go more neutral. I agree that a traditional French look has loads of color. My point was to go ahead and start now to transition to the look you want. So for you if that means color, then go for it! I’ve written a lot about why I’ve gone neutral, but admit that it isn’t for everyone. I applaud you. Go for it!!
I admit that this is my first look at your site but I truly don’t understand the totally neutral washed-out look. Is this a new trend where you live? I’m in Michigan and we’re always a few years behind national trends which usually start on the coasts. No offense intended. I haven’t seen your “befores” so don’t know what you are transitioning from.
I promise Pam, I’m not offended at all. Neutrals have been the rage for at least 6 years on blogs. But I will probably keep a neutral look for a long time. It doesn’t sound like it is your cup of tea. Stick with what you love.
I’m still so impressed with your slipcover sewing skills!
It’s a lovely space…I’m sure I have it pinned a few times on my pinterest boards 😉
I try to collect a big item each year, well, big for me, and it is amazing how those single
items can change up the feeling of a room.
Your advice about transitioning from one style to another is very helpful. I have always been enamored with an English Country style but as I’ve gotten older, I worry that it’s a bit stuffy and I have trying to infuse some more contemporary pieces into my design for a more modern eclectic look. Some things I’ve tried have worked and others, not so much. I often get frustrated and just want to buy everything new but of course, that’s not an option. Thanks for a post with many helpful suggestions.