Small apartment in Provence style: interior design

It is difficult to find a style of interior design that would be just as far removed from city apartments as the French Provence. Both classics, and baroque, and, of course, hi-tech organically impose their accents on the arrangement of such housing, ensuring the convenience and rationality of the organization of space. Unless the country and the Scandinavian style are oriented mainly to country houses, which, in fact, also makes such interiors with the French style. Anyway, a small-sized apartment in the style of Provence has its attractive features, which will be allocated on condition that the design rules are correctly used.

The main features of the style

Style is characterized by naturalness, lightness and at the same time shades of luxury. Do not forget that this design still comes from the village outback, but not ordinary, but French. Therefore, in this case, it is appropriate to talk about the accents of simple luxury. The peculiarity of the style is its versatility in the main decoration and overall design, but at the same time the obligatory insertion of elegant accessories and decorative elements into the interior. In other words, an apartment in the style of Provence can in many respects resemble the classical style in terms of practicality, but at the same time orienting towards baroque in respect of elegance and charm. It should be noted and the contradiction of style with the very idea of urban housing. Especially small apartments require rational interior arrangement in order to achieve practicality and convenience. For its part, Provence is impossible without an abundance of additional accents, which can be difficult to take into account in a very limited space.

Finishing requirements

The French style is not too demanding for finishing, but some rules still need to be met to achieve the desired result. So, when decorating walls, it is better to abandon the wallpaper in favor of plaster or paint and varnish. Today, there are special mixtures and solutions, the coating of which forms an unusual finish texture with a hint of aging. Also, the design of the apartment in the style of Provence provides for the use of brick or stone in the cladding, but for obvious reasons this option is not suitable for small-sized housing. However, you can experiment with laying an artificial stone on the balcony or kitchen.

With regard to flooring, then the choice is clearly made in favor of wood. Conventional plank floors, of course, are not the most attractive option, but parquet with laminate will allow to comply with the design requirements, and provide a pleasant appearance of the flooring. By the way, if you plan an apartment in the style of Provence, which is adjacent to an open area with a balcony, it makes sense to provide forged supports with different patterns.

Color palette

In this aspect, the style is unoriginal - the emphasis is on pastel tones with a slight hint of contrast. In the same wall decoration, it is recommended to use white paint. To create accents, you can refer to blue, yellow, or turquoise. A separate topic is the shades of aged materials. Patina, copper, bronze reflow are often used by decorators in the design of country houses, but an apartment in the style of Provence is not always suitable for this purpose. It is better to limit oneself to a set of standard neutral shades that will provide an atmosphere of tranquility and harmony - these qualities characterize the rural way of life, but are practically absent in a bright and saturated urban rhythm.

Provence style furniture

According to the canons of style, furniture should not even be so practical and functional, as decorative. To meet this requirement in small rooms is very difficult, so designers often have to make concessions to the rules. Anyway, the ideal furniture for this style is obsolete items made from natural materials. Old dressers, chairs and sideboards with pronounced signs of long operation bring their charm, comfort and nobility. Typically, kitchens in the style of Provence in the apartment are made using ceramic finishing and applying coarse plaster. Such decisions create an image of a natural village cuisine. Strengthen this feeling will help wooden furniture - from sparkling metal and, especially, plastic is better to refuse. Also in the interiors of Provence, a special place is given to stoves, fireplaces and hearth as such. For this reason, the slab should be fenced off from the rest of the working surfaces, making an island of it.

Lighting

The optimum option will be the abundance of natural light. Therefore, if possible, you should initially make large windows with access to the sunny side. Especially the sun's rays are important in the kitchen and in the bedroom. Of course, even the country style does not exclude the use of artificial light sources. It is desirable that the interior of the apartment in the style of Provence shined with a traditional chandelier, made in a classic form factor. Excessive chic in this case is not necessary, since the manufacturability of lamps is not in harmony with the concept of provence. The case of devices should be selected also from natural materials - in the market today you can find quite good options for chandeliers with elements of wood, porcelain and even forged metal.

Textiles and curtains

The choice of fabrics and curtains focuses on ease and simplicity. For curtains, it is advisable to prefer light snow white tulle. If there is a desire to diversify the design, then you can also refer to cambric hair, satin or calico with small flower patterns. Not bad, if the drawing will echo the design of textiles inside the room. The fabrics used in the interior are chosen according to the same basic rules - that is, there must be a natural origin and the presence of a calm pattern. In particular, an apartment in the style of Provence can be decorated with textiles in the form of cotton, woolen and linen products with printed patterns. When choosing curtains, it is recommended to exclude heavy fabrics. It is better to stop on soft and light products, made in pastel colors.

Parts and accessories

All sorts of trivia, baubles and decorative elements form the essence of interior design. Following the traditions of the village arrangement, it is worthwhile to provide in the apartment fruit gardens, vases, photo frames, candlesticks and bird cages. In this case, it is not necessary to use some of these objects for their intended purpose - they are sufficient for their presence in the interior, which provides the necessary aesthetic effect. In the classical form of design apartments in the style of Provence can not do without flowers. Living corner can be arranged in the kitchen, and in the living room, and in the bedroom. The main thing is that plants fit into the environment. Usually for this style, designers choose lavender, which is a symbol of the French province.

Conclusion

Usually styles that provide significant decorative accents are used in the design of private houses or spacious urban housing. The absence of spatial restrictions allows you to maximize the advantages of the French interior. Nevertheless, a small apartment in the style of Provence can have its advantages. First, a close space and even a slight mess increase the sense of the situation of rural home life. But it is important that such an interior organically complemented by colorful decors. Secondly, the compact arrangement in each case creates the prerequisites for a cozy atmosphere.