Sproost Blog

Parlez-vous français? Even if the answer is no, you can confidently say your home does! This week we’re focusing on the style French Eclectic, a style that, like its name, somehow manages to both be formal and casual, classy and unassuming at the same time. Don’t forget to check out our  design style quiz to find out what style suits you best.

Decorology found this room and it’s a wonderful example of what an open and welcoming space should look like.

You like your spaces to feel inviting from the moment you (or your guest) open the front door and this feeling should continue even after you’ve entered your most formal room. This room from Decorno feels so comfortable. Maybe they will let me move in.

Even though there are French antiques here and gold details there, the rustic elements provide a balance and warmth that seems to say, “come in, relax, and stay a while.” Your love of antiques leads you to flea markets, garage sales and hours of Craigslist and eBay hunting. It can also lead to an unhealthy obsession to dig through people’s yard sale leftovers, so be prepared to run. (It’s so worth it!) This pretty room also from Decorology is perfect for intimate conversation. And look at the floors! Yes, I have a hardwood floor fetish. Deal with it.

The materials and pieces you are drawn to play on the mix of formal and casual. Many of the pieces look like they were passed down from your great-great-aunt (even if they are brand new!) and you managed to upholster them in a way that made the piece both then and now. I don’t care what anyone says, animal prints are still in and are perfect for this style. Vive le Revolution! Thanks, Cote de Texas.

Much of the furniture is wood-framed and the wood is either left natural (hey there rustic!), painted white (hi country!), or even gold (hello refinement!). And many times there is a strong mixture of all of these. Here’s another great room from Decorology.

If you find yourself leaning much more towards the “country” side of things and away from the Parisian side, drop the gold details and replace them with wrought iron. Here, they paired a great wooden bookshelf with an outdoor table to bring a detailed iron element to the room.

When it comes to color, you are drawn to bright and airy options. Thoughts of the French countryside are key—warm colors such as yellows, reds, and oranges hinting at fields of gold. In this room from Habitually Chic they’ve used neutral colors with a touch of yellows and browns with the picture frames.

But the nice thing about French Eclectic is you can just as easily go in the opposite direction: pale blues and greens remind you of acres of lavender fields and expansive blue skies. Purplearea found this room. What cat wouldn’t love to take a nap in that sunbeam on the couch?

When you think about laying out your French Eclectic room, the key is to invite people in and encourage them to stay. So furniture should be grouped nicely to encourage intimate conversation and the main pieces should be comfortable in both look and feel. This big couch gives you a ton of room for entertaining and it looks like you will just sink into its velvety cushions and pillows.

There should be plenty of places to set drinks, prop up feet, and lean back. And yet the functionality of these pieces doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t beautiful antiques or replicas. In fact, with a little skill and a little time, you can make pieces look antique. I love the wall stencils here.