Provence style balcony design rules and the best ideas for a beautiful design
The Provençal style originated in the southern provinces of France. This style is often referred to as "French country" because of some of the characteristic features of small provincial towns in the country. Country houses, dachas, terraces or balconies are decorated in the style of Provence. For many, it is associated with home comfort, peace, harmony. Design projects based on Provence are distinguished by simplicity, naturalness and French elegance.
Distinctive design features
The Provençal style has characteristic features that unequivocally determine it:
- the use of natural and textured materials;
- the choice of textiles and furniture of the same color range, mainly pastel colors are used, shades of yellow, blue, lavender prevail;
- it is customary to use paint, lime for wall decoration;
- to fill the interior with furniture, it is customary to adhere to the tactics of minimalism;
- the presence of textile parts is required.
Furniture used in the design of a Provence-style room can be vintage, hand-finished, using floral or fruit stencils. Modern facades are specially aged using special techniques.The doors are painted with enamels in one layer, so that after drying, the texture of the material appears below.
Interior items are characterized by the presence of forged elements. With the right selection, they do not weigh down the furniture, they may have scratches or other traces of prolonged use.
Provence is not just a style of design, it is a special atmosphere that creates a feeling of harmony, simplicity and peace. At first, this atmosphere was associated with the tranquility of rural life, devoid of the speed inherent in large cities. Over time, it became clear that it is possible to create a Provence style on the territory of an apartment in a multi-storey building, if you follow certain rules.
Design subtleties
The Provence-style balcony is considered a seating area. On the territory of the balcony, as a rule, mini-living rooms are arranged, where you can receive guests or sit quietly with a cup of herbal tea. This corner can become a mini-office where you can work, immersed in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. When decorating a balcony, designers are advised to take into account the peculiarities of the layout. Typically, a balcony is an elongated rectangular platform with one side partially glazed.
Stage
The classic option is wooden parquet, which is painted with white or light paint. It is allowed to use or combine the following shades:
- cream;
- beige;
- lactic;
- light brown.
Another classic option for decorating floors on the balcony can be imitation stone tiles. Natural stone on the balcony is not used due to the increased weight of the material.In addition, the floor of the balcony is covered with small hand-woven rugs. Carpets are spread underfoot near sofas, chairs or armchairs. They can cover around 30-40% of the total floor area, but no more.
Ceiling
The balcony ceiling is finished with wooden boards, clapboards, covered with white or light enamel. Painting the ceiling makes it possible to use a large brush, the strokes of which emphasize the texture of the material.
One of the decoration techniques on the balcony is to decorate a light monochrome ceiling with beams of a contrasting color with a rough rough texture. Reception is used on balconies where the area of the room allows.
Walls
The walls are plastered using coarse brushes. Painting or whitewashing the walls allows and encourages the presence of irregularities, protrusions. If there are bricks on the balcony, these areas are covered with white or light paint. At the same time, the structure of the brick with its characteristic irregularities allows you to maintain a natural look without additional filling of cracks and roughness.
Provence style on the balcony can be created if the walls are decorated with wood. In this case, they are painted with paint or whitewashed with light whitewash.
Lighting organization
On the balconies, which are reserved for mini-living rooms or recreation areas, it is customary to use electric lighting. In order not to go beyond the Provence style, use one of the following options:
- textiles, wooden table lamps or floor lamps that keep the same color palette with the rest of the interior elements;
- wall lamps with a dim type of lighting and the ability to dim or dim;
- floor lamps on the ceiling with a textile lampshade shading the lamp.
Reference! The main condition for arranging lighting is muffling, shading.
Color selection
The color scheme of the Provence style is recognizable among other country styles. The main colors are borrowed from the landscapes of the southern region of France. If a bright color is used in the design, then it should be only one. When choosing interior items, this color is always predominant.
Most often, the color palette consists of warm shades. White, which is mandatory for registration, can have different tones:
- cream;
- Ivory;
- milk and coffee.
Yellow can have several shades: lemon, light lemon, creamy yellow or olive yellow.
Reference! The favorite color when decorating in the Provence style is lavender, which can be easily combined with other pastel shades.
If red is used for decoration, brick-red shades close to orange are chosen. Blue is used in combination with white. Small flowers on textiles or lamps can be blue.
Windows, textiles and curtains
On the balcony, one of the walls is partially glazed. The Provencal style in the south of France is characterized by the presence of large bay windows. Such windows are usually called "French". The windows are covered with curtains, which are of particular importance in the design. They not only serve as protection from the sun's rays or are used for shading, but they have additional functions.
The design meets several requirements:
- the floral print should be made in soft pastel colors;
- the textile base should overlap the ornament on the upholstery of the sofa, on the print of woven lamps;
- when decorating curtains, natural materials are used: forged canopies, wooden brackets;
- when using blinds, they are additionally decorated with textile elements; roller blinds with floral patterns, made to special order, are considered the best option.
In addition to fabric curtains with a floral print, it is permissible to use tulle curtains. At the same time, the edges of the tulle curtains are additionally trimmed with a printed fabric or tied with ribbons of a contrasting color.
Textiles on sofas or upholstery of chairs can completely repeat the pattern on curtains or belong to the same color scheme.
One of the features of the style is the presence of cushions. Curtains and cushions are often sewn from the same fabric.
Selection of furniture
There is often not enough space on the balcony to place a full set of furniture. For an ordinary glazed balcony of a rectangular shape, it is enough to pick up a small sofa, a chest of drawers or a table and a set of chairs. In order to create a Provence style on the balcony, you can choose wicker furniture with textile inserts and cushions. Only one direction will be maintained if you pick up sofas and chairs with wrought iron legs.
So that the furniture does not stand out against the general background, it is customary to use light furniture or cover dark elements with white enamel.
A light or white table with scuffed edges can additionally be decorated with drawings made by yourself. Floral patterns are taken as the basis for painting, fruits and olives are drawn. Furniture made for decoration in the French Provence style is chosen for several reasons:
- chairs and sofas most often have textile inserts, this adds comfort and comfort to the interior;
- the tables and chests of drawers are made of wood, painted with clear enamels, while the fittings, if any, are additionally decorated;
- carved elements are often added to wooden furniture that does not stand out from the general structure;
- designs on furniture, if any, are done with smooth, neat paint strokes that don't stand out against the overall color scheme.
Decor
Provence style is distinguished by a variety of details. The charming details that support the general direction of the design help create a distinctive ambience. Blanks are often stored on balconies and loggias. To camouflage the cans with seams, they use textile wraps that are tied with string, and then the cans are placed on the shelves.
The Provencal style is characterized by the presence of green or flowering plants. Planters and flower pots made of clay or wood are painted with light and delicate ornaments using clear enamels. A good solution is to use pots or planters of the same shade. Photos or pictures in wooden frames hang on the walls in a simple symmetrical order.
Reference! Various boxes and chests become additional accessories, which can perform a practical function and serve as a place for storing various things.
Examples of out-of-the-box design solutions
The canonical requirements are modified according to the possibilities, the images of the room and the needs of the household. Using the balcony as a room for storing unnecessary items is a common practice in many families. To use the balcony as needed and decorate it according to the rules of the Provence style, you can use a ready-made design project for a regular rectangular balcony:
- the walls and floor are decorated in one color: for this, panels with quality characteristics are used;
- the ceiling is lined with wooden slats, painted with white enamel;
- the glazed part of the balcony is closed by simple white blinds;
- a small sofa is placed along one of the free walls, while the textiles from which the sofa pillows are made are similar in color to the color scheme of the walls and floor;
- a white wooden shelf hangs above the sofa;
- a small coffee table on forged legs is placed under the windowsill, the top is painted in light colors or covered with a tablecloth with floral motifs;
- a forged lamp is suspended above the table, whose forge style echoes the style used for the decoration of the table;
- along the wall opposite the sofa, a white wooden chest of drawers with low legs is installed.
Balcony furniture can be decorated by yourself. It is enough to paint the wooden elements with white enamel with the addition of color.