Sliding wardrobe in Provence style: interior features and tips for creating

Style Features

This design direction dates back to the 18th century. The unique landscapes of the French province inspired the craftsmen to create unusually light, noble furniture. It is characterized by refined lines, light colors, and elegant fittings.

Provence furnishings are often used to furnish country houses; they go well with wooden ceiling beams, a fireplace and plastered walls. At the same time, furniture is also popular when decorating city apartments. It allows you to create a harmonious and cozy atmosphere, where it is so pleasant to relax from the bustle of everyday life.

Most of the products are decorated and painted by hand, which ensures exclusivity for each piece of furniture.

The main features of Provence furniture include:

• the products have strict shapes, but the corners are smoothed;
• beech, oak, pine, and walnut wood is used in the production of cabinets;
• the color scheme is different, but all shades are muted or pastel;
• Patching, decoupage, artificial aging, carving, and forging are used for decoration;
• in order not to hide the beautiful texture of the wood, the products are coated with a colorless or translucent varnish. Such models look elegant and noble;
• Provence cabinet doors can be manually decorated with images of vegetables, flowers, fruits, fish;
• If the decor of the model includes textile inserts or curtains, then it is recommended to choose fabric with a small floral print, checkered pattern, or stripe.

The demand for furnishings in the Provence style is steadily growing. Despite the high price, the products have high environmental characteristics and beautiful design. More often than others, people of the older generation decorate a room in the Provence style, who value orderliness, comfort and unhurriedness.

Provence in the interior - photo

And although the listed rules are universal, interior design in the Provence style will differ slightly depending on the type of room. But a few tips and photos will definitely give you a good idea!

Kitchen design in Provence style

A Provence style kitchen is spacious, bright, often combined with a dining room. The cooking corner is separated from the dining area by a countertop or an island bar counter. Designers face a difficult task, because they need to harmoniously fit household appliances into a classic, rustic interior so that they do not look out of place. To achieve this, modern items are often hidden in cabinets or disguised as antique ones.

When choosing dishes and other kitchen utensils, do not forget that they, displayed in plain sight, are part of the decor. Painted plates, wooden spatulas or jars with herbs will look very cozy. It is better to hang cafe curtains on small windows.

Living room design in Provence style

A traditional living room includes a sofa, several armchairs, a table, a wall and, if space allows, ottomans or bedside tables. Such furniture suggests that in addition to watching TV, you will also spend time reading books, and maybe knitting.

Speaking of the TV, it’s unlikely to be hidden, but you can choose a minimalist model that won’t attract too much attention. A small rug with a burlap effect, floor lamps, and pots with plants would look appropriate

A small rug with a burlap effect, floor lamps, and pots with plants would look appropriate.

Bedroom design in Provence style

The bedroom, as a resting place, can be furnished with fewer items. A bed with a wrought-iron headboard, painted white and covered with snow-white sheets, looks authentic for Provence. For variety, textiles can be with a floral pattern or lace inserts.

A mundane chest of drawers opposite the bed will fit perfectly into a large bedroom. Girls can treat themselves to a dressing table - just like in the houses of noble ladies. Airy classic curtains will complete the overall composition.

Bathroom design in Provence style

The iconic Provence style bathroom is a work of art. And if in other rooms it is still possible to somehow deal with a small area, then here you simply cannot do without free space.

The presence of a window is, although inconvenient for apartment owners, a very important detail. It allows you to get closer to nature, creating the most natural atmosphere for hygiene procedures. For the same reason, natural materials are used, despite the high humidity in the room.

Ceramic tiles should be matte. For example, only the lower section of the walls can be finished with it. The rest is decorative plaster or painted brickwork.

A traditional clawfoot bathtub is considered a must-have. But it’s better to forget about the shower stall. Otherwise, the filling of the room can correspond to the needs of the owners.

Children's room design in Provence style

A children's room in Provence style is ideal for a girl - both a baby and a teenager. After all, what little princess hasn’t dreamed of a bedroom from fairy tales? A delicate palette of colors, soft fabrics, floral patterns, neat furniture - such a room will be the key to a happy childhood.

But you can also arrange a suitable space for boys if you need to adhere to a single style in your home. To do this, you should choose a blue or green color scheme, combining it with cold shades. Checkered textiles will help diversify the monotony, and a more restrained furniture design will give the bedroom a strict “masculine” character.

Hallway/corridor design in Provence style

The hallway is a room that welcomes guests and forms the first impression of the house. Therefore, it is imperative to create the right atmosphere even in this non-residential space.

It is better to use darker colors for decoration and furniture, otherwise street dirt will quickly stain the “pastel softness”. Even if it doesn’t match the style, you can fit a wardrobe with a mirrored front to save space. Based on practical purposes, it is also recommended to minimize the amount of decor in a Provence style hallway.

Don’t be afraid to install more light sources, because natural light rarely reaches the corridor area.

Varieties

In the collections of Provence furniture manufacturers you can find products designed for the interior of different rooms. Each model has the most reliable, stable design.

Clothes

Such cabinets are characterized by the presence of high legs, which make cleaning easier and add lightness to even large models. Doors and drawers are equipped with fittings with soft closers; opening and closing them will be convenient. Some products are decorated with light hand carvings or have a decorative element in the form of a smooth wave.

The most exclusive series use a three-layer hand rubbing technique. It allows you to create a unique color for each. The fittings used are made of bronze or copper. For bedroom furnishings, the most sophisticated models are created with stencil painting applied to the craquellure surface of the doors. Such a bedroom with a painted white wardrobe will look especially romantic.

A variety of wardrobes are models with sliding doors, which are called sliding wardrobes. One or two large mirrors are placed on the facade. Such products are designed in light colors that harmoniously fit into the interior of the bedroom. If you install a compartment in the hallway, it can be used to store outerwear and shoes.

Kitchen and dining rooms

Kitchen cabinets have many convenient sections: niches for placing plates, drawers on durable guides, storage systems for spices, bulk products. The products are characterized by maximum capacity. The use of natural wood and water-based paints allows you to use Provence style kitchen cabinets for storing food without fear for your health.

Cabinets for storing dishes and glasses will harmoniously fit into the interior of the dining room. The models have partial glazing, which allows you to display the family set. The shelves, back and side walls are made of wood, so the products are stable and can withstand significant weight. The external design includes a carved or painted cornice, decorative hinged doors with forged elements, and floral patterns.

Storage for books and documents

Products of this type are usually presented in shades of natural wood. The cabinets look solid, expensive, and have several open and closed shelves. Many combined models have partial glazing, which makes it easy to find the book you need and protect documents from dust.

Expensive series of bookcases for offices and libraries have built-in locking mechanisms. They allow the doors to close as tightly as possible, which protects documents and books from humid or too dry air. Plus, you don't have to worry about partners or family members learning unnecessary information.

Children's models

Unlike all other products, children's furniture is decorated as much as possible, created with intricate carvings and paintings. Models with a themed design like a dollhouse, carriage, or pirate ship are made according to individual projects.

The most decorative Provence cabinets are intended for girls. They are decorated with monograms on doors and cornices. The handle fittings are replaced with curly slots in the shape of a heart or window.

Products in pink, lavender, beige, and creamy colors are appropriate in a girl’s room. To decorate a boy's room, choose blue, olive, brown, light green. With high visual appeal, the products are very spacious and functional, they have:

• several shelves for clothes and shoes;
• bar with hangers;
• lower drawers for storing bedding, linen, toys.

For bathroom

To furnish spacious bathrooms, where there is a lot of free space after installing the plumbing, special furniture is used. A corner or wall cabinet in Provence style will be a real decoration. The most preferred color is white; it is associated with cleanliness and freshness and matches the color of the plumbing fixtures.

Products must be treated with moisture-resistant compounds so that the frame and sashes are not damaged by high air humidity. If you choose a model with legs, then it is good if they are in harmony with the legs of the bathroom.

To decorate the cabinets, light carved cornices are used, partial glazing is performed and twisted forged fittings are used. At the bottom there are drawers where it is convenient to store towels. Examples of installing cabinets in the bathroom can be seen in the photo.

Types of Provence cabinets: principles of classification

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

Provence style cabinets come in one, two, three and even four doors

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

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

Design features take into account the number of doors in a Provence style cabinet. Photos show that such products come in one-, two-, three- and even four-leaf types. They can be combined and have different heights. For example, the lower part is usually used to place things and household items, and the upper part, with glass doors, is intended for dishes. Also, cabinets can be equipped with a different number of drawers of different sizes.

Wardrobes in the Provence style are characterized by high legs, which greatly facilitates cleaning

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

If we talk about the functional purpose, it is necessary to take into account what items will be stored in the closet 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;
• clothes or clothing;
• for children's rooms;
• For bathroom.

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

Provence cabinets can be mirrored, finished in wrought metal or combined

The type and degree of decoration of furniture depend on the taste preferences of its owners. It is impossible to do without decor, but at the same time it should be used in moderation, taking into account the observance of harmony. All kinds of ideas and images are acceptable here. The main thing is that the product against the background of a rustic pattern does not lose its French charm.

Related article:

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

Rules for finishing the premises. Suitable furniture, lighting, textiles and decor. Key points when decorating different rooms.

Methods of designing facades

The simple shapes and outlines of Provence furniture are fully compensated by a variety of decor, which gives them uniqueness. Cabinet fronts can be decorated in different ways:

• The main distinguishing feature of Provence furnishings is the presence of painting. Floral motifs with floral elements are popular: flowers and leaves of roses, wisteria, lavender. Not only the doors of the products are painted, but also the side parts and cornices;
• in wardrobes, models for the corridor and dressing room, mirror inserts are made for the entire size of the door or part of it. Inserts allow you to see yourself in full height or to the waist. Installation of an additional floor mirror is not required. Crosshairs made of wooden sticks add attractiveness and serve as additional protection against damage to the decorative element;
• the use of carved decor made of wood or stucco. Curved elements of bizarre shapes are painted with the colors of the cabinet facade;
• Decoupage allows you to create unique decor. It is done manually using paper pictures on any subject. They can cover the entire surface of the facade or only a part. The created decoupage must be painted with acrylic varnish, which is resistant to moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Such a pattern will not be erased or fade;
• using wallpaper to decorate doors. In the Provence style, canvases with small floral patterns and stripes would be appropriate. The facades are not completely covered; only the central part is decorated;
• artificial aging creates the illusion of antiquity. The new cabinet looks like it was put together many years ago. A patina imitating abrasions is applied to a painted plain wooden surface;
• Some china cabinets with glass inserts have French-style textile curtains. Made from cotton fabrics with small prints, they decorate the façade and add individual style.

Whatever technique is used to decorate the facades of Provence cabinets, they never look pretentious, catchy or flashy.

Decorating a cabinet using the decoupage technique in Provence style

Decoupage will allow you to create original decor. It is done manually, using paper pictures with various images and compositions, which cover the facades completely or partially. In French country, small floral patterns are most preferred. Only abstraction will be inappropriate here.

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

To decorate a Provence cabinet, hand-painted or three-dimensional applique is used.

• PVA-based adhesive mixture 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 coated with a thin layer of glue using a brush. Next, carefully, using tweezers, partially remove a fragment of the pattern from the base. The material is applied to the desired location on the surface and leveled with a dry brush.

It is important that there are no air bubbles left and that the image itself does not have wrinkles. After the air has been expelled, remove excess glue. The composition is left for several hours to dry completely. The final stage of decoration is coating the design with acrylic varnish. Thanks to this manipulation, the picture will be securely recorded. To achieve the best effect, it is better to apply 3-4 layers of varnish. In this case, each subsequent layer should be applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

Color scheme used

The rich natural color of the French province is reflected in the colors that are used for furniture in the Provence style. All of them are associated with nature and have calm, consistent tones.

The most popular are:

• milky and creamy;
• white in cold and warm undertones;
• grey;
• light green and mint;
• shades of blue: from light heavenly to rich calm blue;
• grey;
• beige and numerous shades of brown;
• lavender and pink.

There are also products decorated in bright colors: yellow, terracotta, dark blue. They are used as color accents in the interior. If you choose a bright corner or wall cabinet, then the rest of the furnishings should be in calm, light colors.

How to decorate a small corridor with your own hands?

Since the hallways in city apartments are quite cramped and small, it’s worth thinking through everything wisely when arranging them in the Provence style:

• Light-colored ceramic tiles with a rough surface are used as flooring. It is more wear-resistant and practical compared to wood.
• The walls and ceiling are finished with light materials to enhance the feeling of spaciousness.
• If there is a window in the hallway, a mirror is hung opposite it. This will enhance the lighting of the walls and visually expand the boundaries of the room.
• Hangers, racks and shelves are installed in the niche. If there is a large niche in the hallway, it is advisable to place a small sofa or banquette in it.

How to combine with the interior

In order for the decor of the room to be harmonious, it is necessary to correctly fit the selected cabinet into the overall interior. To do this, it is recommended to paint the walls and ceilings in light colors. The floor decor is done in shades of natural wood.

It is allowed to use wallpaper with small floral or graphic patterns, especially if there is painting or decoupage with floral elements on the cabinet doors. When the doors have curtains, it is better to combine them with curtains on the windows, bedspreads, and rugs.

When using plain products in blue tones, you can create an interior with a marine theme. To do this, shells are laid out in vases, striped linen curtains are hung on the windows, and the walls are decorated with themed pictures.

You can highlight the beauty of forged fittings, legs or decorative elements of the cabinet with forged metal lamps. Such a wardrobe will look harmonious in a bedroom where the bed frame is metal with a figured headboard.

An excellent addition to any piece of furniture in the Provencal style are numerous fresh flowers in pots and vases, decorative pillows on sofas and beds, linen curtains with ruffles, and cute trinkets on open shelves. When decorating a kitchen, earthenware will add some color, which can be placed on the shelves of a cupboard.

If you like to change your decor often, then choose plain cabinets made of wood, varnished or painted white. Such products will easily fit into any adjacent interior style.

How to fit into the interior

To prevent the closet from becoming a separate element of the room, it is necessary to supplement the design with some details. You can add floral patterns or lace. The cabinet can be decorated using decoupage technique. It involves gluing a cut-out design onto the surface of objects. Various flowers will look beautiful on snow-white cabinet doors, as seen in the photo.

If the room has shelves, you can put various figurines, napkins, and vases of flowers on them. To create the overall style of the room, you can decorate the bed with pillows or a blanket similar to the color scheme of the curtains. There is another option that involves wallpapering the cabinet doors. It will complement the design of the room when the wallpaper pattern on the walls and the closet matches. All this helps ensure that pieces of furniture do not look like separate elements, but complement the overall atmosphere of the room. The Provence sliding wardrobe looks great in the bedroom and living room in combination with a fireplace. It is also suitable for a hallway; you can decorate it with mirrors and forged handles.

How to choose the right one

Before purchasing, you need to determine how much space the cabinet can take up. You need to evaluate not only its width, depth and height, but also the ability to freely use all the drawers and shelves and open the doors.

If the whole room is designed in Provence style, then you can choose a cabinet of any color that is in harmony with the interior decoration. For installation in the kitchen, hallway, or office, you should give preference to products in gray and white tones or simply varnished.

It is better to buy furniture in specialized stores. When choosing, you should consider the following recommendations:

• The product must be stable, not sway or tip over. This is especially important for children's models;
• It’s better to choose cabinets with a minimum amount of fittings and check their quality. Cabinet doors and drawers should open and close easily and quietly;
• If the cabinet is made of natural wood, then carefully inspect all surfaces. There should be no cracks, crevices or splinters on them. Such disadvantages occur when raw wood is used or storage conditions are violated;
• when choosing a painted product, study the certificates indicating the safety of paints and varnishes;
• all decorative glass, mirror, and textile inserts must be well secured;
• choose the interior space of the cabinet that is as functional as possible, then it will accommodate a lot of things;
• you need to make sure that decorative painting, decoupage, and aging are done with high quality. The drawing must be applied evenly, the paint must not peel off or peel off. This sometimes happens if we paint without mastering the technique.

Such an important element of furniture as a closet must be chosen carefully. Provence products are distinguished by functionality, sophisticated appearance and the availability of various designs. You can choose the optimal cabinet model for any room, but it is important to fit it correctly into the interior.

How to apply?

If you think your closet is looking too plain, you can add more decorations. First of all, the model can be aged. In addition, sometimes to update the appearance of a wooden piece of furniture, it is enough to paint it in a brighter, unexpected color.

It is true that the Provence style takes on discreet and pastel textures. However, one bright item can add zest to the interior.

Another stylish addition to the closet can be an applique in the decoupage style. This is not difficult to do; all you need to do is purchase special glue for decoupage and varnish to secure the result. The base for the design can be a napkin with an image, a magazine clipping in a suitable style, or special paper that can be purchased in craft stores. With this technique it is possible to cover the entire surface, or to make spot applications.

The design you like must be fixed to the surface with several layers of transparent glue and varnished. Some companies produce special lines of paper with vintage and antique designs; they are not difficult to find.

You can add a metallic shine with special paints or cover it with gold. The choice is limited only by your imagination.

Photo

Materials used

The Provencal style interior is far from advanced technology. Everything here should be natural, at least visually. Glossy and plastic fragments are simply useless in such a kitchen. Preference should be given to wood and stone with a natural texture.

A worthy company for them are surfaces painted in muted colors or covered with snow-white plaster. A must-have material for use in a Provence-style kitchen is also cozy textiles in soft colors. And the inclusion of metal forging and vintage fittings will make the look completely complete.

Walls

The design of the walls in the kitchen in the Provence style primarily depends on the size of the room.

In a city apartment, matte paint or smooth plaster in soft shades would be appropriate. For accentuation, you can use decorative inserts made of tiles or decorative stone.

Wallpaper is not the best option for recreating a French country interior, but if you really can’t do without it, then it’s worth choosing samples that are as close in texture as possible to natural surfaces.

In a private house, the choice of finishing materials is somewhat wider. Here you can safely demonstrate the subtle beauty of simple stonework, wood paneling, whitewash or textured plaster.

Ceiling

The open attic space adds a special touch to the interior of a Provencal kitchen located in a country house. A mandatory attribute of a Provençal ceiling is massive beams. They can match the color scheme of the entire surface or, conversely, stand out sharply with a contrasting wood shade.

Naturally, with a small room height, there is no need to make the ceiling additionally heavier. In this case, a plain light color or plaster will look much more natural. A small forged chandelier will give the effect of antiquity.

Floor

The most suitable flooring for a Provence-style kitchen is considered to be traditional wooden planks, as well as modest, discreet matte tiles in earthy or terracotta shades.

In modern interiors, laminate, parquet or tiles that imitate classic materials come to the rescue. An additional decoration for the floor can be a mat or carpet with a floral pattern.

Windows and doors

A Provencal style kitchen is a room filled with sunlight. To allow rays to freely penetrate the room, the windows in it are made as large as possible.

Conventional plastic frames do not fit very harmoniously into the atmosphere of provincial comfort. Wooden structures or their high-quality imitation would be much more appropriate here. In any case, they are white, sometimes slightly aged.

In country houses, hinged structures are widely used, allowing the doors to be opened wide.

Window decoration has no strict restrictions. It can be decorated with:

• Roman blind or English style curtain;
• weightless French marquise;
• curtains with tiebacks;
• cafe curtains

Cornices are preferably wooden or forged.
Doors in the Provence style are always made of wood and painted in light, muted colors, certainly with a slight touch of antiquity.

Accommodation Tips

A sliding wardrobe most often seems like a bulky object, but large dimensions are not at all necessary. Miniature and neat cabinets are suitable for individual rooms. Here are some tips for placing your closet in different rooms of your home.

In the hall

In a small room used to place outerwear and shoes, a wardrobe will help save space due to the peculiarities of its structure. Sliding doors are much more convenient than swing doors. A corner wardrobe with spacious compartments for seasonal and non-seasonal clothes, as well as a large mirror, will fit especially well into the hallway.

In the living room

The functionality of the living room closet differs from the previous one. Bed linen, everyday clothes, and rarely used items are stored here. Photos in antique round frames, souvenir items, and dishes will help emphasize the chosen style.

Attention should be paid to lighting. Additional lighting will decorate the room and highlight the beauty of the furniture.

An excellent solution for a living room in the Provence style would be a fireplace, decorated, like the cabinet, with forged handles or carvings.

In the bedroom

The romance of Provence is most suitable for the bedroom. Lightness, tenderness, calm shades. Here you can choose a small wardrobe and be sure to combine it in style with other items in the room. A small dressing table will look especially cute, and a spacious chest of drawers will add practicality. All furniture should be light and coordinate with each other.

For the bedroom, soft pink and lavender shades, soft textiles, and floral prints are suitable.

In the nursery

A light and spacious wardrobe is just what you need for a cozy room. Here it is recommended to add an open section for storing toys, books, and school supplies. And behind the compartment doors you can fit all your clothes.

Marine styleGreen tones

Together with your child, you can decorate the closet in the children's room using decoupage or special paints and techniques.