Chest of drawers in Provence style - simplicity and charm in one item

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Sometimes, into the modern interior of a city apartment in a noisy city, you want to bring warm notes of rustic comfort, romance, simplicity, but not rough, but with provincial chic. These interior design features correspond to the Provence style, characteristic of the sunny, flourishing province of Southern France. Comfortable furniture is the central part of the style - a sofa, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a sideboard. It is the Provence chest of drawers that is an obligatory element of this trend, most of all characterizing the attitude towards rustic romance and simplicity. In order for a chest of drawers to fully correspond to the style, it is necessary to choose it correctly for different rooms, taking into account the color design, design and size.

Style Features

The combination of sophistication and simplicity of the Provence style creates harmony in the interior. Furniture, like the decoration of this style, is distinguished by the following characteristic features:

simplicity of pattern, shape, design. A Provence style chest of drawers is distinguished by its smooth shapes: its legs are curved, the corners are rounded, and there is often a carved pattern on the walls;
laconicism, naturalness - this is expressed in the use of natural materials for the manufacture of furniture, primarily wood. Wooden furniture looks stylish and modern in any interior, and Provence reveals the warmth of this material;
use of decoupage technique;
natural, pastel colors - there are no bright colors; instead, you can use deep, rich, but muted tones. They will be accentuated against the background of the main shades - milky, beige, soft pink, yellow, blue, gray, light brown. Even white in Provence and country style is not bright, but muted;
The decoration of furniture, walls, and textiles is predominantly floral (floral, fruity) or geometric with a small pattern. This design emphasizes the authenticity of the style. The side walls and facades of furniture are painted with naturalistic or primitive patterns, which must be given the effect of fading in the sun;
A Provence style chest of drawers, like other furniture of this style, is made with a special coating that imitates abrasions in order to achieve the effect of antiquity. Coating the chest of drawers with craquelure paint will help achieve the same effect;
using a large number of hand-made pieces of furniture, decor, and accessories. For this reason, what is most valued in a Provence interior is a chest of drawers made independently using the decoupage technique.

Provence furniture is characterized by versatility, that is, a wardrobe or chest of drawers will fit organically into a living room, a hallway, or a kitchen. Examples of this are presented in the photo.

The benefits of doing it yourself

Artificially aged furniture in Provence style for the dining room

In order to decorate a fashionable interior, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. It can be done at home without any special material costs, using simple techniques. One of the ways to transform modern room decoration is to age furniture in the Provence style with your own hands.

Beautiful decoupage of furniture with your own hands in Provence style

At the same time, transforming familiar things at home has a number of positive aspects:

you can carry out all the work, without regard to time;
the furniture will be decorated in the colors that the master likes;
if old interior elements already in the house are used, the family budget will hardly suffer.

Decorating old furniture for the hallway with your own hands

Form

Chests of drawers in the Provence style are, first of all, simplicity and smooth lines, and no abstract shapes or complex designs. It may have curved legs of varying heights, the corners of the lid surface are rounded, and it may also have sides cut deliberately roughly. The legs must be stable and durable, and their length depends on the dimensions of the chest of drawers - the smaller the piece of furniture and lighter in weight, the higher the legs. High legs add even more sophistication to the chest of drawers. As a rule, their shape tapers downward. The fittings do not have to have an aged look; they can be modern, but not noticeable to the eye. The use of handles on metal drawers made of bronze, copper or brass is encouraged. These should be elegant forged elements that emphasize the elegance of a French-style chest of drawers.

The appearance of a Provence chest of drawers should inspire a feeling of lightness and romanticism, therefore the manufacture of this piece of furniture with a rough, heavy shape and bulky dimensions is contraindicated.

In addition to the traditional linear shapes of square and rectangular, there are oval and corner chests of drawers. The traditional form of a classic chest of drawers, made in Provencal style, is rectangular furniture with sliding longitudinal drawers.

The size of the chest of drawers is selected in accordance with its location and functions; there are no standards as such. Dressers can be narrow and high, or wide and low. Obviously, the size of a chest of drawers that has decorative value will be different from a chest of drawers that serves a specific practical function. Thus, corner chests of drawers are usually compact, and often serve a decorative function or are intended for placement in small rooms such as a hallway.

Tips for choosing

When choosing furniture in the Provence style, it is necessary to take into account not only its consumer characteristics. The appearance and color of products are no less important. For example, the same white chest of drawers will look different against a blue or milky wall. Accordingly, the approach should be balanced, taking into account the characteristics of the room.

Choosing a chest of drawers for the bedroom, reviewing models, studying characteristics

When choosing a chest of drawers, it is advisable to pay attention to the following parameters:

compliance of the dimensions with the room area model;
functionality - number of drawers, their capacity;
the quality of materials and fittings, the service life of the furniture depends on this.

Decorative finishing must correspond to the chosen direction. For Provence style, it is simplicity, elegance, harmony of natural shades. A chest of drawers, like a small piece of furniture art, will become a real decoration of any home if it is in its place and in a decent environment.

Color

Faded, slightly peeling paint in matte pastel colors or deep, but muted shades - this is what a Provencal chest of drawers should be like. The pastel color palette of the Provence chest of drawers is varied:

it consists of matte shades of white (milk, ivory, champagne, pearl);
brown (beige, sand, all shades of natural wood);
gray (silver, dove, dove, zircon, ash, mole);
blue and violet (pale cornflower blue, sky blue, niagara, gray blue, light blue, light turquoise, lavender);
green (light aquamarine, straw, pale lime, ambrosia, pistachio, pale olive);
yellow (linseed, peach, khaki, corn, mustard);
pink (apricot, smoky pink, salmon, light coral).

The shades should be matte, since natural wood materials are not glossy, and artificial materials should not be used in the manufacture of Provence chests of drawers, especially glossy plastic. Even white color should be muted so as not to be conspicuous by a bright spot. To decorate the chest of drawers in an original way, use decoupage techniques, craquelure varnish, or use two shades to decorate the furniture. For example, the design of a chest of drawers in two shades looks elegant and fresh - deep, “velvet” blue and matte white. Decorative panels (moldings) on drawers and legs are painted blue, and dark blue handles can be used. The white color serves as the background for a blue chest of drawers in the Provence style. Modern Provence style chests of drawers are also decorated in black; this option is often found when placing this piece of furniture in the kitchen.

Shape and color

Provence style chests of drawers are predominantly rectangular or square in shape. More expensive models that are difficult to manufacture may include shaped, most often oval, side walls. The body rests on high legs, which are traditionally narrowed at the bottom. They can be straight, curly or curved. The number of drawers depends on their depth and the purpose of the chest of drawers.

Functional chests of drawers for the kitchen, current materials, styles, colors

Color plays an important role in maintaining style. When making chests of drawers, light wood is used. The surface is tinted or painted in pastel colors, as if faded in the bright sun:

lactic;
light gray;
blue;
olive;
sand;
blue.

They achieve an effect in which the natural grain of the wood is visible through a layer of paint. The facades are decorated with hand-painted floral and floral motifs. Traditional pictures for Provence are sunflowers, olive branches, and lavender bouquets.

To give the chest of drawers a noble touch of antiquity, they imitate abrasions, scratches, and chips. Individual areas are varnished with a craquelure effect. A network of small cracks creates the appearance of natural aging.

Accommodation options

A stylish Provencal chest of drawers is universal: it can be placed in any room - living room, bedroom, nursery, hallway and kitchen. The only condition is that the room should not be small, because the classic Provence style chest of drawers is quite large.

For the bedroom, a chest of drawers is perfect as a replacement for a closet. If the bedroom does not have a large area, one Provence chest of drawers, in addition to the bed, will be enough to perform the necessary functions. If the bedroom is spacious, the chest of drawers can be supplemented with two identical bedside tables near the bed. It is usually placed near the wall opposite the sleeping place, or between two windows in the wall. You can place a large mirror on this piece of furniture, turning it into an elegant dressing table.

There are more options for placing a chest of drawers in the living room. It is often used as a TV stand. In the living room, large chests of drawers are usually used, on the tabletop of which various decorative accessories are installed - paintings, vases with flowers. Just like in the bedroom, you can install a wide mirror on it. This furniture is usually placed between windows, opposite the seating area, in niches and partitions, or with the help of it they zone the space of a large living room. This can be done if, for example, you place a chest of drawers behind the back of a soft corner.

In the kitchen, a tall chest of drawers will replace numerous hanging cabinets or cabinets. In the hallway it can replace a shoe rack.

Placement nuances

The Provence style chest of drawers is universal, even with the standard configuration it is suitable for rooms for various purposes. At the same time, the variety of models makes it possible to choose furniture for specific tasks. Dressers can vary in size, number and size of drawers. First of all, you need to consider the area and purpose of the room. In accordance with these parameters, furniture of a certain design and design is selected:

In the living room, a chest of drawers, in addition to its main function, can serve as a stand for a TV, a large mirror, a picture, or a vase of flowers. In fact, it becomes the center of the composition around which all the other furniture is built. Choose a model that is spectacular, with a set of drawers of various sizes. The lower ones are suitable for storing tablecloths and napkins, the upper narrow compartments are for cutlery and various small items.
For the bedroom, choose a model with deep drawers for storing linen and clothes. At the same time, the chest of drawers can serve as a TV stand, which means it should be located opposite the bed. In a small room, a narrow model with high legs can replace a dressing table; it is enough to complement it with a mirror of a suitable size.
A kitchen chest of drawers should be quite spacious and have compartments of various sizes and depths. The utilitarian function in this case comes to the fore, which is why such products have low, stable legs. A model with niches and shelves is a complete alternative to a dining buffet or wall cabinets.
An environmentally friendly Provence chest of drawers made of natural wood is ideal for a child's room. The product, supplemented with an overhead changing table, will become a place where it will be convenient to change the child’s clothes and carry out hygiene procedures. Deep drawers can be used to store your baby's necessary care items and clothes. The chest of drawers is placed near the crib, in an area protected from drafts.
There is a worthy place for such furniture in the office. For this room, narrow, tall models are selected that fit harmoniously into a small partition. Dresser drawers are used to store filing cabinets, documents, and office supplies.

Features of chests of drawers for TV, types by shape, filling, size

In addition to the design characteristics, you need to pay attention to the stylistic features of the product. If there is other cabinet furniture in the room, all items should look harmonious together. They can be made in the same color scheme, or their surfaces can be decorated with similar decor.

In the living room

In the nursery

In the kitchen

In the hall

In the bedroom

Differences in designs for different rooms

The design of a Provencal chest of drawers largely depends on the purpose and location. Various functional areas of a house or apartment influence its design and purpose.

The purpose of this piece of bedroom furniture is to store things and linen. Therefore, the design usually includes five to six longitudinal drawers, sometimes two more small drawers on top. For easy storage of small items and accessories, the drawers can be divided into many internal sections. To perform the function of a dressing table, the tabletop is complemented by a large wide mirror in an elegant frame, decorated in a Provence-style decor. If there is a lot of things, a tall chest of drawers can be complemented with opening doors. Functioning as a bedside table, this piece of furniture is compact in size, and usually only has one or two small drawers.

In the kitchen, this piece of furniture is designed to store cutlery, napkins, and other serving items. Moreover, its design can consist of many small boxes. If the function of a sideboard is performed, that is, furniture for storing dishes, the chest of drawers is necessarily complemented by glass doors, behind which several shelves are hidden. The shelves can also be open. Moreover, this furniture is quite tall. When placing such furniture in the dining room, the tabletop can serve as a serving table. In addition, furniture for storing wine bottles would be an interesting interior solution. This type of design includes open shelves with special recesses for storing bottles in a horizontal position.

A sideboard for a living room, as a rule, performs more of a decorative function than it has practical value. In this case, the chest of drawers should be small in size, and also be combined with all other pieces of furniture in the living room. Under the window you can place a low, long chest of drawers with two or three drawers or doors. It will expand the area of the window sill to accommodate decorative accessories, and also create a storage system for all sorts of small items in the living room.

A chest of drawers for a hallway should be designed so as not to take up much space, and the tabletop should have enough area to accommodate a small mirror, gloves, keys and small accessories. A chest of drawers made in Provence style is ideal for placement in a children's room, especially for a girl. The design of a children's product should be such as to accommodate a large amount of children's clothing and toys.

The bright decoupage technique will perfectly complement a children's closet, and the presence of sides on the tabletop will make it a changing table.

For your office, you need to choose a cabinet for storing business papers, filing cabinets, and books. It should have a simple design with no frills in appearance. It is better if it is coated with colorless varnish so that the furniture has the color of natural wood. Its design should be such that it is possible to organize business papers, for example, contain many small boxes, the facades of which can be beautifully decorated with information about the contents. Such an example is shown in the photo.

Nuances of choice

To create a stylish, organic Provençal interior, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing furniture. To do this, you need to consider the following recommendations:

furniture should be made only from natural wood. If funds are limited, you can opt for MDF or chipboard, but not PVC;
The size of the furniture must correspond to the area of the room, as well as its functionality and the main purpose of the room. So, a cabinet with glass doors in the hallway or attic would not look very practical;
for a small room, it is recommended to choose multifunctional furniture, for example, a chest of drawers combined with an ironing board, a serving table, a dressing table, or a changing table, as well as a TV stand.

To ensure long-term operation, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the drawer guides. In contrast to the appearance of the furniture, they should be modern. It is best to choose flush-mounted slides that are attached to the bottom of the drawer. This ensures its maximum extension without the risk of distortions or falling out.

What should furniture be like in Provence style?

Household items made in this style are distinguished by a certain lightness and laconicism, reflected in the color scheme. It is dominated by white color, baked milk and lavender. Provence was close to nature and simplicity, so all the interior elements belonging to it were made of natural materials: wood, stone, fabric. As it is commonly defined today, this is eco-style. It is also reflected in the equipment of the room, in the interior items: simple, rather old tables, chairs, cabinets, wrought iron beds, napkins and linen tablecloths - everything creates a unity of design.

Any antique item can be restored, repainted and given a decorative role in the Provence style

Furniture in the Provence style with your own hands, in addition to its main functionality, also plays a decorative role. She must be:

old or aged, with scuffs, chips or traces of wormholes that appear after prolonged use of the furniture;
necessarily - painted with light paint that has lost its shine;
made from natural wood: walnut, oak or chestnut.

DIY antique wooden kitchen cabinet

As for the color scheme, the style requires delicate, pale, somewhat faded shades: