You've taken the next big step in your new French country kitchen with your beautiful French country dining room table and chairs. Your guests will be impressed with your choice! But do you know what to do with that French family room table? You've already spent so much money, and now it's time to make it work to your advantage. Here are some great ideas for setting it off and using it to your advantage:
One of the most useful pieces of furniture in your home is a simple table. It's useful for many reasons, but perhaps the most important reason is that it saves space. So you can easily turn that old French Country dining table into a storage unit that doubles as a table! How amazing would that be? By decorating it with coordinating or country cutlery, a few candles and a vase of flowers, you have turned a piece of furniture into a charming center piece.
Dining room tables tend to be very low to the floor. This creates the impression of a larger space which adds to the sense of space. By adding a raised platform, you create a larger feeling in the room. For something that looks like an antique, try adding some old French writing to the surface. You can also use old French cabinet doors to help the illusion of depth. To prevent a "claude" space, use a low French Country dining table with a dropped crystal top on a shelf.
In the kitchen, the French Country table is especially helpful. As you probably know, French Country is an area focused on the food and how it is prepared. You can create a beautiful atmosphere in the kitchen just by adding one or two of these tables in an area focused on food preparation.
Here are some other ideas for using tables in the French Country style: a breakfast nook surrounded by end tables, a grouping of cookbooks, a coffee table, a wall mounted dish rack, and so on. A side table can help hold up a collection of vases or figurines while adding some interest to the space. It does not have to be a large one, but it should be well chosen to add variety. Flowers and candles can add a lovely touch, but not need to be very decorative. Use a solid wood table with a glass top to keep it simple, but choose one with an interesting or eye catching design.
Wall hangings are another way to add a French Country feel to your room. The wall hangings should be selected with the same care as the table and other accessories. You want them to enhance the space but not seem to overwhelm it. Use paintings or prints with colors that are complimentary to each other and the furnishings that are already in the room. Artwork done in color should be arranged on the wall in a way that will be easy to clean and maintain. Potted plants placed randomly around the room in such a way as to add some color are also an excellent choice.
When choosing the accessories you will use in your French country room, visit my blog and you can get even more creative. One item that would be especially appropriate is a small tea table. Can be paired with wooden or wrought iron serving bowls for comfortable conversation. You can even find beautiful French place mats for place settings. You can dress up a cast-iron pan rack with beautiful artwork or some tables with attractive chairs.
No matter what style or theme you choose, just be sure that it adds to the beauty of the room and not takes away from it. Remember that in a French country home, light colors are most common. So, if you do find yourself with too many dark or heavy fabrics, that would not be a good choice. You might also want to avoid using heavy wallpaper or painting as the base color since it will only make the room seem heavier than it really is.