The understated elegance, warm atmosphere and bespoke charm created by French decor create such a distinct harmony that you may need to pardon your French. And if you want to give your bedroom a little ‘je ne sais quoi’, then the muted colours, extravagant lighting, touches of gilding and natural materials of antique French style will prove to be the wow-factor and a worthwhile investment.

Inspired by 100s of years of culture, history, landscape and lifestyle, there’s no wonder French-style decor has remained a staple in both modern and antique interior design trends for centuries. 

Whether you wish to add a touch of an antique French theme to your boudoir or combine old and new French design trends, The Crown Collection is here to help you explore the best of hand-picked antique French furniture finds from beds to mirrors and everything in between: 

It’s all about the bed

As the most important and essential piece of furniture in the room, the bed must be the hero piece; demanding attention and shaping the visual theme and story of the space.

The antique French style focuses on detail, design, decorative elements and ornate shape – key requirements in your quest to furnish your space with a suitable bed. 

Choose between an elaborate and ornately carved French oak bed bleached to provide a natural wood finish and fit with the subtle poise of French flair or a dramatically oversized mirror headboard that not only creates a dramatic visual focal point but also adds depth to the bed and additional light to the room. The Crown Collection will quickly become your one-stop emporium where a curated range of French beds and headboards are ready to fit your design brief.

And if you really want to up the ante and soften the space with a sense of aged authenticity, then a handmade French Aubusson carpet is a desirable investment. 

Linen that subscribes to a pale, neutral and light colour palette will complement an antique headboard with a feminine charm. 

For a bold and innovative statement, mix and match a similarly coloured antique dressing table or vintage armoire with a modern dresser, blending the old and new to create a personalised decor story. (But be sure to keep with the subtle French theme of wood with a washed, bleached, distressed or aged finish in a lighter tone).

It’s all about the occasional chairs

Every French-styled bedroom deserves a touch of sophistication and whimsy, and what better way to add functional versatility and a dramatic dose of ‘je ne sais quoi’ than with a couple of occasional chairs.

A pair of Louis XVI chairs will add a distinctive grandeur to your bedroom. And whether they’re placed at the window or alongside a coffee table at the foot of the bed, these antique occasional chairs can serve to provide an intimate conversation vignette in a larger room.

If you have less space to play with, perhaps consider a smaller, but equally stylish, pair of French-style gilded armchairs or a pair of 19th century French giltwood bergeres. 

It’s all about the bling

The understated and gentle elegance of French style means that a room can never be too gaudy or over-the-top with excessive shine. But there are a few exceptions. 

Just like French women who are adept at jazzing up their classic understated fashion attire with a shiny necklace, bracelet or handbag, a hand-picked antique French chandelier will quickly become the much-needed ‘jewellery’ accessory in  any bedroom that dreams of being French. 

Gilding is another simple way of adding shine and appropriate glam to an otherwise bland, neutral, grey and white French colour scheme. A golden patina – in the form of gilded antiques – is rumoured to have become the LBD (little black dress) of interior design. As alluring as it was in the 18th century, gilded French antiques have never lost their appeal. Choose to give a mirror, occasional chair, headboard or coffee table some classy French bedazzle with The Crown Collection’s exclusive gilding service (in either silver or gold).

It’s all about the mirrors

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? The answer is clearly a bedroom with the refined elegance of French-styled gilded mirrors. 

Select something tall and stately or small and charming – there’s little that can go wrong with adding a light-reflecting French mirror to your bedroom. Alternatively, a small hand-held mirror can give your dresser a fairy-tale charm.

Whether you group a few French-style mirrors together in a modern space to create a dramatic collage effect that takes the place of artwork, or hang a round, oval, square or rectangular mirror individually, antique mirrors always echo French sophistication.

The Crown Collection’s restoration team would be delighted to stain, paint, French polish, bleach or hand-gild a mirror of your choice to suit your specifications.

It’s all about the accessories

Once you’ve purchased all the larger pieces of furniture for your French-styled bedroom, why not elevate the French old-world charm look with a few classy antique silverware accessories? 

Placing a bunch of flowers into a silver teapot or water jug is a playful touch to add personality, or splash out with a curated selection of silver trays – which you can hang on the wall to seamlessly create a cohesive French-style aesthetic.  It’s not even necessary to use the plated or sterling silver items for their original utilitarian purpose. Give antique silverware a new outlook on life with a fresh perspective.

Find it all at The Crown Collection

Add a splash of bespoke French ambiance to your bedroom with our wide selection of antique French furniture and accessories from our online store or Bryanston-based showroom. 

Visit the Crown Collection to give your bedroom some French flair.