Over the past few months, I’ve saved countless home décor images on Pinterest (and if you enjoy French and Parisian inspiration, feel free to follow me there for more). Not that I’m currently renovating my apartment here in Amsterdam (although, truth be told, that would be one of my dreams) but I recently realized that many of the images I had saved seemed to gravitate toward the same aesthetic: French country style, sometimes also called French cottage style.
And without quite realizing it at first, this is also the direction my own Amsterdam home has slowly been evolving toward over the past few months. An aesthetic that feels rustic yet chic. Simple and unpretentious. Filled with natural materials: wood, linen, glass, ceramics, copper, and brass. A touch of vintage, but never kitsch. The kind of interior that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere and that, to me, often evokes the charm of grandmother’s houses, countryside homes where everything feels convivial and where one immediately feels at ease.
Amsterdam, and the Netherlands more broadly, have influenced this shift more than I expected. Kitchens here often feel more rustic than Parisian ones, and because winters can be long and sometimes harsh, homes and apartments tend to have a naturally cozy and comforting quality that I’ve come to appreciate more and more.
This article is therefore a blend of different European influences which I hope will inspire you and perhaps give you a few ideas for bringing the charm of a French country home into your own space, wherever you may live. My inspirations draw from several places: the interior of Claude Monet’s house in Giverny, the Parisian atelier of Astier de Villatte in the 5th arrondissement near Place Maubert, the architecture and interiors typical of Amsterdam houses, as well as the timeless charm of traditional British cottages.
Together, these influences create a rather particular universe, one that I hope will inspire you as much as it inspires me. Below, I’ve gathered some of the elements that, in my eyes, capture the spirit of a timeless French country home, room by room.
This article is unsponsored. If you choose to buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission, always at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love and use myself. Merci.
The Kitchen
I wanted to begin with the kitchen, which is probably my second favorite room after the bedroom. Below are a few rustic-chic elements that I particularly love, and that you can easily incorporate into your own kitchen to create a French country atmosphere.
- A beautiful Delft tile backsplash
- Wooden kitchen utensils
- Wicker baskets to store kitchen linens
- Ceramic pitchers and rustic pottery
- Copper cookware displayed on the wall or hanging above the stove
- Linen kitchen towels
- Wooden cutting boards
- A soap dish with authentic Savon de Marseille (or L’Occitane’s Verbena soap, my favorite!)
- Retro-style kitchen faucets and a ceramic farmhouse sink
- Terracotta floor tiles or a classic black-and-white tiled floor
- A traditional range cooker
These simple elements are often what give French country kitchens their timeless and welcoming charm.
The Living & Dining Room
Below are a few elements that, to me, help create the warm and timeless atmosphere of a French country living and dining room.
- Small table lamps with vintage fabric lampshades
- Sheer linen curtains to softly filter the light
- Old books or beautiful new books displayed on a coffee table or bookshelf
- Antique or flea-market furniture pieces
- A linen slipcovered sofa
- An antique wooden coffee table
- A classic Thonet bentwood chair
- Simple white ceramic plates (in the spirit of Astier de Villatte) or vintage tableware found at flea markets and brocantes
- Antique silver cutlery or silverware
- Fresh flowers (tulips or daffodils, for example) arranged in simple ceramic vases
- Still-life paintings inspired by the Dutch masters
- A vintage brass chamber candlestick with a handle
The Bedroom
For the bedroom, I imagined a space that feels calm, intimate, and slightly nostalgic, the kind of room where natural materials, soft light, and a few carefully chosen objects create an atmosphere that invites rest and quiet dreams.
- A beautiful rattan headboard
- A small antique wooden bedside table found at a flea market
- A retro-inspired bedside lamp with a soft fabric lampshade for a warm, diffused light, or small porcelain pendant lamps
- Light linen curtains or sheer cotton drapes that softly filter the morning light
- White cotton sheets, embroidered or finished with delicate lace
- Bedcovers in linen, cotton, velvet, or even crochet
- Floral tapestry cushions
- A soft linen or wool throw casually draped at the end of the bed
- Small framed artworks, paintings, or ex-votos displayed on the walls
- Toile de Jouy wallpaper for a romantic French country touch
- A simple ceramic vase with fresh or dried flowers
The Bathroom
The Bathroom
For the bathroom, I imagined a space that feels simple, fresh, and elegant. The kind of place where natural materials, soft light, and a few timeless objects turn everyday rituals into small moments of pleasure.
- A classic ceramic or porcelain sink
- Retro-style brass or nickel faucets
- Terracotta tiles or a classic black-and-white tiled floor
- Vintage-inspired wall sconces that cast a soft and flattering light
- Wooden bathroom cabinets or storage furniture
- Beautifully scented soaps, either liquid soap in a glass dispenser or solid soap resting on a simple white ceramic soap dish
- Soft white bath towels or colored towels, thick and plush, sometimes embroidered with initials
- Wicker baskets for storing laundry or extra towels
- Glass apothecary bottles for soaps, lotions, or bath salts
- A few elegant perfume bottles displayed on tray
- A vintage wooden stool or small chair
- A small antique mirror with a wooden or brass frame
- A few oil paintings, small portraits, or framed artworks on the walls
- A few candles to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere
Whether in a countryside cottage, a Parisian apartment, or a small home somewhere else in the world, I’ve always believed that creating a beautiful interior is less about perfection and more about atmosphere. Natural materials, a few carefully chosen objects, soft light, fresh flowers, and pieces collected over time often bring far more charm than a perfectly styled room.
Perhaps this is what I love most about the spirit of French country homes; their simplicity, their warmth, and the feeling that life is meant to be lived slowly within their walls. And wherever you may live, I hope these ideas inspire you to bring a little of that charm into your own home.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy exploring my Pinterest board dedicated to French country style, where I’ve gathered many of the interiors and details that inspired this piece.
