Basic elements of style
Provence is characterized by slight carelessness, aged furniture, delicate lace curtains, and light textiles with floral patterns.
- Window . In France, windows are always installed in the bathroom, so the Provence style must necessarily contain this element.
- Freestanding clawfoot bathtub . Quite an expensive and not very convenient option, but it is part of the Provence style.
- Light colors, pastel colors . The main ones are blue and pink.
- Handles and faucets should be retro style and made of bronze.
- The furniture is made from solid wood and has legs. They also use milling, decoupage and eliminate sharp corners.
- Discreet decoration, decor in the form of large ceramics, an abundance of textiles.
Provence color scheme
Most often, a Provencal bathroom is decorated in white colors, then the details of the furnishings look more expressive. However, the following colors are often used:
- pastel colors (blue, pink, olive);
- beige, sand;
- pearl, gray.
Provence bathroom: photo in gray tones
Pastel colors have a relaxing effect on the psyche, blue is reminiscent of the color of the sea waves of the province, and soft green is reminiscent of the endless French meadows. The color palette should create an atmosphere of coziness, comfort, and silence. If you still want to use a bright color, then you can use it for an accent detail. It could be a bouquet of flowers or a painting, for example.
Provence bathroom with a bright accent in the form of a bouquet of tulips
Creating a Provence style bathroom in an apartment
| Bathroom element | How to remake it to suit the Provence style |
| Bath | Not everyone has the opportunity to install a bulky clawfoot bathtub in their apartment, so it won’t be a big deal if you replace it with a regular rectangular bathtub. In order to make it in Provence style, you need to cover it with ceramic tiles. You can also install a shower in a small room: the main thing is not to forget about the tiles. |
| Window | In Russian apartments this element is usually not provided, so it can be replaced with a mirror. Let it be large - the size of the window if there was one in the bathroom. In the case of small rooms, you can make mirrored doors for bathroom cabinets. By the way, the mirrors on the doors can be completely replaced with glass: this will also be a reminder of the French window. |
| Washing machine and water heater | These elements of the 21st century must be hidden: either in closets or behind textile curtains. |
| Toilet | It is better to choose a wall-hung toilet: it is easier to clean and it looks more elegant. Also, a toilet with a hanging cistern would look appropriate in the Provence style. |
Wicker baskets should be used for garbage and dirty laundry. They are also suitable for cosmetic accessories.
Adaptation of Provence for an apartment
Let's be honest: it's 2021 outside the window and any classic style is an imitation . Nobody demands from us a historically accurate imitation, and we owe nothing to the style of Provence or France.
Then let's make a bathroom with elements of Provence style and adapt it for an ordinary apartment, where there is no window in the bathroom and the area is small. And we don’t have servants either.
First, we replace the freestanding bathtub with a regular rectangular one and cover it with tiles. This will already make the bathroom suitable for cleaning, will significantly simplify your life and save your budget. By design, the bathroom will not suffer much from this. Can be replaced with a shower.
Because We have a bathroom without a window, but for Provence it would be necessary, mirrors will replace it for us. You can make doors in the form of mirrors within frames. You can even close pipes like this. Well, why not. There is still no France outside the window, let there be a sewer. =)
We are making more closed storage areas to completely hide all items that do not correspond to classical styles.
We hide the washing machine and boiler completely from view, perhaps behind textiles.
We either lower the cabinet floor with the sink completely to the floor, or hang it, or choose one with legs higher so that it can be cleaned underneath.
We choose a wall-hung toilet with an installation - they also come in a classic style. Much more practical than floor-mounted. Read more about the design of bathrooms with toilets.
You can already live with such a bathroom, even if it does not 100% correspond to the Provence style. By the way, if you have a small bathroom, then consider the option of designing it in a Scandinavian style; it is more modern and practical, and is close to Provence in spirit and atmosphere.
How to decorate a bathroom in Provence style in a small apartment
Since this trend prefers spacious rooms, it is cramped in typical city apartments. However, this is not a reason to deny yourself the pleasure of decorating your bathroom in your favorite style. If you resort to certain tricks, even a tiny room will acquire a French flavor.
You will have to give up unnecessary items that do not perform any function. Do not overload the space; it is better to leave only the most necessary furniture. For decoration, it is recommended to choose light shades, since dark ones hide the space. Tiles on the walls or floor should be medium in size with a discreet small pattern or plain.
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Hanging open shelves and cabinets with distinctive finishes will create the right atmosphere. Wicker baskets for linen and cosmetics will complement the recognizable look.
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Even in a small bathroom you can put a tiny ottoman in the main finishing color. In addition to ease of use, it will give the interior a homely feel.
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Plumbing in Provence style
Plumbing complements the overall style picture, so you should choose equipment made from these materials:
- bronze;
- copper;
- brass.
The font can be purchased cast iron or acrylic.
It is best to choose oval shapes. For example, designers advise using oval mirrors or an oval sink. It makes sense to integrate a streamlined washbasin into a wrought-iron shelf or wooden bedside table.
Provencal bathtub with legs
The bath itself is usually placed separately, but here it is important to keep in mind that it is better not to place it very close to the wall: then this space will be very difficult to clean. Provence style also implies a bathtub with legs, but the legs, again, should be of such length that it is convenient to remove dust and dirt under the font.
Copper pipes and aged surfaces will create the overall picture of the Provence style.
Plumbing
The main element of the room is an oval or semicircular bathtub with graceful legs. In spacious rooms it can be installed in the center or on the podium. A shower curtain with a metal frame will fit into the look.
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Round or oval sinks rest on wooden stands with curtains instead of fronts. An option with a console-tabletop is possible. Such designs look very light and airy.
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Despite the fact that this style does not like modern things, it fully allows for the installation of a wall-mounted toilet, provided that the shape is harmoniously selected.
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Decor
A massive chandelier and wall sconces are suitable for lighting. Sconces can have fabric lampshades or glass shades, and a chandelier can have an iron base.
Accessories are very important in this style. Be sure to stock up on linen curtains, wicker baskets and rugs with plant motifs. For convenience, it is worth installing forged hooks and towel holders in the room.
Provence is the style of the French countryside, so it is more than necessary to decorate the bathroom with bouquets of lavender or other wildflowers. Plants in hanging pots are also welcome: it is clear that fresh flowers cannot be collected all year round.
Tip: flowers for decorating a bathroom should be chosen in a classic shape. Their coloring should not be exotic either. Lavender, roses, peonies, hydrangeas, ranunculus, and eustomas are most often chosen for the Provence style.
Don't forget about bottles for hygiene products. The Lefard brand offers a porcelain set of soap dish, shampoo dispenser and toothbrush cup.
Bathroom in Provence style, decorated with copper decor on the shelves
Furniture selection
Furniture should be chosen with curved frames. It’s okay if the surface is covered with cracks and scratches - this is just the Provence style. If the furniture is smooth, it can be artificially aged.
Cabinets must have drawers and hinged doors. Hanging shelves will be very convenient for placing towels or hygiene products, and hangers will be convenient for hanging bathrobes.
You can put a wardrobe or chest of drawers in a spacious bathroom, but they must be made in a retro style. They may have cross frames and raised edges.
Retro chest of drawers in the bathroom in Provence style
Color solutions and decor
The color scheme for the interior of a bathroom in the Provence style is based on soft, pastel colors.
The walls can be painted in warm shades of white, such as milk or ivory. Pale pink or light blue tones also work well.
The color of the flooring materials matches the natural color of the materials from which it is made. So the floor made of natural stone or tiles is painted in terracotta shades.
It is preferable to hang curtains and towels in light colors, for example a small floral pattern. Furniture – just not dark colors.
Bathroom accessories in Provence style are very important. When choosing a mirror, pay attention to antique-style specimens, in bronze or brass frames, oval or round in shape.
Read here! Bathroom from IKEA - review of the best new furniture (90 photos)
Transparent vessels with herbs dried in them will look good. The walls can be decorated with small images in the theme.
- Pond film
Materials for ceilings in bathrooms
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If you plan to place a laundry basket, it should be made of vine.
Finishing
The walls can be painted or plastered: this is the simplest option for moisture-resistant materials.
You should choose a square or “hog” tile (this is an elongated tile that imitates the size of a brick).
In a Provence style shower you can use mosaics, and it would also be appropriate to cover the bathroom walls with wallpaper.
The ceiling should simply be whitewashed, and you can also decorate it with false beams, as if it were a country house. The floor should be made of wood, or decorated with plain tiles from tiles or porcelain stoneware.
It is important not to forget that wooden wall panels reduce space, but light tiles, on the contrary, increase it.
What materials to choose for finishing the bathroom
There may be several options, so finding the optimal solution will not be difficult. It is worth proceeding from the characteristics of the room, budget and chosen design. Examples of suitable materials:
- Ceramic tiles are ideal for wall surfaces around the bathtub, sink and shower. Often entire walls are finished with it. When choosing, you should give preference to matte or semi-matte options in a vintage style. The shape can be different - from a classic rectangle or square to polygonal elements, mosaics, etc.
- You can use marble, tiles, natural or artificial stone - anything that suits the Mediterranean style. Interiors with brick-like tiles look good; they can be either light or quite dark, if it looks appropriate.
- Often part of the walls is painted or wallpapered. It is important to choose an option that is not afraid of changes in humidity and allows you to wipe the walls with a damp cloth to maintain cleanliness.
- Ceramic is also most often used for flooring, but you can choose more original solutions, such as a moisture-resistant laminate that imitates natural materials, or wood with a special water-repellent impregnation.
- The easiest way is to use a stretch ceiling. Matte satin canvases are best suited; they fit perfectly into the style and can be of any shade, which provides freedom in design.
By the way!
You can order a suspended ceiling with patterns or a whole picture of a Mediterranean landscape; this is an interesting solution that can become the main highlight of the decor.
