How I Modernized My French Style Living Room with 4 Simple Updates
In this post: Are you looking to update a French style living room but don’t want to spend a fortune? Here are 4 steps to a transformed room.⇒
French Style Living Room
(*Note: this post was first written a couple of years ago and the living has since evolved further. You’ll find a link to the latest update below. However, for the value of showing how the update began, the process it followed, along with the seasonal decor in the space, I felt the post was still relevant to share as is.)
Did you ever feel utterly certain about something you love and then suddenly begin to question it, wondering if your taste is out of date?
This has been going through my mind a lot lately and it’s motivated me to begin updating many of my rooms. While bigger projects have been at the forefront of my mind, I’ve also been refining the living room in the background and today I’m revealing how I modernized the space. I would still consider it a French style living room, but to me it feels younger and fresher. Even better, I did it in 4 simple steps and only changed one piece of furniture which I moved in from another room
The new colors in my living room made this the perfect time to infuse it with a delicate dose of fall color. But first… let’s look at what changed in the room.
1. Paint
Without question, the single biggest change and the easiest to make, was updating the wall color. I’ve been slowly changing over most of my rooms to this neutral Tapestry Beige and the difference it made in this room especially, cannot be overstated.
(For a look at what the space looked like before, you can check it out HERE or when we first moved in, HERE. To see where it has evolved to since, check out this post.)
The yellow walls that were previously here are what felt most dated, and the antique pieces that pepper the space feel far less fussy against this gentle backdrop. I chose pale pumpkins to work with the new color feeling and offer just a hint at the season. It’s quite a contrast to how I decorated last fall with richer colors for a different look.
2. Cream tufted ottoman
I wanted the room to be mostly white and griege and when I got a new settee for our home office, I moved the tufted ottoman (that was previously there) into this space. It maintains the French style that I still love, yet the cream on cream palette is what feels modern to me.
I love that the neutral palette makes it easy to add color and the oversized gourds are fun tossed about.
I chose to leave color in the aubusson rug, as the pinks and beiges are soft and pretty. The plan is to recover the throne chairs so they, too, are light and neutral, but for now, I’m not hating them, as they’re a bit camouflaged by the soutache linen pillows.
The petite side table is a place holder for the one I’ll be painting, as this one usually resides on the landing of my stairway. Playful velvet pumpkins mirror the color in the rug and are sweet and delicate surrounded by all that light.
3. Linen drapery panels
This was another ‘biggie’, in terms of making quite an impact. The existing window coverings had come with the house and were grand and heavy in lined bronze silk. They were beautiful, but they didn’t go with my light and airy vision. Instead I switched to washed linen panels with gilded rods that I really love.
4. Feminine painting
I struggled with this one for quite a while, until I found the piece that was just right, and it wound up being one if my favorite changes. I wanted to swing the room a little more toward the pinks and away from the yellows, and I love the painted dresses that I’ve seen popping up around. The one I found is perfect for my dominant wall. (And yes, I will be moving the sconces which is why I didn’t bother to center them. I have something else planned for this space and I’m looking forward to sharing it… ;-)).
I also added in my favorite fall flower and I’ve been looking high and low for them for weeks! I finally found these gorgeous dahlias and I knew they’d be just right for the room. I wish I could keep them in here all year long, as they comprise just the perfect mix of colors for my updated French style living room. But one of the things about seasonal decorating is that if the season didn’t end, perhaps you wouldn’t appreciate it as much.
Decorating a room is an ever evolving effort and I’m sure this space will continue to change. But I feel this recent transformation is a pretty significant one and one that has brought me another step closer to my vision of a modern French Country home.
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
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Beautiful tour, Lory. I love all your updates. That new painting is such a better fit over the sofa and the drapery rods are gorgeous.
Thank you so much, Kim!! It definitely feels more like me… 🙂
Really lovely. The neutrals with soft shades and metallics work so well together and have so much more life then all the white on white on white that’s shown everywhere. Love the details!
Thank you, Erika! Yes, I always need to have a little bling, even if it’s with a white backdrop… 😉
This is very nice. I thought I miss the yellow tones, but I don’t. Lovely as always!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!! It’s funny how strongly I once felt about the yellow and now I feel it was the thing that had to go. That’s the beauty of paint. It’s so easy and inexpensive to change.
I just love the difference your paint has made in all your spaces! And you’re so right – the dahlias would be perfect in this room all year! That is a flower that I rarely buy and now seeing how pretty they are, I’m wondering why?!
I’m so glad you could join us Lory! Happy fall!
Sheila
xo
Thanks, Sheila! I know, I discovered how much I love dahlias like a year or so ago and wondered why it took me so long to realize… 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous!!! I love this room. The rug is gorgeous too wish I could find one like it. Again, gorgeous, beautiful job.
Thank you for the kind words, Candy!!
What a beautiful and relaxing room! I love the soft neutrals – and the new paint and curtains do lighten it up – just gorgeous! Can’t wait to see what you do with the sconce wall!
Thanks, Barbara! I better get on that… 😉 (I’ve had them for months already… lol).
Love the paint color ( as well as everything else! ho makes the paint?
Thank you!! It’s Benjamin Moore.
Each of you ladies are awesome and beautiful homes
Thank you Norma!!
I just love the rug! Is it a one of a kind find? I also love the painting!
Thank you, Eileen! I bought the rug many years ago. It’s not vintage, so I wouldn’t say one of a kind. It was from a typical rug dealer that carries imported rugs.
Lory, what beautiful updates you’ve made ! That gorgeous tufted ottoman had me at hello 😉 So fun doing this Fall tour with you again!
xoxo
Kim & Lacey
Where did you buy the pretty white serving bowl with the silver asparagus handles? It is the perfect size. Thank you.
Thank you for your inquiry and kind words! You can read all about the platter in this post and find all the details there: https://designthusiasm.com/grape-harvest-decor-tablescape/
Hi Lory,
You leave me with such inspiration when I visit. Recently, my husband decided to give me his front room! He wants to move his theme upstairs and trade me my small solarium with his beautiful salt water fish tanks. What an impression that will leave someone coming through the front door! lol
A little like you, it took me about 3 years to decide what theme I wanted my kitchen. I love blue, so will accent the kitchen in soft blues with a very soft dove grey on the walls which now will extend to the front room. Now I begin looking once more for inspiration and here you are showing your front room! My husband really likes your fireplace from another post I shared with him and while he was not crazy about the light colors, he really appreciated the textures you used to warm the room up. He also found it funny about if your hubby did not like the lowered bathroom counters, there were 2 more bathrooms upstairs. He laughed gleefully at your humor.
Thank you for generously sharing your style, taste and talent with us. I really appreciate it and draw so much from your journey. Now when I think of Earl Grey, I think of you. ;o)
Thank you also for taking time out reading our post and answering back. Have a wonderful week!
Love the room updates! Is the couch fabric a original fabric? Where did you get it? Thanks!
Thank you!! Yes, it’s from Ethan Allen from many years ago… 🙂
Oh my goodness Lory. I love your style and look forward to your posts and ideas. But that gorgeous coffee table. I’m swooning. Thank you for this lovely post. Cindy
OOOOh my gosh, this is just gorgeous Lory. May I please ask where you got the sofa and the drapery ? This is so beautiful. I love everything about this room. Update is what I need to do also but I feel like I dont know where to even start. Your furniture is gorgeous, thank you for sharing this with all of us out here.
Thank you so much, Rosemarie! The sofa is from Ethan Allen, but it’s at least 10 years old. The drapery is new, though and it’s from Restoration Hardware. It’s the washed belgian linen drapery panels in the bisque color.
Lovely. Can you please share the source of your drapery panels and the gorgeous rods
The panels are from Restoration Hardware – washed belgian linen in Bisque. Need to look up the rods.
Lovely updates, I also would like to know the source for the drapery panels.
The panels are from Restoration Hardware – washed belgian linen in Bisque.
lovely! Just what I have been looking for. Can you please tell me what color the wall color is and who makes it?
Thank you! Yes, it’s Tapestry Beige from Benjamin Moore.
Beautiful gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing this post.
Thanks for sharing awesome collection of decorative ideas.
Keep posting great content.
Fun ideas on the Small Living Room piece that I can maybe DYI. Thanks
I love the touches of gold/bronze for metals, been seeing a lot of black for years with the farmhouse style, it is refreshing to see some softer metals!
Such good ideas and I can’t wait to incorporate them into my decor!
Hey! Thanks for sharing this helpful information..
Hello! This update is lovely and I found your post after I did a search for Tapestry Beige paint. I’ll be painting my living room this colour soon. The curtains you picked are just what I want as well. I don’t see a lot of information about them, can you link them or give me any more details about their fabric or construction? They blend beautifully and look so nice and full.
Thank you for the kind words, and for alerting me that then drapery panels are missing from the resource list. I’ve added them in now, but you can find them here: https://rstyle.me/+ZOtMT1GIgNpM9CqwW3w2PA
This is a lovely change and I’m happy you kept the rug it is beautiful. Those pumpkins are adorable, I bet they make you smile each time you pass by them.
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for your emails. I smile when I read them because it seams you are reading my mind with ideas I need help with.
I love your rooms and inspiration.
Christine Tressler
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much!!