French Country Outdoor Lighting Ideas
Published 12/15/23 | ©baileystreethome.com
Published 12/15/23 | ©baileystreethome.com
Embracing the softer side of farmhouse styles, French Country style planted its roots in France in the 1600’s. Around then, wealthy residents in prominent urban areas favored the Baroque style of architecture, leaning toward oversized furniture with ornate embellishments and geometric motifs. French residents in the rural countryside weren’t so much for the ornateness of the Baroque pieces, and instead simplified the pieces and used them in their homes… and French Country Style was born.
We owe King Louis XIV a little thanks for renovating the Palace of Versailles. With an unlimited budget, he employed the most skilled craftsmen in the land to design the most upscale and luxurious products in the world – truly furniture fit for a King. As the years passed, the emerging middle class in France adopted this infamous French style, modifying it to be a little less embellished. The resulting blend of simplicity and ornate detail (along with the mixing of patterns and scale) created a decorative style that was sophisticated and yet somehow relaxed.
Two hundred years later you’ll notice a new, hugely popular Rococo Style is all the rage. Characterized by lightness, elegance and a vivacious use of natural forms to create ornamentation, the Rococo style promised a lighter and more intimate design motif. French Country style evolved to exude an even more relaxed feel, appropriating simplified versions of Rococo designs to adorn rural areas. You’ll find that furniture and furnishings of the time featured the simplified Rococo designs, using curved lines, streamlined shapes and pastel colors to bring a feeling of rich relaxation to the countryside.
Today you’ll find French country style has evolved into a more feminine, softer style which uses rustic pieces, a mix of wood tones, light colors, and elegant light fixtures to capture the essence of old-world French charm. Because the design came from France, you can’t get away from a touch of glam in classic French country designs. You’ll find a rustic, authentic wooded table lit by an amazing crystal chandelier, resulting in a look that is both comfortable and upscale at the same time.
Although you’ll find that American country, French country, and farmhouse styles all favor the use of natural and rustic materials with neutral colors and patterns, French country style is the easiest to identify with its use of French-style furniture, chandeliers, and elegant décor. You’ll find that both American Country and farmhouse designs are much more casual, featuring oversized furniture with a focus on comfort.
Lighting was an important part of the design parlance even back in the 1600’s and was prominent in the French country movement. Chandeliers were the belles of the ball back then, with Crystal chandeliers proving the basic lighting function wrapped in a brilliantly refracted array of crystal elegance. Because French country homes often had small windows, the inclusion of crystal helped to disperse much needed rays of light throughout the home, and who doesn’t love strong rays of light playfully split by the refraction of fine crystal?
The emergence of white wrought iron (especially in sconces) quickly embodied the entire French country movement, adorning houses with the glam of a Parisian residence combined with the utility of countryside living. French country outdoor light fixtures followed this trend of using white wrought iron to add lighting for the safety and security of their guests without the decorative heaviness that classic black wrought iron brings to the table.
Modern variations of French country outdoor lighting make liberal use of two common materials to the period – natural wood and man-made iron. These materials are frequently left unfinished so that over time they develop the fine, well-worn patina that makes your fixture look like it’s been at home there for a hundred years. In fact, some of our favorite pieces are finished to look as though the patina has already taken root (so you don’t have to wait for years for yours to achieve the same effect).
Elements of French country outdoor lighting:
This scene hammers home many of the elements that make French country outdoor living possible… You’ve seen houses made of inlaid stone before, but the gently curving wall and tan paint tones add a feminine touch. The furniture selection (natural wood, unstained) contains delicate curved scrollwork that is echoed in the beautiful outdoor lanterns. Also note the differing wood finishes on the doors and furniture – typical in French outdoor patio scenes.
The scrollwork on the Bailey Street Home 2499-BEL-1664846, both as the attaching arm and the details on the glass, are classic French designs echoed through their country homes. Starting with a strong cast aluminum base for longevity (and lack of rust), our craftsmen have layered on a brilliant Hazelnut Bronze finish with an unexpected richness and depth. Finishing off this French country outdoor lighting masterpiece is a special champagne waterglass that adds a slight yellow tone with dramatic shadows from the subtle dimpling of the glass.
Outdoor wall lighting serves two purposes: The most important is to add safety and security to your home by ensuring well-lit walkways while enhancing the beauty of your home at the same time. When considering which wall mounted French country outdoor light fixtures may be perfect for your home, check the position of the light coming off of the fixture when it would be mounted (some are mounted at the top, middle and bottom of the fixture) … the light it exudes should be about head high.
At the center of the Bailey Street Home 2499-BEL-4228829 you have intertwining curved lines that bring attention to the center of the design. Even the cover on the mount has delicate details crafted into it, creating the soft and delicate details that are embodied in French country outdoor light fixtures.
French country has been called a style of “simple excess.” Sounds good to us… you can easily attain this look by layering beautiful plants, comfortable fabrics and rustic furnishings to create the iconic look you’re going for. Take that time honored rattan couch, cover it with ruffled linens and plush pillows in simple floral designs and you’ve taken one step closer to actually being in the French countryside. Add foliage that has both broad leaves and fine-cut leaves to create the eclectic jumble that is French country.
The Bailey Street Home 218-BEL-731920 we’ve selected here is a very substantial French country outdoor light. When a light fixture is crafted from solid brass (as this one is) it has a strength, an aura around it that lets people know it’s a substantial piece of art right there on your very front step. Choose your finish from Black, Charcoal, Bronze, Antique Brass and Vintage Pewter to match your décor, and you’re good-to-go.
Up until now, when we’ve been talking French country design you were thinking, “old,” right? That doesn’t have to be the case. This gorgeous French country home incorporates the same color palette, simple design and “just right” details to create an up-to-date design for the ages. Incorporating multiple colored hardscaping (light steps and dark gray paving bricks) is and simply extravagant outdoor lighting are both hallmarks of a proper French country home, no matter what the age.
The Bailey Street Home Chatham Elms Outdoor Wall Lantern takes the classic wall cylinder design and adds the many special touches that makes this a modern French country masterpiece. The up-and-down cylinder is fluted, with the sider sections at the ends. The metal sticks extending up and down are of varying lengths and held together with a banded collar that is reminiscent of the sticks it contains.
Look at the gorgeous details on the huge iron door that leads to this home. With molded trim surrounding the door that echoes the lines of the door itself, the flowing curves bring the softer side to a gorgeous French country entryway. The light gray colored brick on the curved entryway also lends itself to a more feminine side and helps to clearly define the entry as French Country.
If your French country home is a massive front door (as this one), it’s no surprise that you’ll need massive outdoor lights to go with them. The artisans who created the Bailey Street Home 218-Bel-1653464 crafted this 32” tall, 11.5” diameter French country outdoor light out of hand-forged solid brass (it weighs in at 16 pounds!). From the uniquely curved scroll design to the multiple leaves adorning the façade, the bronze finish gives it a stately look.
We can’t get enough of the French country look – the flowing curves, subdued decorations and muted color schemes can make you feel regal and relaxed at the same time. Use a few of the ideas we’ve presented here to make your outdoor space just as gorgeous as your indoor space. Use of wrought iron, gorgeous French country lighting fixtures and a liberal sprinkling of just the right flora combine to create a warm, friendly atmosphere that just screams, “Welcome!”
Finding the perfect French country outdoor lighting on Bailey Street Home is easy… but the thing you’ll love most about working with us is the incredible factory direct pricing! We save money (no middlemen) and pass all those savings on to you… just ask our customers, they couldn’t be more thrilled!