French country style is defined more by a feel than specific design features. Airy and welcoming, rustic and comfortable without being ostentatious, rooms created with this sensibility simply “feel” right, with careful attention to 18th century detail less important than the home’s atmosphere, form and function. Even thrift shop or “shabby-chic” pieces can look right at home in a French country living room.
That being said, there are certainly defining characteristics of French country sofas. Solid, lighter-colored wood frames are common; the wood is more likely to have a natural or distressed finish rather than a glossy one. Of course, natural wood is the most desirable and authentic choice – as well as the most expensive. Many reproductions, though, are manufactured using MDF or similar materials and are a budget-friendly option.
Whitewashed wood was popular during the period and remains a staple of French country furniture, including couches. You may also find some rustic sofas designed in the country style for sale today will feature a darker wood. These sofas make up for their lack of authenticity by providing a beautiful counterpoint to the muted light tones traditionally used in French rustic décor.
A French country sofa will commonly feature scallops or soft curves on the arms and the back of the couch, which may crafted in a highback or wingback shape. Legs are usually cabriole-style, curved outward at the feet and inward where they attach to the frame. Sedate and detailed carvings are a regular feature on the legs and frame base, often in flower patterns.
Full upholstery for furnishings had just become popular in the 1700s so French country sofas will be completely upholstered. In keeping with the light and sophisticated approach of the style, expect to see luxurious fabrics like linen (or more recent cotton/linen blends) used for cushions and side/back upholstery. They are likely to be display rustic motifs like toile, with scenes featuring farm animals, birds, flowers or discrete geometric patterns, in muted colors or shades of white, cream or beige.
Jessica Zernike Category Curator 
Emelie Upholstered Sofa
Old-fashioned take on a simple sofa made out of distressed wood with a weathered coat of grey paint. The seat and back of the sofa are made out of velvet material in a grey colour, providing a complementing look.
Eleanor Standard Settee
Vintage approach to an old-fashioned settee made in a French style, making it a perfect replacement for a living room sofa. The settee is fitted with a thick seat cushion and a tufted back, all made in beige colour.
Adger Wing Loveseat
A chic sofa with a wooden frame and angular legs in mid browns. Removable seat cushions, rolled arms, a beautifully button tufted wingback are foam padded and covered in beige linen. Black nailhead trims are along a bottom edge and on arm fronts.
Milieu Classic French Sofa
A chic 3-seat sofa in the antique French style. An oak wood frame has an antiqued finish in browns, gently curved lines and low-raised ledges at full length. Seats, a back, arm pads, pillows are foam padded and covered in plain beige-grey linen.
Emelie Settee
Traditional design for an old-fashioned loveseat couch with a contemporary twist. The frame made out of bright birch wood with a distressed coat of white paint contrasts the modern, gray upholstery made out of cotton.
Anfel Loveseat
Vintage look for an old-fashioned loveseat couch, made out of bright and light pine wood with a subtle coat of weathered white paint around the frame, which nicely matches with the striped beige upholstery.
A two-piece set of living room furniture consisting of a larger sofa and a smaller loveseat. Both pieces are made out of walnut wood frame with a distressed coat of white paint and white upholstery made out of cotton.
French style for a country-looking high back linen sofa, perfect for a dining bench replacement. The sofa is made out of oak wood with a distressed coat of white paint and has a cotton upholstery in a beige color.
Old-fashioned take on a stylish, French-themed country two-seater sofa made out of weathered oak wood with a distressed coat of white paint and upholstered in a cotton fabric in a matching light beige color.
Vintage look for an elegant, French country styled sofa made out of a wooden frame with a white-washed, weathered coat of white paint. The couch is upholstered with a cotton material in a beige color and is fitted with two throw pillows.
Sophisticated design for an antique, old-fashioned French-style country sofa, made out of oak wood with a distressed coat of white paint on the frame, nicely matching with the thick seat cushion made in a white color.
An adorable French country style woody sofa with black angular legs. It features a high-profiled gently arched backrest with a wavy top edge and low rolled out arms with nailhead trims. Upholstery is of light beige linen with white monograms motifs.
A classy French country style sofa having a woody frame with a distressed finish in browns. It features curved lines of legs, aprons, a wingback and arms. Upholstery is of beige fabric outside and off-white on inner surfaces, a seat and pillows.
A luxury French country style sofa with a woody frame in browns. It features curved lines of carved legs, top rails of arms and of a back (with oval finials), a ladder design of sides, turned stretchers. Upholstery is of plain snow-white fabric.
A chic French country style sofa with a woody frame finished in grey. It features turned tapered legs, subtle carvings on edges, same height full arms and a backrest. The frame, removable seats and vertically grooved back are covered in grey fabric.
Embodying perfectly well the glamour and chic of the French cottage style, this living room set will bring a bit of classic refinement to the space. It comprises a loveseat sofa with two armchairs and an ottoman/coffee table.
Embodying well the shabby chic or French cottage style, this ornamental sofa is designed for 3 people. It enchants with its intricate details, like ornately carved legs or armrests. Upholstered with beige linen.
A French-looking country sofa with a frame made out of white-washed oak wood with a distressed coat of light gray paint. The sofa is upholstered in a cotton fabric in a gray color and has two matching throw pillows.
French design for a vintage, country style sofa for living rooms with a frame made out of solid wood with a gray coat of paint. The sofa is upholstered in a cotton fabric in a beige color, decorated with matching throw pillows.
Embodying perfectly the French cottage style, this lovely wooden sofa will bring in warmth and sunshine of the Southern France straight to your living room. Upholstered in a soft cotton blend, measures 5.4" L x 26.2" W x 33.9" H.
Enchanting with its white curved silhouette, this wooden antique sofa with soft cushioning will be a stylish proposition for all refined, classic interiors. Ornately carved wood emphasizes the unique character of the item.
This leather upholstered sofa combines formal lines with textural grained leather, some jute upholstery on the back and a distressed sage green oak frame. It provides the essence of the French cottage style.
A pretty French country style sofa for two. A woody frame is finished in beiges. Its 6 paw legs, aprons, arm fronts and arched backrest feature curved lines and grooving. The frame, a thick removable seat, a backrest are covered in white fabric.
A classy French country style sofa (for 3) with an off-white finished woody frame and turned tapered front legs. Its backrest and thick seat are beautifully button tufted. Sloped panel arms have carved edges. Upholstery is of plain off-white fabric.
A chic French country style sofa with low beige turned tapered wooden feet. It has a thick long removable seat, same height low button tufted arms (with brass nailhead trims on fronts) and a back with rolled out top edges, white fabric upholstery.
Traditional approach to a large, French-style provincial sofa, upholstered with a combination of fabric and leather materials in a beige color with a tufted pattern and finished with a set of decorative throw pillows.
Country style for a French provincial high-back sofa, which doubles as a classy dining bench. The sofa is made out of walnut wood with a white-washed finish and is upholstered with a fabric material in a beige color.
French style for a country, Louis the XV sofa made out of oak wood with a distressed oyster white coat of paint on the frame. The sides and the back of the sofa are fitted with a fabric upholstery and a thick seat cushion.
Vintage design for an old-fashioned, elegant sofa couch with a set of wooden legs made out of white-washed wood. The sofa is upholstered in a cotton material in a beige color with a tufted pattern on the back.
An elegant French country style sofa with a blue wooden frame. It has angular legs, tall round upright tapered upwards posts joined by a top frame, flat arms. A split backrest is covered in grey fabric with a diamond pattern, seats - in plain grey.
A chic French country style sofa of wood with a bit worn finish in grey . The whole frame features grooving, arm fronts and 6 upright turned tapered legs - gently carved. The frame, a backrest and removable cushions are covered in darker grey fabric.
Combining bright wood and high-quality, white linen upholstery, this beautiful sofa adds vintage elegance to any living room. Hand crafted of sturdy oak in a slightly distressed whitewash finish. Measures 35.5" high x 85" wide x 28" deep.
Embodying the charm and warmth of the French country style, this Sage Moss curved back sofa enchants with its ornamental, curvy silhouette and beautiful pale blue upholstery.
This French country style sofa catches the attention with its beige, linen upholstery and the characteristic red stripe running across. Ornamental framing evokes associations with the glamorous Louis XVI style.
A chic French country style woody sofa with a weathered finish in browns. A frame features curved lines of all elements, subtle grooving and scrolls. A rectangular seat, an arched back and sloped arms are covered in plain grey fabric on both sides.
A classy French country style woody sofa having a distressed finish in light browns with golden undertones. Six upright turned tapered fluted legs, a horizontal back, sloped arms are adorned with subtle carvings. Upholstery is of light grey linen.
French design for a vintage sofa with a frame made out of solid oak with a white-washed, distressed finish. The sofa is upholstered in a beige-colored cotton fabric and has a plethora of throw pillows on it.
A shabby chic sofa made in a French country style with a frame carved out of solid wood with a dark coat of brown paint. The sofa is fitted with cotton upholstery in a cream color and has four decorative throw pillows on top.
Antique take on a French provincial sofa made out of walnut wood with a white-washed finish on the frame. The sofa is upholstered with a cotton fabric in a beige color and is decorated with a plenty of throw pillows.
An Italian-styled, old-fashioned country sofa with a frame made out of solid wood with a white coat of paint and a white-washed finish, paired with a microfiber upholstery in a beige color with matching throw pillows.
Representing the beautiful French cottage style, this grey linen dining bench sofa will be a perfect addition to a stylish, spacious dining room. It will help you recreate the sunny, warm ambiance of the French province.
Elegant and cozy at the same time, this 3-person living room sofa represents the best features of the French cottage style. Gently curved lines and the best-quality materials stand behind the refinement of this item.
A cute French country style vintage sofa with a gilded wooden frame. It features curved lines and grooving of all elements. Paw legs, wavy aprons and an arched wavy wingback are additionally subtly carved. Upholstery is of plain light beige fabric.
A charming French country style sofa with a woody frame in white with pinkish undertones. All elements of a frame feature curved lines and grooving. Top parts of paw legs are carved. The frame is covered in flowery fabric, a seat cushion - in grey.
Antique take on a French country sofa in a Louis the XVI style with a frame made out of white-washed oak wood with a light tint, upholstered in a beige-colored cotton fabric with thick cushions and two throw pillows.
French style for a country-looking sofa couch with a frame made out of white-washed oak wood with a beige coat of paint, paired with a thick seat cushion made out of cotton fabric with four matching throw pillows.
Embodying the charm and warmth of the French cottage style, this beautiful sofa with high back evokes associations with the glamorous style of Louis XVI. Ornamental, gently curved frames emphasize the unique character of the item.
Embodying the best features of the French country style, this beautiful loveseat sofa will help you create a cosy, romantic leisure spot. Ideal for a classic, shabby chic or cottage living room. It delights with its arched backrest.
This beautiful sofa embodies the glamorous French country style. Inspired by Louis XVI, it delights with its ornate design. Gently curved lines and a high backrest encompass this gorgeous item for 3 people.
Evoking associations with the best French cottage interiors, this beautiful sofa creates a perfect proposition for all, who want to create a charming living room decor. It catches the attention with its gently curved, adorned legs.