French Christmas Farmhouse Style

antiques and neutral tones French farmhouse Christmas

Photograph by Karen Palmer; home of Amy Mings

Written by Autumn Krause

Photography by Karen Palmer

If you’re a fan of French farmhouse style, you’ll love the look during the holidays even more! Having a French Christmas at your farmhouse is a great excuse to include Provincial decor and even food. Here are the top elements you too can add for giving your Christmas décor that elusive air of je ne sais pas!

French Farmhouse Christmas — In homeowner Amy Mings’ Illinois home, she brings the French Christmas look in with simple trees and lights. Add multiple Christmas trees throughout your home, but keep a few without ornaments and instead use simple twinkle lights to evoke the simplicity of the French farmhouse. Photograph by Karen Palmer.

Keep it Simple

French farmhouse style is simplicity at its best. Unlike the more elaborate elegance of Parisian decor, the French farmhouse has simple, down-to-earth decorations without too much glamour. Decorate with greens (both evergreens and non-seasonal house plants), keeping the ornamentation to a minimum. Items without a lot of color, such as neutral vases, white or cream plates and place settings, and textured pillows (try a cream brocade) will work well.

If you want some sparkle, add it through lights. Use candles and Christmas tree lights for a bit of ambiance.

antique Christmas decor — In Lidy of French Garden House’s home, French antiques take center stage no matter the time of year, but especially at Christmas. Photo from FrenchGardenHouse.

Very Merry Vintage

Use antiques as the foundation of your decor, from the tree to the ornaments. Even better if the antiques are actually from France! “I like to use baskets and French confit pots as bases for my trees,” says homeowner Amy Mings.

The antiques you use for your French Christmas decor don’t have to be overtly seasonal either. You can make a collection or antique piece extra special by only getting it out at Christmastime. This can be a collection of vintage books in French or an old doll house that reminds you that Santa’s on his way. It’s a perfect time to get out special antique pieces you want to remember during the holidays.

copper kitchen ware collection — In Amy Mings’ French Christmas home, she shows off her copper pots, pans and other kitchen tools in her open butler’s pantry. A simple garland makes it clear that the setting is a festive one. Photograph by Karen Palmer.

Copper Accents

Copper is a metal that’s popular in both France and America for farmhouse accents, so it’s the perfect metal to feature in your home at Christmastime. Display copperware such as pots and pans, water jugs, teapots and other kitchen accessories. If you have closed cabinets, hang the pots and pans on the wall or from an ceiling rack. You can also display them in a hutch in the living room.

And don’t forget about hanging small copper pieces on your tree as ornaments!

vanity with mirror in bedroom with Christmas tree in basket — A simple vanity graces the corner of this bedroom, which has French farmhouse style even when it’s not Christmastime. The tree here has no ornaments, but simple lights. Photograph by Karen Palmer.

French Furniture

Of course, the best way to get a French Christmas home is to have a foundation of non-seasonal French farmhouse style year-round. One way to do that is to invest in quality French furniture you can use throughout the year. Check out our recommendations for everyday French farmhouse style.

If imported French antiques are not in your budget, browse Facebook Marketplace or secondhand stores. “You may be surprised to find a hidden gem for a song!” Amy says.

French antique mirror in bathroom with small tree in copper pot — In Amy’s bathroom, she creates a French vibe with an antique mirror, wall sconces that look like candles, and a tiny tree sitting in a copper pot. The small addition is all the space needs to remind the guest that it’s Christmastime in the home! Photograph by Karen Palmer.

Petite Touches

You don’t have to replace every item in your house to get a French Christmas. In fact, less is more with this type of farmhouse style. Add small festive touchs to everyday objects. For example, hang Christmas greens above doorways, small wreaths on doors and in the windows, and trees into every room of the house.

Handmade Wood Lanterns

But don’t decorate every tree, and make sure your non-seasonal French farmhouse style can still peek through the holiday vibes.

Christmas tablescape rustic French farmhouse feel — This tablescape by Liz Marie Galvan has French cottage vibes, and is full of vintage touches such as old letters. This would be such a fun collectible to bring home from a trip to France—to fill your French Christmas decor with old letters written in French! Photograph by Liz Marie Galvan.

French Christmas Finds

Ready to get decorating? Here are some finds that will help you along your way.

Here at American Farmhouse Style, we absolutely love to share our finds from around the web with you! That being said, you may notice that some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you click through and make a purchase, AFS receives a small commission at no extra cost to you! Truly a win-win!

copper egg ornaments — Vintage-Inspired Copper Egg Ornaments.

red ticking table runner — Piper Classics Red Ticking Table Runner.

Christmas bell and miseltoe pillow — Bells and Mistletoe Burlap Pillow.

bell garland — Rustic Bell Garland from India.

cream colored knit stockings — Cream Colored Knit Christmas Stockings.

Copper-Hammered 2 quart Tea Kettle — Copper Tea Kettle with Wood Handle.

etched mercury glass ornaments — Etched Mercury Glass Ornaments.

Love the French vibes? Check out this European farmhouse! For more French farmhouse picks, see Amy Ming’s French Christmas Décor Wish List. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more daily inspiration and farmhouse style.