French Provincial Chairs

Chloe Hughes Interior Design Expert

Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.

Updated 12/07/2022

French provincial chairs are very lovely seating option to have at any home. They are comfortable and stylish and aware that only a French provincial furniture piece can be. They are well made of the finest quality materials crafted by master artisans and style to match the French style in every detail. If you are looking for a lovely new chair option for your home, take a look.

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Our Picks

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Tufted Linen French Provincial Chair

Kelly Clarkson Home

This soft, comfortable French provincial chair adds a touch of old-world class to any room. It is made in the refined Louis XV style and is a throne for the king or queen of any home. The chair is available in onyx linen or muslin beige, with cabriole legs made of engineered wood that gives each chair a knotty, rustic look.

Designer Advice:

The chair is 37’’ high, 29’’ wide, and 30’’ deep, with an 18.5’’ backrest, allowing the chair to match most other formal seating pieces. The soft cloth and neutral color make it the perfect accent or statement piece for a formal room, and it will look great at the center of a conversational seating area or on its own.

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25 2'' Wide Linen French Provincial Chair

This rustic style chair is a classic piece of French provincial furniture. Made of oak with a distressed whitewash finish, the wood accent and cabriole legs make this chair stand out. The 100% linen upholstery is soft, durable, and breathable for extra comfort in the warm months.

Designer Advice:

This chair is equally at home in a living room, a hallway as a seating area, or as a set of French provincial dining chairs. Match a set of these chairs with a similar French Provincial style dining table or add to a nautical-themed living area as an accent chair.

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Ivory and Golden Wheat French Provincial Chair

Intricately hand-carved from rich red mahogany and upholstered in a soft, plush polyester blend material by a master upholsterer, this chair is a statement piece that takes a week to craft. The wood is carved in Ancien Regime symbols of power and wealth, such as sea shells and roses. The upholstery pattern is a textured Jacquard fabric design with ivory floral foliage set against a sun-ripened wheat-colored background.

Designer Advice:

This chair is a beautiful addition to any room and will be the centerpiece of any richly decorated home or office. Place this at the focal point of a room to draw attention to its fine craftsmanship and intricate style, or use this as the head seat at a meeting or dining table.

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Britton Style French Provincial Chair

Britton-style chairs stand out among French provincial chairs. They are an excellent blend of aristocratic elegance with rustic charm and durability. This Britton-style chair is made from solid light blue birch wood that still shows grain and knots for rural charm. The 26.75’’ wide seat is filled with supportive foam and upholstered in rich 100% polyester fabric in a delicate, eye-catching floral pattern.

Designer Advice:

This chair works best as an accent chair, giving any room an extra dose of class while providing extra comfortable seating. This would be an excellent chair for an entryway or hallway seating area, used in pairs with a small table between them, or a sunny bay window for relaxation with a book.

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Toscano French Provincial Chair

The chair is carved from solid mahogany in classic provincial motifs like roses, palms, and ribbons and shaped into an eye-catching, oval-backed design. The legs are hand-turned for classic elegance, and all wood surfaces are expertly varnished and polished to a gorgeous shine.

Designer Advice:

An excellent example of antique French provincial chairs, this hand-carved, hand-upholstered 19th-century-style chair is a gorgeous statement piece for any home. It is at home in any well-decorated room with rich furnishings and the perfect throne from which to relax or conduct daily affairs. This chair works particularly well in rooms with dark wood finishes and light accent colors. Add this to a room with ornate wallpaper and dark wood floors for a taste of Royal France.

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29” Wide French Provincial Chair

This extra-wide, 29’’ French provincial chair is great for extra comfort around the dining room table, in a bedroom, or as an accent chair in a living room. This chair is made from distressed solid birch wood and has a seasoned look that brings rustic charm to any room. The cotton blend upholstery is stuffed with soft yet supportive foam and sinuous springs for comfort and style.

Designer Advice:

The seat is 19’’ high, which is the average height for a dining room chair and is a perfect match for classic dining room tables and formal dinners. The chair is available in tan, taupe, and blue stripe to match any room’s color palette, and the classic lines and formal appearance can add a touch of class to your shabby chic, French country, and farmhouse decor.

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French Provincial Chairs

Buying Guide

French provincial chairs combine practicality, comfort, and style. They are comfortable seating solutions but they still offer a truly royal look regardless of where they're placed may it be your dining room, living room or bedroom.

If you love antiques but don’t have the budget for them, you’ll be able to make the same exact impact with a reproduction piece, most especially if you try mixing your genuine vintage accessories with French provincial style chairs. To help you pick the best pieces for your space, here are tips to keep in mind.

What are the main types of French provincial chairs?

Armchairs - French provincial armchairs added to dining rooms offer maximum comfort while exuding a formal look. They work best with a large dining table within a large dining area. They require at least 60 cm of space in between them to not just sit comfortably but also to avoid hitting elbows. If you have the space for them, then opt for armchairs.

Note: If you love an armchair's look, but you can't allocate enough space for several pieces, it's fine. Just place a French provincial armchair at the ends of your dining table. As for the table's full length, it can be filled with side chairs.

Side Chairs - These chairs work best in a small space as they don't take as much room as French provincial armchairs. If your available space is limited, then they are your better options. If space is really tight, then consider getting an armless French provincial side chair.

Note: For smaller rooms, a low back is best as it will provide a sense of airiness and space. A high-back, on the other hand, provides a formal look.

Benches - A French provincial bench looks lovely when it's teamed with chairs as both types of seating help in creating a streamlined look. They also add visual interest as well as help you save some space when the bench is tucked away. In addition, benches are also economical compared to buying separate chairs.

What are the pros and cons of upholstered French provincial chairs?

French provincial chairs with upholstered seats and backrests are certainly going to offer a higher level of support and comfort compared to the chairs that are not upholstered. But, it is important for you to remember that fully upholstered chairs can appear heavier visually compared to chairs that have an open back. So, if you wish your small space to lift or brighten up, then your best choices are chairs with upholstered seats and bare backs or chairs without any upholstery at all.

There are homeowners who think that French provincial chairs without any upholstery in the backrests would look odd. That's actually far from the truth. If the silhouette of the chairs is beautiful and it has a rustic look, then they can easily blend with home décor that has refined elegance like Baroque elements.

With regards to durability, an upholstered option won’t be a great idea if you have grubby little fingers inside your house. If you really want upholstered chairs, then it is fine for you to get what you want but it’s advisable that you get a fabric that’s durable like vinyl and leather. Fabric won’t cut it if you have kids.