French tables, often better known as French country tables, are frequently painted in a two-tone color scheme. The table's top is painted one color while the frame and legs are another color, which does not mean you cannot paint your table a single, solid color, but doing so can keep it in the spirit of French country style and give you a timeless look that enlivens your kitchen or dining area. Does this Spark an idea?
Almost Wood
Many French tables are stained rather than painted, revealing the wood's natural beauty. If you are refinishing a French table, repaint the table rather than remove old layers of paint and prepare the wood for stain. You can keep the wood tone feeling in mind by using a natural color palette for your table. Try a beige color similar to the tone of raw wood for the table's top, and use a chocolate brown or mahogany tone for the legs. Ivory on the tabletop also looks good with these darker leg colors, and you can use a dry brush with a tiny amount of paint to streak the tabletop with the leg colors to create a faint impression of wood grain. Use sage green place mats and settings for a classic look, red or blue for a country kitchen style or an array of browns for a modern look.
Brick and Stone
Take your cue from the materials found in old country French kitchens rather than traditional table colors. Paint the base and legs of your table a deep brick red, and sponge small amounts of black on top to create an old brick look. Paint the top a medium gray, and sponge light and dark gray on top to simulate stone texture. Add a hint of moss green to both the top and legs to tie the whole thing together, which works particularly well if you plan to keep a live plant or cut flowers on the table.
Bright and Clean
Give the table a fresh, new look by painting the entire table with a very light cream-colored paint anywhere in the just off-white to ivory to rich cream range. Find a stencil pattern you like -- either a natural plant stencil to evoke the country theme or a fleur de lis to harken back to the classic French monarchy. Choose a stencil with delicate lines rather than bold strokes, and sponge it onto the table with a medium grayish-blue paint. Accent this paint scheme with deep red place settings to incorporate classic French country colors.
Tags: rather than, French country, your table, classic French, French tables
