I have a weakness for these.

I can’t pass one by without wanting to buy it and bring it home.

What is it? My love and obsession with gorgeous French Country antique and vintage chairs.

Sounds great, right? But you may be wondering where you can use these, what should you look for and what should you avoid? Watch below, and read to learn more about why you need these in your own home!

There’s not one I see, that I don’t want to or try to buy!

This was actually the first piece of antique french country furniture I had ever purchased.

On this one particular hunt, or “haul” as they say, something went terribly wrong.

I fell in love with a set of these antique painted dining chairs. They were lovely!

The paint colors, the patina, the carvings, the details, even the dirt – I loved everything about these old chairs!

I was ready to buy them, and sat down to pay.

And then the unimaginable happened. I fell through one of these old chairs and broke the entire chair and ruined the entire set.

I just had a baby but I still weighed less than I do after the last few weeks of quarantine!

I was mortified, embarrassed, and practically kicked out of the boutique. And truly I felt awful.

Definitely one of my top most embarrassing moments antiquing and furnishing my home.

Even after utter humiliation, I still couldn’t give up my passion for a beautiful antique chair. I love the instant French Country charm it adds to any space.

I learned from that experience, and as my Daddy says, kept on truckin’.

Types of Chairs to Look for:

I learned:

1. To look for larger or sturdier French Country antique chairs

2. I also learned to save my love of the most delicate antique chairs for more special areas of my home such as vanities, writing desks, and bedroom closet sitting areas

3. I looked for antique chairs that could be easily reupholstered or chalk painted with good bones, so I could easily mix and match them into my decor

4. If they are really very old and I can’t resist, I put them in an area where they will not be used often

5. I also learned to look for antique and vintage chairs I could easily sturdy up with new corner blocks

6. And to be on the lookout for big cracks or broken chair legs

Where to Use Antique Chairs:

Another frequently asked question at our Houston retail store, Village Antiques, is where to use antique and vintage chairs?

I tend to use antique and vintage furniture in the following spaces:

1. Mixed into my main living room seating areas. I use the sturdier antique chairs in every living room project I work on

2. In bedroom seating areas

3. Closets

4. Vanity Areas

5. Paired with small desk areas

Where Not to Use Antique Chairs:

And sometimes when an old antique chair just won’t do like in the case of my dining room, you can opt for a new set of French Country style of chairs like I did in my dining room.

I got the old chair look but with the peace of mind knowing they probably won’t break.

Even in living rooms, although I do always have at least one antique chair, I make sure to have other newly made, French Country style chairs seating that will be comfortable for any size person.

In my own home, I mix old and new, to get that charm and character while also knowing I have comfort for everyone who may come into my home.

What Style to Look For

When I’m looking for a new chair to add, or even one that grabs my attention, it always falls into the French Country Style. Even within this style, there are many different styles so I look for the following details:

1. Curved or fluted legs

2. Carved floral details

3. Caned backs

4. Soft seating (or something I can reupholster to be soft and comfortable)

5. Pretty painted, gold or bleached style finishes – or even a surface I can easily paint or makeover

So there you have it!

Now you know what to look for, and where and where not to use these beautiful, irresistible, antique and vintage French Country chairs in your own home.

Leave a comment and tell me where you are going to use this in your home today!

You can find these antique and vintage chairs at Village Antiques in Houston.

Till the next time we meet, keep making your home amazing with your design gifts.

Most gratefully,

Amitha