Looking for french country home exterior ideas with pretty shutters, arched doors and flowers around the entrance? There’s so much to love here, from pale blue window details to little garden courtyards.
These pictures include grand houses, simpler cottages and close-up details you can borrow for your own home.
You don’t have to change everything to try the look. Start with a pair of planters or a lantern by the door. Or save those gorgeous rooflines for your bigger plans!
French country exterior ideas worth saving
pale blue shutters and arches
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous pale blue shutters. I love how their curved tops follow the tall windows.
The little black balcony railings are so pretty against the cream-colored walls.
If you want to borrow a smaller detail, try matching round shrubs in planters on either side of your entrance.
steep roof and climbing flowers
How gorgeous is this house? The tall pointed roof and curved dormers give you plenty to look at before you even get to the garden.
The pink and white flowers around the arched door may just be my favorite part. For a similar garden look, pair loose flowering plants with low, neatly clipped borders.
arched double doors
If you are looking for an entrance that keeps the details simple, this one is for you. Brown double doors sit inside a deep pale arch, with long black handles and divided windowpanes.
Try two rounded planters filled with mostly white flowers to follow this look. Those little touches of pink are worth keeping too.
trailing greenery and tall windows
I am obsessed with the greenery spreading between these tall windows. The reddish-brown roof and small black balcony are just as lovely.
You don’t have to cover your entire front wall with plants to take inspiration from this. I’d start with the matching doorway pots and pink flowers beneath the windows.
Read also: 20 French Riviera Style Homes and Decorating Ideas to Inspire You
a lantern beneath the gable
This lantern may just be one of my favorite little details here. I love the reddish-brown finish and the big curved bracket around it.
Beneath that pointed roof, it really doesn’t need much else.
a tucked-away garden table
Who wouldn’t want a little garden corner like this? A small dark table and folding chairs sit beneath the leafy canopy, with rounded shrubs lining the pale gravel.
The large flower-filled urn is gorgeous. If your space is smaller, try a single pedestal planter near the entrance to your seating area.
a turret and courtyard fountain
If you are looking for something a little more dramatic, then this one is for you. There’s a pointed turret, ornate brown dormer trim and a fountain right in the courtyard.
I especially love the climbing flowers around the entrance. Save this for the bigger architectural ideas, or borrow the flowers for a much smaller doorway.
black trim and white flowers
Not sold on blue shutters? This black-and-white exterior is a lovely alternative. The projecting black window and matching front doors look so pretty with all those white flowers.
The porch chairs are a sweet touch too. Try a matching pair if you have room beside your door.
purple flowers along the path
I love this mix of purple flower spikes, tiny white blooms and silvery-green foliage. The planting spills over the reddish edging beside the path without hiding the way to the door.
For a similar entrance, repeat a few flower colors along the border rather than choosing a different color for every gap.
dark dormers and roof details
This one takes the colors in a darker direction. The broad gray roof has curved dormer tops and delicate pointed decoration along its upper edges.
Don’t want lots of flowers out front? The low green shrubs and simple lawn here offer another idea, with dark urns beside the entry steps.
dining beneath the vines
How pretty is this outdoor dining spot? I am obsessed with the vines spreading across the open overhead frame.
Pale chairs and a white tablecloth keep the table setting simple.
Try a little vase of purple flowers on your own outdoor table. It’s a lovely detail to borrow without changing the whole patio.
blue-gray shutters and flower boxes
This is actually one of my favorite houses on the list. The blue-gray shutters and flower boxes look so cute together, especially with that little oval window above the door.
If you want to follow the planting palette, choose white flowers with a few pale purple accents. There’s no need to add brighter colors here.
a curved drive with pink blooms
The pink flowers beside this curved drive are so beautiful. I love the pink-flowering tree rising beside the left doorway, with smaller white blooms near the ground.
Keep this picture for your garden layout ideas too. The narrow rows of paving along the edges follow the curve toward the recessed entrance.
Read also: 20 Chicken Coop Interior Ideas and Extra Details Worth Saving
pointed dormers and spiral shrubs
There’s so much to love here, from the little roof finials to the spiral-shaped shrubs. The white shutters almost blend into the pale walls.
My favorite detail is the pair of square planters beside the walkway. Try rounded shrubs in tall pale containers if you want a similar entrance without adding lots of decorations.
blue shutters behind a fountain
I know the blue shutters above are gorgeous, but this pale blue-green shade is another favorite. It looks so pretty beside the golden-beige wall and trailing greenery.
The fountain has a tall center column with a round finial and curved dark spouts. I’d keep the surrounding planting mostly green, just like this.
a black door and glowing lanterns
Don’t want to go overboard with the entrance decor? No problem! This black door has matching lanterns, with a dark planter on the left and rounded greenery on the right. The shrub in the planter has a tall, pointed shape.
I love the curled tops on these lights. The golden glow against the white trim is lovely all on its own.
potted trees and a flower-lined patio
This is such a pretty spot for a few outdoor chairs. Purple flowers line the gravel area, with round clusters of pale blooms closer to the house.
The little trees in orange-brown pots are my favorite part. Try a pair beside your patio door if you want to bring some height into a similar planting scheme.
gray-green carriage-style doors
Give your garage a little attention too! These gray-green doors have divided windows across the top, long black strap details and curved handles in the middle.
I especially love the lantern beside them. For your own version, try matching the door hardware to the light fixture’s dark finish.
trained greenery beside the door
Looking for a different way to bring greenery onto a wall? The plants here follow horizontal supports beside the doorway, with a separate leafy frame higher up.
The pale blue-gray door is such a pretty detail against the uneven golden wall. This little corner doesn’t need a row of flowerpots to feel full of life.
pink roses and a little cottage door
Last but definitely not least, we have this sweet cottage entrance. I love the pale pink roses climbing around the windows and the muted green door beneath its little peaked canopy.
The window boxes and watering cans make this a lovely garden-detail reference. Try a flower-filled box beneath one window if you want to start small.