Like many design movements, the style named for Louis Philippe–King of France in the mid-19th century–was a reflection of the time in which it developed. The king was born shortly before the French Revolution, and his rule coincided with the last years of the Industrial Revolution. So the style named for him embodies both a democratization of design and a move from unique works toward mass production.
History of the Style
Part of Louis Philippe’s project as King of France, which he ruled from 1830 to 1848, was to become more popular with his subjects by showing himself to have embraced liberal ideas. The design style that was named for him was conceived in this spirit.
In that period, the bourgeoisie was becoming more numerous, rich, and powerful. Suddenly, large numbers of people were able to buy furniture, which was previously only possible for royalty and aristocracy. The Louis Philippe style was a very practical and comfortable approach to furniture making, designed to suit a larger subset of the population, rather than only the wealthy.
The style was also influenced by the Industrial Revolution and the opportunity to produce furniture en masse. Previously, furniture pieces were made individually by skilled artisans whose labor was expensive. But during the reign of Louis Philippe, furniture makers begun to use mass production techniques, which inevitably led towards more “democratic” design styles.
The Louis Philippe Esthetic
Measured and refined, Louis Philippe furniture is typically made of high-quality wood like beech, oak, cherry, and poplar. It’s a sober style, relying little on decoration–although pieces are sometimes accented with decorative moldings.
As a result, pieces in the style are often heavy, simple, and unadorned. You might have a large walnut commode, for example, with four drawers, one small and three large, the understated keyholes made of a dark metal.
How to Use the Style in Your Home
The bedroom is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Louis Philippe esthetic. One of the style’s most quintessential signature pieces is called the sleigh bed–”lit bateau” or “boat bed” in French–and it can really dress up any bedroom space. It usually includes elegant head–and footboards, decked out with subtle curve or scroll motifs. Exquisitely tasteful, the sleigh bed dominates a bedroom without being gaudy or ostentatious.
Another classic example of the style is the Louis Philippe mirror. These pieces typically have square corners at the base and characteristic rounded corners at the top, and are decorated with a reserved gold or silver frame. Sometimes there is a floral or regal design, made to look like a crown, at the top of the frame.
Louis Philippe dining room and living room furniture can also lend a warm, classic feel to your home’s entertainment spaces. Dining room tables are typically adjustable with foldout leaves, and usually have an oval shape. As with the sleigh bed they often have gentle curves and graceful lines.
A Louis Philippe sofa or fauteuil can also go a long way to adding some class to the living room. One characteristic example of the style is the Voltaire chair, a simple and comfortable design with a low seat, high back, a sturdy, high-quality wood frame, cozy upholstery, and padded armrests.
The style also includes armoires, chests, and sideboards, so you can even incorporate its elegance into your home’s stock of storage options.