7 Ways to Make Your Home Feel More French

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In addition to mastering the art of laid back sophistication when it comes to their wardrobes, the French have also mastered the art of home decor. The Parisian decor style is hard to nail down - think eclectic chic while still being minimalist. Here are the things I’ve incorporated into my home to give it that special Parisian flair, plus some tips for you.

Get Gilded

I’m very glad gold is in style, because I absolutely love accenting my home in gold. My doorknobs, kitchen cabinet pulls, shower fixtures, and many other accessories are all in various shades and sheens of gold. It gives my home a little bit of that Versailles flair. Not ready to commit to the gold trend in such a permanent way? Try gold lamps, photo frames and accent items to bring in that gilded flair.

Mix the new and old

When I think of the quintessential Paris apartment, I think old architecture, stunning vintage chandeliers with a modern eclectic mix of furniture and decor. We installed crown and picture frame molding after we moved in and have dressed the rooms with furniture and decor in nearly every style. The Parisians know the best way to make their magnificent architecture stand out is to not commit too much to one time period or trend. A vintage end table pairs well with a modern lamp and a sleek sofa looks great with an antique rug and some boho throw pillows

Invest in quality pieces

Not to knock a very famous Swedish furniture maker, but cheap particle board furniture will look just that - cheap. Parisians pride themselves on not only the quality of their furniture, but the history. Family heirlooms are shown off with pride and antique markets are scoured to find the best pieces. Not to sound like a curmudgeon, but they just don’t make things like they used to! Don’t feel like you have to buy brand new and expensive to get quality. Ask relatives if they have anything to lend and don’t skip the furniture section of your local resale shop. My favorite dresser was passed down from my great grandmother and in our old place, we found a sofa from a very fancy and quality brand for less than $100 at a Habitat for Humanity Restore. After we moved, it got passed to a family friend who was just starting out in her first apartment. I know that piece will last her a long time. One of my favorite home decor bloggers, A Glass of Bovino, furnishes much of her home in Facebook Marketplace finds and what she finds for the price is jaw dropping! Quality does not have to equal expense!

Another note on quality: I once heard this design advice that I try to stick to - the closer something is to your body, the higher quality it should be. I sit on my couch every day, so we invested in a really quality custom item. My curtains? I never ever touch those. They just hang there, so those were a less than $100 Ikea purchase. Sheets? Invest. Accent table that just sits in your entryway? Bargain hunt.

White Paint

If all else fails- turn to white paint! Many may think a white room is boring, but the Parisians know it gives a crisp and clean look and keeps all those antique pieces and mixed styles from looking messy. I also live in a garden unit, so being a few steps underground means my windows don’t get great natural light. The white paint keeps it bright! All my walls are decked out in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace - the perfect bright white.

Quality wood

Unfortunately, not the floors in my home. These are the herringbone floors in one of the ballrooms of the Paris Opera. My wood floors are nice, but not quite this nice. Wouldn’t we all kill to have this beautiful, antique herringbone?!

Not only is an antique wood dresser a Parisian staple, but so is a sturdy wood floor. We got lucky finding a home with such beautiful wood floors, but were told they would not survive another refinishing and would need replaced eventually. We’re trying to hold on to them as long as possible, because I just don’t like how newer, more engineered flooring looks and lasts. I’m not sure how many Parisian buildings have maintained their original floors for so long, because ours are only 100 years old and the age of many buildings in Paris far surpass that number! Perhaps more refined and quality refinishing techniques? When scouring our local construction resale shops, we’ve found entire homes worth of wood floors pulled up and just asking to be rehomed, often for way cheaper than a new floor but with all the character we want. That, I think, will be our route of choice when it is time to replace. Many classic buildings in Paris boast intricate herringbone floors, but a standard, horizontal wood is also a classic. What if you live in a place with carpet that you’re unable to replace? That’s okay! You can still get that Parisian feel with plenty of antique wood furniture pieces and accents!

Bring in your personality/Make it your own

As I mentioned, the Parisians never stick to just one decorating style when picking home decor. They pick the things that truly speak to them and have meaning. Things like family photos, artwork you found at a market, that chair that you just couldn’t pass on despite the fabric matching nothing you own all lend to a home that not only looks unique but has personality. I always used to make fun of my mom for how vigorously we would clean before company came over. My brother and I would always joke “we don’t want anyone thinking we actually live here” Most of my artwork is photos from our various travels and my bookshelf is filled with some of my personal favorite reads. So make your home look a little lived in and only pick things your really love!

Don’t follow trends

Living Room Piano Gold Mirror Pink Ombre Fringe Sconce

Home design trends, much like 80s hairstyles, are one thing that you will love in the moment and surely look back and cringe at in a few years time. Remember in the early 2000s when everyone was painting their dining rooms with an accent wall of bright red?! Now that is considered such a faux paus! Parisian design is so coveted because it is so timeless. You’ll achieve this timelessness not by following trends, but by filling your home with classic items that you truly love. Antiques will never go out of style and neutral colors will stay looking chic for years. And if there is a design trend you absolutely love, buy a few small items like tea towels and artwork to bring a little of that style in your home, without investing so much into it. That way, you won’t feel guilty when the trends shift in a few years and you don’t want that farmhouse pitcher or lamp anymore. See above one of my favorite views of my living room - the classic wood piano and gold mirror are timeless, but the boho fringe sconces trend may fade in a few years. It’ll be super easy to just change out the shade or remove the fixture entirely if I ever get sick of them.

Do you have any items in your home that give you major Paris vibes? Tell me about them below!