Just like their enviable style, French women have a swoon-worthy sense of decorating, too. Their sense of home style is just as effortlessly chic as their fashion, with the perfect balance of modern and vintage details. Somehow, they’re able to put together a room with the same “je nais sais quoi” as their classic outfits. Take a few cues from their timeless decorating sense and make over your own space with a bit of Parisian flair with these 11 French home decor finds.
1. Breezy White Curtains
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Semi Sheer Curtain Panel Pair
I think many of us have probably seen a similar image to the one above, straight from the City of Lights. You know the one – a perfectly rumpled bed pushed up in front of an open balcony window, overlooking that gorgeous view of unmistakable French architecture. And even if we can’t exactly recreate those exact views in all of our own homes, you can get that sense of romantic Parisian style with a few small decor details!
A set of breezy white curtains is a great place to start. You can almost see the set of gauzy white linens fluttering in the spring breeze! Although it’s probably not practical to put these in every room of your home since they’re not very privacy-friendly or particularly great at blocking out harsh sunlight, with a little luck, you might have the right space to hang some curtains like these in your own house.
The trick is to hang them higher than your actual window and wider. Also, don’t be afraid to let them trail on the floor a bit! You can always tuck them under when you’re walking around them, but those are the little tips to getting that same grand, romantic feel as the image above.
2. Vintage Books
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Set of 3 Decorative Books for Home Decor
In a French household, books aren’t just for reading, but for decor, too! Many French homes are limited on space, which means a number of their decor pieces are as functional as they are aesthetic. Books are the perfect example. Instead of tucking them away into closets or closed shelves, Parisians proudly display their collection of novels in their main living spaces and bedrooms.
I’ve linked a set of display books above if you’re interested, but even more so, I’d recommend thrift shopping if you’re looking to build your collection of books! It’s an inexpensive way to find beautiful books at a reasonable price, and build your TBR (to be read) at the same time.
3. Gallery Lights
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Wireless Picture Lights for Wall
Art is an essential component of French home decor, from the books we just covered to the art they hang on their walls. Because art culture is so important in France, the French take a lot of pride in curating their art collections. They turn to antique shops, thrift stores, and local artists to amass their collections, so take after their example and leave the big-box store art in the aisles!
French women like to use picture lights to (literally) spotlight the pieces they’re so proud to display. It’s an inexpensive way to make your favorite prints and canvases feel like museum-quality art. Many even have different settings, so you can change the brightness depending on the mood you’re trying to set! You’ll impress any guests that visit your home, and make them feel like they’re stepping foot into an upscale gallery.
4. Tapestries
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Chambord Loom Woven Cotton Blend Wall Hanging
Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to the art you’re displaying, either! Framed prints and canvases are obvious options, but there’s so much more that you can use to decorate your walls like a Parisian. For instance, French women love the texture and dimension that a woven wall hanging adds to their space. Hanging art like this will come right off the wall and transport you into whatever scene it’s depicting. If you’re not a fan of putting up wallpaper but love that impressive look it gives a space, a large tapestry can be a great alternative. Plus, it’s usually more renter-friendly than wallpaper.
5. Gold Mirrors
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Phillipe Mirror
An ornate gold mirror and French home decor are almost synonymous! This might just be one of the most popular pieces you’ll spot in Parisian homes and apartments. Whether they’re hanging in an entryway, aesthetically placed over a marble fireplace, or maybe part of a large gallery wall in the living room, gold mirrors have a cemented spot in popular French design.
Whether you find one new or old, there are so many ways to style this piece in your home. Incorporate it into your vanity set-up to elevate your daily getting-ready experience, or use it for your morning outfit check before you head out the door. However you style it in your own home design, it will add just the right amount of glamour and elegance to your space.
6. Vases for Fresh Flowers
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Clear Glass Pedestal Vase
French women have mastered the art of balance in both their fashion sense and their home aesthetics. While their style famously incorporates both masculine and feminine pieces, their homes balance all sorts of design vibes. They’ll mix old and new, antique and modern, organic and inorganic… all without missing a beat. The result is a unique, eclectic combination of decor styles that somehow effortlessly blend together and represent their individual sense of taste.
To balance out the crystal chandeliers, gold mirrors, and stately marble fireplaces, you’ll find many French homeowners also like to add more natural elements like wood, fresh flowers, and linen details into their space for grounding. To display their fresh flowers year-round, they’ll reach for porcelain, crystal, or glass vases. Do the same, and you’ll make your favorite flowers feel that much more special!
7. Toile Wallpaper
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Spinney Toile Roll
Wallpaper might seem like a major commitment, but it can be more than worth the energy and time it takes to apply! Wallpaper is art for your walls that adds depth and dimension, especially in a small room. If you really want to make a statement, wallpaper is the way to do it.
The French love to apply toile wallpaper for its soothing, organic look. The design typically includes just two colors, so it’s not overwhelming and won’t make it difficult to style the furniture in your space.
8. Patterned Area Rugs
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Magnolia Home x Loloi Area Rug
Besides a gold mirror, if there’s one thing that the French love to include in their living spaces, it’s a large, patterned area rug! Many Parisian homes and apartments have wooden or tile floors, and an area rug can be a great way to protect them as well as warm up the space. They’re also a great way to incorporate color and/or pattern into a space, as well as help break up a large, open-concept room into smaller areas.
From leopard print to ornate, more abstract motifs, there are so many options for area rugs out there to fit your personal style. Whether you want it to be the focal point of the room or ground the rest of your pieces, it’s a rather inexpensive way to completely transform your living room or bedroom with a whole new vibe.
9. Table Lamps
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Longhurst Resin Table Lamp
Harsh overhead lighting has no place in your Parisian-influenced home! Instead, try relying more on soft, warm, ambient lighting like lamps, chandeliers, and sconces. Always make sure that your lighting leans a little warmer than cool! This will help make your space feel that much more cozy and inviting.
Lamps are the perfect way to add balance to your other decor pieces. If your space is feeling too modern, try visiting an antique shop and finding a cool, ornate lamp to incorporate into your space. And if you already have a lot of those types of elements, you can add a modern touch with the right lamp style, too.
10. Chandeliers
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French Chic Candlestick Chandelier
Speaking of lighting, chandeliers take the cake for the most iconic style of French lighting. If you search Parisian decor on Pinterest, most of your results probably include some sort of chandelier. A chandelier can act as the focal point in your space, and add the perfect “wow factor” to your living room, dining room, or bedroom.
11. White Bedding
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Washed Cotton Duvet Cover Set with Pillow Shams
You’ll find that many French bedrooms feature crisp white bedding. That’s because it naturally gives off a clean, luxurious vibe that fits right in with a Parisian’s love for minimalist, effortless style. White bedding is also easy to bleach and clean, so it comes out looking good as new every time.
And because their bedding is a blank canvas, this allows Parisians to add more colorful components with ease to the rest of their space. They may even add a colorful duvet now and again to mix things up, but the foundation of clean, quiet luxury is always there in the simple white bedding they gravitate toward.
Creating the French Style Home of Your Dreams
Even if finding the perfect second home in Paris might not be in the cards for most of us, that doesn’t mean we can’t still live out our French design dreams in the homes we already own or rent. The secret to recreating that dreamy French apartment style is right here in these 11 design tips that you can try out for yourself, no matter your zip code!
Narrowing in on how to add a bit more Parisian design influence to your bedroom? Up Next: 11 Must-See Tips for a French Parisian Style Bedroom
