French Style Decorating Ideas

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While Paris is called the fashion Mecca of the world, French are considered the personification of style, class and elegance. They skillfully mix art and their sense of aesthetics with casual comfort in their home decor ideas as well.

Combining objets d’art with elegant accessories and elements, they create a harmony in a space with different layers, textures and eras, often breaking several rules with striking results.

French porcelain are the finest in the world and Kings and nobles used delicate dinnerware created in France’s Limogres region. French design is also known for its gilding process, i.e. covering something with a layer of gold. Gold embellished objects like clocks and decorative items and furniture are fine examples of this.

Glitzy Rocco style of furniture was another rage in France. The curvy styled pieces with elaborate motifs of a bygone era can instantly add a classy touch to a modern room as well. So create a welcoming and sophisticated interior in French décor style taking inspiration from Parisian palaces of aristocrats or country cottages of peasants and mixing all these elements with a flourish.

French Style Decorating Ideas

Furniture

Taking  a cue from roadside cafes of Paris, get a French Bistro table for your breakfast nook or patio. Pair the mosaic-topped, cast iron table with chairs that have piping cushions for a laid-back style. Ease into one of those cushioned chairs, and either sip fine wine amidst cool breeze, or enjoy a sun-soaked holiday breakfast for year-long spring splendour.

Or create a luxurious setting with a Louis XV gilt armchairs, upholstered in rich brocade, placed opposite a marble mantel in a living room,offsetting the pale cream and pink elegant porcelain plates on  the green walls. A leather upholstered Victorian chair and a tufted sofa will further enhance the French look.

Dress up your foyer with a walnut cabinet adorned with a collection of porcelains from different French eras. For your vanity, get a carved antique console and framed mirror, flanked by porcelain vases. Drape Lelièvre silk brocade curtains for a luxurious look.

Celebrate the country look in the dining space with a 19th century chinoiserie spice rack, antique textile on a mahogony table, that is balanced by a 18th century crystal chandelier on the ceiling, a XVI mirror and several French Iznik-style plates on the wall.

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Textiles

Recreate another era in your living room with antique fabrics, laces and embroideries. Hunt for opulent vintage pieces, may be frayed at places, at reputed stores dealing with heirloom pieces. There are several online shops, devoted to beautiful old textiles. Frame the pieces and put them on the wall, or drape it over your sofa just as French do it with a practiced ease, to create a big impression.

Pay homage to the Aesthetic Movement with a luxurious antique rug on the table and 19th-century needlepoint and brocade thrown in other areas of the house. A lace-trimmed table cover on your side table can hold a ceramic vase and a French opaline lamp. Spread a soft and luxurious silk bedspread in rich maroon colour on a beautifully carved bed.

Scents

French perfumes are the most coveted fragrance bottles that everyone tries to lay their hands on. So fill your home with some divine smell and decorate a corner with fresh flowers or create a pot-pourri made especially with dry flowers and herbs found in French countryside.

Bring home the scents of country gardens with aromatic candles, poured in special glasses that have etched Toile design on them for an authentic French touch. The fresh and fruity fragrance will transport you instantly to the French hills or suburbs.