Modern french decorating ideas
20 Best French Décor Ideas
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
French interior design exudes a certain je ne sais quoi: It's equally refined and effortless. But the most effortless looks often require plenty of carefully curated design choices to achieve—and the signature French look is no exception.
That's why we sought the expertise of Constance Gennari, Parisian founder of The Socialite Family, and expert in French interior design. Having visited and photographed homes designed by hundreds of stylish and discerning Parisians, Gennari is equipped with the best tips and tricks when it comes to what makes French décor so covetable.
Below, read on to discover the best French decorating ideas to achieve the look in your own space.
01 of 20
Design: Kasha
While you may be used to classic American designs—from traditional to modern, industrial, and more—Gennari notes that American stylists have one thing in common that's less common for French designers. “There’s more perfectionism in American style than in France,” the expert says.
The French treasure family heirlooms and pieces that aren’t pristine: For example, they won’t dismiss a stained leather chair, and they don’t mind a crooked hardwood floor. The result: a space that feels more lived-in than immaculate.
02 of 20
Design: Kasha
“The French love to mix vintage and contemporary furniture, whereas there is more homogeneity in American style,” Gennari says. French designers have no qualms about placing a modern chair beside an 18th-century dresser, or styling ultra-contemporary lighting against an ornate background. It’s all about the dynamic tension that exists between different periods and styles.
03 of 20
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
According to Gennari, there are three secrets to decorating like the French: Be aware that perfection does not exist, mix different styles, and make audacious choices. Don’t worry too much about how pieces will fit together—as long as the proportions are right and you truly love each piece, you will find your own personal style through trial and error.
04 of 20
Design: Kasha
“My style is linked to my personal education,” Gennari says. “I grew up with a father from Milan and a mother from Paris. My mother, who is an artist, has a broad collection of Empire-style and 18th-century furniture. I spent my childhood at Les Puces with her negotiating with the merchants. This is where my style hails from,” Gennari says.
To get the look in your own space, incorporate pieces from your family's collection into your décor. Did they have a midcentury penchant, a collection of nautical memorabilia, or textiles from their heritage? Weave these pieces into your personal aesthetic to create a sense of history in your home.
05 of 20
Design: Kasha
While this may look like an average daybed, a discerning eye knows that this iconic piece was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. If a particular style interests you, read up on its history and get to know the designers that created the movement.
“I like Gino Sarfatti’s lights, Osvaldo Borsani’s chairs, Pierre Paulin’s desks, and Alain Richard’s lights,” Gennari says. If these names sound new to you, they're likely a good place to start learning about classic French style.
06 of 20
Design: Nicole Franzen
When prompted to choose between formal and casual, Gennari excitedly suggests, “Forsual, of course!” The key is to make your home feel versatile, designing rooms that can function for multiple purposes with a sense of cohesion.
Find the right balance in your space that allows you to host a formal affair when necessary, but still enjoy the style every day without being too concerned about stains, scratches, and marks.
07 of 20
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Gennari believes contradictions characterize a French interior. Want your bedroom to be a mix of French provençal, midcentury staples, and contemporary art? Go for it. Think bright magenta photography will pair well with a bold chartreuse bench? Try it.
Want to mix marbleized wallpaper with a powder blue sofa? Why not? Things that don’t obviously pair well together often make for the most interesting interiors.
08 of 20
Design: Kasha
Traditional design rules may advise against using benches and ottomans in lieu of chairs. They may also discourage curtains that pool on the floor, but Gennari recommends following your own rules.
Do what feels right for you, not what you were taught is right in magazines—something that Gennari considers the worst decorating faux pas. Just as there is a difference between fashion and style, there is a difference between trendy design rules and personal taste.
09 of 20
Design: Kasha
If Gennari had to choose between old and new, Gennari always picks old—so it’s no surprise that the expert's favorite place to buy décor in Paris is at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, a larger-than-life flea market.
“It’s like being in a museum with the right to buy everything,” Gennari says.
“One of the magical sides of Paris is the diversity of décor you can find.” For contemporary furniture, Gennari visits La Boutique Danoise, Le Monde Sauvage, Maison Nordik, Merci, and La Trésorerie.
10 of 20
Design: Kasha
One of the most common mistakes Gennari notices in American decorating is “monomania for a particular color or style,” she says. Many interior designers have noticed this happening with midcentury modern style, which saw a wild resurgence post-Mad Men. Rather than sticking to one aesthetic, don't be afraid to combine styles for a layered, dimensional look that's full of unique personality.
11 of 20
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Whether it be casually arranged fresh florals or a bouquet of dried wildflowers, displaying florals around your space is part of classic French home style. Position blooms next to your gilded mirror, above the mantle, or on your nightstand. For a balanced look, place plants of varying heights as centerpieces in the living area, or opt for smaller vases styled throughout the home.
12 of 20
Design: Kasha; Photo: Idha Lindhag
Similar to Gennari's advice on not throwing out the old, if you haven't inherited any heirlooms, seek out vintage or antique pieces for your French-inspired space. Add a vintage rug for the living room, an antique console for the entryway, or hunt down vintage French posters. Display décor like posters in a mix of rustic and elegant frames for an eclectic design.
13 of 20
Design: Kasha
When it comes to decorating your home, the most important thing to consider is the architecture. Embrace the details that already exist, and work with them—not against them. Whether that be exposed wood beams or worn hardwood floors, use these details to inspire the décor of the space.
14 of 20
Photo: Zeke Ruelas; Design: Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson
Keep the vintage and antique feel—a focal point in French décor—going in the bathroom with a gilded mirror. Similar to seeking out furniture with its own patina, worn pieces of décor bring their own sense of history into the home.
Gilded mirrors can also create an eclectic focal point above your fireplace mantel, or leaned against the bedroom wall as a nod to the classic French style.
15 of 20
Design: Kasha
Shiny and brand new is the opposite approach to French-inspired home decorating. Instead, seek well-loved materials: Antique, vintage, distressed, and even off-color are all styles to consider when recreating this look in your own space. Don't be afraid to mix and match colors that you wouldn't normally place together; starting with a white background on the walls is a great way to ensure that new pieces won't feel busy when combined.
16 of 20
Design: Sean Litchfield
Europeans are experts at relaxation, and the evidence certainly carries over into their bathroom designs. Splurge on a clawfoot tub to cop the French-inspired look at home. Opt for a vintage porcelain style for an authentic vibe, or even consider painting the feet on your tub with a worn metallic finish to create the style on a budget.
17 of 20
Design: Kasha
French-inspired décor may be eclectic, but its preferred color palette is more subdued. Think lots of white, pale neutrals, and pops of color. This bedroom feels understated yet visually interesting. A dark chandelier hangs delicately over the room for an element of contrast, while dark blush tones are blended throughout the bedding and décor.
18 of 20
Design: Christopher Patey for MyDomaine
European apartments are notorious for their snug quarters, and if you're familiar with living in small spaces, you've likely encountered a closet that doesn't have space for your favorite clothes. Make like the French and store your wardrobe in a freestanding armoire. Not only does it add plenty of extra storage room, but it creates an opportunity to pick a unique piece to bring character to your bedroom.
19 of 20
Design: Kasha
While French décor is generally understated, an opulent ceiling fixture might be the exception.
Hang a vintage (or vintage-inspired) chandelier over the dining table, in the entryway, or as the centerpiece in your living room. Choose a piece with similar hues to your wall color to bring texture and a minimalist look to the space, or opt for a more vibrant tone to create a focal point.
20 of 20
Squarely on Unsplash
French countryside-inspired décor is all about making outdoor spaces focused on leisure. No matter where you live, you can get the look by pairing rugs, poufs, intimate lighting, and more—anything that inspires you to sit back and stay awhile. Don't forget to incorporate plenty of plants and lush greenery for a lived-in, earthy vibe.
9 Essential French Country Design and Decor Ideas
Modern French Interior Design: Your Guide To Be Simply Chic!
France… It has always been the land of fashion, design, and elegance. A name that if mentioned, a vibe of classiness and sophistication comes to mind. Modern French Interior Design -or the Parisian style- is not different at all.
It is associated with both being chic, yet simple!
About Modern French Interior Design
It starts with the classic French interior design, which is one of the most famous styles worldwide. It has many styles within Baroque, Rococo, Empire, and other styles. Recently people came to admire the glamour and classiness associated with these styles, but the heavily decorated and extravagant looks became out of date. That’s why modern French interior design came into existence. It has both, the glamour of the old, and the minimalism of the new. As you might have guessed, it is an eclectic style to an extent. It allows you to mix modern and classic styles together, while striking the right balance of being chic, without being overdone.
So here are some simple tricks to give your house this effortless beauty, glamour, and elegance that you’ve always dreamed of. Allons-y!
Design By: Jesper Florbrant
Color It Right
Choosing the right colors for your spaces is extremely important in the Modern French style.
You can even guess it without a single piece of furniture. The dominant color in most cases is a bright white –which is usually the color of the walls- along with pastel colors such as beige, light gray, light blue, and light pink. Although the style is highly associated with light colors, you will find some darker designs as well. They are chic and will work for you if you’re a lover of the darks. You might use a little bit of a pop-color in some artworks or pieces of furniture, to give the place an energetic and friendly atmosphere.
And here are some more specific colors tips:
Gold In French Design
The Gold color takes us back to the classic French styles especially the ”Baroque ” style. It was characterized by being Luxurious and extravagant, with heavily decorated ornaments. And because the modern French design is about simplicity, we still use some touches of gold in it to add elegance to the overall design. We can use it in a Gilded Mirror, lighting fixtures, accessories, or in contemporary furniture as well.
Design By: Emma Donnersberg Designs
Red In French Design
Remember when we talked about adding a pop color? One of the most used colors in Parisian style is red, especially the darker shades of it like Bordeaux, or velvet red. This gives you the pop color you need, while at the same time, it keeps the classy vibe in the space. You can use it in furniture materials, or accessories. It can be used also as wall paint but not much of it. Choose a single wall you want to focus on and give it the pop color.
Photo Courtesy: James stokes photography
Black In French Design
Because the Parisian style is light-colored design in general, the use of black adds a significant contrast to the space. It helps in framing the points you want to focus on, and adds strong lines that define the objects in the space if needed. Moreover, it pairs up well with both, burgundy and gold.
Design By: Jesper Florbrant
Black and White Pattern
This even goes back to the Gothic period.
The black and white checkers flooring was very common back then. It continued to exist in the later French designs as well. As for the modern French design, the designers -being loyal to the past- usually use black and white colors but in different patterns and in specific objects. You can find it on a flooring, rug, a pillow, or in a piece of furniture. But because of the strong contrast in the pattern, it needs delicate use so it won’t be overdone.
Design By: Emma Donnersberg Designs
It’s The Moldings!
One of the spot-on features of the styles is the use of wall and/or ceiling moldings. Some Baroque or Rococo details will directly get your space into the style. Having simple paneled walls and doors, baseboards, and maybe some cornices or ornaments in the ceiling will help you a lot. But as we said don’t overdo it or it will be too much, you can leave some blank walls, and that’s perfectly normal. Just try to strike the right balance. And lastly, if you’re moving into a place that has classic history or ornaments here and there, keep them.
This style is all about respecting history.
Floorings
The most common flooring materials in the modern French interior design are Wood and Marble. Wood gives us an earthy warm color that has a cozy and friendly feeling we all need in our living spaces. While marble gives us the luxury and elegance of the French, it can be used in entrances, foyers, lobbies, or bathrooms, and sometimes in living spaces as well according to the feeling you want to deliver.
Design By: Jackie Kai Ellis , Photo By: Sliceofpai
Ceilings
As we mentioned the ceiling’s moldings are spot-on in this style. But also this style is associated with vast verticality, because of the Parisian apartments. If you don’t have a high ceiling, then you can start by painting the ceiling with a brighter color than that of the walls, it will give you the required effect. Also, you might see coffered ceilings used in this style too, as they come from the classic French interior design.
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Design by: Laplace Designs, Photography: Ariadna Bufi
The Furniture
When we come to furniture, this is where it gets tricky, creative, and fun all at once.
Being an eclectic style, we can mix some contemporary, modern, or minimalist pieces, with classic ones. But concerning the classic furniture try to look for redesigned ones that look contemporary as well, with colors that fit your pallet. White painted wood pieces fit in easily. A “Sette” or “Burgere” chair with leather, velvet, cotton, or linen but without strong patterns –maybe some toile- are all welcomed. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t use antique pieces, just be delicate when using them. These mixes along with contemporary ones, if done right, will certainly result in a masterpiece! But do not use too much. It is quality, not quantity.
Accessories
Having something dramatic to catch your eye in the space is a must. Maybe a crystal chandelier or a large gilded mirror adds a lot to the design. Art deco pieces and modern French designs are close friends, as The golden and elegant design of the art deco helps it achieving luxury and elegance.
Here are some more tips for you:
Fireplace Mantlepiece
It is a must-have when it comes to modern French design.
Having a marble or a wood ornamented mantle piece adds luxury to the space, increases the dramatic effect, and unites the living space around one point.
Design Be: Jackie Kai Ellis , Photo By: Sliceofpai
Sculptural Pieces
The Sculptural pieces give us a great opportunity to bring in the contemporary style elegantly and without much effort. They also allow us to use the materials or the colors we want to have, moreover they add sophistication to the place. They don’t have to be “Sculptures”, they can be a coffee table, a chair, or even a bowl on a table.
Design By: Emma Donnersberg Designs
Finally, Make It Spontaneous
Design Be: Jackie Kai Ellis , Photo By: Sliceofpai
The design follows your needs and not vice versa. This is a very important tip, and it is the key to being effortlessly chic. The good thing about all eclectic styles is its flexibility. You may add or remove anything according to your own taste, work on this! Make it feel natural, simple, warm, and functional at the same time.
It is a place to live in, not just to be photographed. If you kept that in mind everything else will come out right, and you’ll live with this Parisian simple spirit always lingering around. Bonne Chance!
If you’re interested in interior design you might also want to check out more Design articles, here on Linesmag!
TAGS
france, french design, Interior Design, modern classic design, Modern French Interior Design, Parisian designDavid Berty
David grew up loving all kinds of narrative arts, it made him realize that everything revolves around, and ends up being a story. During studying architecture, he discovered that it is directed by a concept, a message or an idea interpreted in a physical form, and is directly influencing the lives of its users. And David is always eager to make these architectural stories, stories worth telling.
8 stylish ideas peeped in French interiors — INMYROOM
We always like to look at photos of French interiors: chic, stylish, modern, airy.
Check out these decorating techniques and find the perfect balance between Parisian chic and the comfort of your own home.
Combine vintage and modern furnishings
French chic in a modern setting is formed when you manage to combine something old with everything new. The secret is in the right combination: select vintage restored items and pair them with modern ones that look best new. For example, you can buy a modern table and mix it with old restored chairs. Read more about how to restore a chair yourself, read here. nine0011
Chic everyday things
A dining table can look light and minimal during the day, but when guests arrive, it can be transformed into a piece of chic interior with textiles, candles and candelabra, vases and porcelain tableware . Remember more often about a simple base that you can transform with elements of chic.
Play with the details
Two different interior styles that seem to have nothing in common can look amazing in the same room when combined with taste.
It's all about the harmony of color, lines and proportions. Combine velvet curtains with a mosaic floor, Scandinavian furniture with vintage items, classics with elements of Provence. nine0011
Between restoring old and buying new, choose the first
If you manage to find antique furniture that can potentially be restored, use this opportunity, even if the restoration will cost the same amount as buying a new item. Upholstery with interesting expensive fabric and wood polishing work wonders, and an old chair in its new life can become the central object of your new French interior. nine0038
Feel free to mix styles
Paris apartments look extraordinary due to the fact that furnishings are not tied to a single style and harmoniously coexist together. Think about what style of interior is closest to you, and what you like no less. Scandinavian style and boho, classic interior with modern elements, minimalism with country touches - the secret of the French in combination and the right proportions.
Place a bright armchair in a white Scandinavian interior, hang expressionist reproductions, stack old books on a cabinet made of raw wood. Do you feel how stylish and extraordinary your interior has become? nine0011
Choose the centerpiece of the room
And build your composition around it. Study interior magazines and settle on one thing that you like so much that you can't get it out of your head. Make this find the centerpiece of your composition (you don't have to literally put it in the center!). Pick up objects according to your taste, based on the compositional rule given by the central object. And you won't go wrong!
Don't skimp on worn furniture
Parisian apartments have a relaxed feel, unlike what we usually see in interior magazines. The difference is that the French do not neglect the scuffs and flaws of wooden furniture. Imperfections are unique, they have something very personal and valuable.
The scuffs on the grandmother's cupboard have been left since pre-revolutionary times, and the chip on the wooden table makes it clear that some kind of story is connected with it: you didn't buy a new one, but left this one, so the room becomes warmer with it. So instead of throwing away your grandfather's rocking chair, consider how you could transform it. nine0011
Don't limit yourself to one color
A monochromatic interior made in the same style is not in the nature of the French. Add a bright detail, play on the contrasts of textures, color accents, prints - and Paris will settle in your home. 15 design ideas from our French projects . We collected 15 ideas from projects published on Houzz, the authors of which were guided not only by the ratio, but also by the feelings (after all, where without them in France?). nine0003
1. Charm of negligence
The best design is inconspicuous design, and the French know a lot about the slight casualness that makes the interior residential.
It's not about forgetting about cleaning - on the contrary, French interiors always look very neat. Rather, it’s about stacking books that won’t fit in a closet on the floor, or leaning a framed painting against the wall and not worry about forgetting to hang it for months.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Ines and Matteo's apartment full of treasures
Camille Hermand Architectures
and pentagonal rooms that our French colleagues have long learned to deal with irregular geometry.
In this apartment with rounded walls, furniture of the corresponding form was preferred. She not only fit into the interior down to the millimeter, but also determined its soft, relaxing character. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Flowing lines in a family home
d.mesure - Elodie Sire
larger and better reflect light.
But the real art is to work with complex shades that give the interior a great personality.
To decorate an apartment in an old Ottoman mansion, the architect Elodie Sir used a soft shade of green, and to dilute its monotony, she chose decor in contrasting shades and hung black and white images on the walls. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Apartment with history in a Haussmann mansion
QUALIRENOVATION
4. Inner window
French project. Not enough windows to the street? You can rethink the interior space and cut through the interior windows - so the light will circulate even more freely around the apartment.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Apartment with a custom-made glass partition
Ti.Pi-Architects - Architecture et design
5.
Optical illusions with mirrors
Another way to trick the layout is to experiment with mirrors. What do we see above the sofa? Window? Not at all - these are mirror panels that the hostess made to order. And the most correct company for them is an old mirror in a frame, leaning against the wall.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Bicentennial house with laconic interiors
ROYAL ROULOTTE
6. To avoid drilling the walls
Paintings, posters, postcards - in almost every interior, regardless of country, you can find objects that adorn the walls. True, usually the good old nails or the gallery system are used. What if we look at the fantasy situation?
The owner of this old house does not like to drill holes in the walls, so she fixed hooks with hangers on the old dressing table. Now your favorite magazines are stored here, and if you take trouser hangers, you can hang up posters.
nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: An old mansion instead of six apartments
Pascale Cholette
. The beds were placed on podiums: firstly, it is easier for girls to reach the high window, and secondly, there is additional space for things in the room.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Collector's apartment with skeleton and kitchen organ
Céline Lempereur
top by simply removing the cover. This is convenient when you cook a lot and the inventory should always be at hand - for example, in our French project, a box veneered with maple inside is built into the very center of the countertop. Two sockets for connecting kitchen appliances are hidden here, and in addition, dishes are stored. nine0003
Read about the project with photo:
Houzz France: Apartment with Scandinavian features
Aude borromée
9.
Acrylic panels for wall decor
Small kitchen - distinctive feature of French apartments in which the key role is assigned to the key role. dining room. Often they try to make a kitchen set almost invisible by integrating it into a common space. In this small studio, the wall above the work surface was decorated with acrylic panels: they echo the color of the corridor decoration and transmit light well. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: A riot of colors in the design of a small Parisian apartment
Olivier Chabaud Architecte - Paris & Luberon
Not everyone, and the French are no exception. If the size of the room allows, the kitchen can be hidden behind sliding panels. One movement of the hand - and the headset, along with household appliances, disappears from view. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Living room and showroom rolled into one
Aurélien Vivier
even if you switched to electronic reading devices a long time ago.
But in every home there are publications that have long lost their relevance - from the school atlas to propaganda brochures, which can be entrusted with a new role.
So, the owner of this small French studio is not a fan of The Great Gatsby, and therefore found a decorative use for its yellowed pages.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: 44 m² fully open plan studio
Agence Amevet - AmDeCo
In order to lecture guests, your rules can be communicated in an ironic way - even with the help of a rug at the entrance. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO:
Houzz France: Family chalet in the Alps
Batiik Studio
simple formula, even if you have to live in a 15-meter studio to save money. And here transforming blocks come to the rescue: the counter zoning the kitchen and the room expands to the size of a full-fledged table, and the bed is easily hidden under the podium on which the kitchen is located.
nine0003
Read about the project with photo:
Houzz France: Apartment with an area of 15 sq.m in Paris
Batiik Studio
Aurélien Vivier 9000 14. Unexpected combinations
with which to combine the KURON-MARTOTE? The most common answer is with a countertop, although many of us do not set out to combine it with something at all. A young couple from France, owners of an unusual house in the municipality of Panissières, answered the question in their own way, choosing brightly colored tiles for both the floor and the wall. For finishing, they specially went to a factory in the south of the country; however, the reception can be repeated with less time. nine0003
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTOS:
Houzz France: House in a weaving factory near Lyon
Cristina Velani
Hide everything that should not be evident behind a textile curtain! In this project, a washing machine and even a cat tray are hidden behind oriental ikat fabric.
