When it comes to style, the French seem to have all of their you-know-what together. The overall look is put together, but effortlessly so. When it comes to French decor inside the home, the same elements apply. Everything coordinates, doesn’t look bought at a big box store, and generally just has a cool sophisticated vibe.
How on earth do us mere mortals get the look, without looking like we are wearing berets and striped shirts while sitting at a café all day? Well, there are a few elements to French décor that we can all try to adopt so that we can bring some of that je ne sais quoi to our own homes.
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5 Easy French Decor Tricks
Don’t Do Matchy Matchy
It’s super easy to walk into a furniture or home furnishings store and just buy a living room or bedroom set that is already put together all neat and tidy, but resist the urge if you want to have that true French décor look. The French invariably mix vintage finds with contemporary pieces. Scour your local Craigslist, estate or garage sales, or consignment or thrift stores for older pieces that have stylish and/or ornate elements and place them next to more streamlined current fundamentals.
An easy way to do this is to find used end tables or night side stands that have scrolled edges or ornate carvings and pair them next to a streamlined new contemporary style sofa or upholstered headboard. You can also easily master this idea by mixing more formal French decorative accents, like vases or knick knacks with very casual sturdy everyday pieces, think kitchen tables, where you don’t have to worry about stains or scratches.
Try Some Vintage French Architecture
The French let the room’s architecture do the talking. Most of us are not lucky enough to have beautiful carved ceiling moldings and herringbone vintage wood floors, but that doesn’t mean that your space is without any character or that some can’t be added at a reasonable cost, if any at all. Crown molding, window detailing, a chair or picture rail, or a ceiling light medallion can all add pops of architecture for little cost.
Embrace White Walls
I know a lot of people cringe at the whole thought of “builder beige” walls and find nothing more horrifying that leaving their walls one color, but the French don’t generally go crazy with the paint can. As noted above, they let the room’s architecture and eclectic furnishings shine. However, there are many shades of white, so take a trip to the paint store and get yourself several samples and bring them home and experiment with swatches on your wall.
Add a Little Crystal and Gold
There is always an element of glamour when you are talking about vintage French decor, and that usually comes in the form of gold and crystal accents. Try an ornate gold mirror above your fireplace, a muted gold and crystal chandelier above your casual dining table, vintage style crystal and gold lamps in your living room, or even crystal sconces in your bathroom.
Add Understated Artwork
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to add a little France into your life is to add some French style artwork to your walls. Look for muted tones or just pops of color that give off a French essence. Think about a Paris street scene, an impressionist style landscape, or even a vintage scientific botanical French illustration. Extra points for adding an ornate gold frame.
Check out the France printable wall art section at NLS Design to make an easy gallery wall or cover a large wall space easily.
If you envy French décor, but really don’t feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t worry, most of the French don’t either. They just do what feels natural and works for their lifestyle. Don’t think too hard about it and go on shopping adventures (online or in person) to find pieces that speak to you and mix them with clean backdrops and a little bit of glamour and shine thrown in.
Adding a little French flair to your home can be easy and fun, without having to spend a fortune to get the expensive look.
