Say Bonjour to Amazing Parisian Decor! Do you want to know how to go about decorating with Paris décor? If you would like to create a beautiful and stylish home using Parisian home décor you should start with a few important details.

What is Parisian Decor?

Parisian decor portrays the city of love, famous worldwide for its style and history. If you have ever visited Paris, you will have experienced the stunning architecture and interior of Parisian homes and hotels. If not, you’ve seen pictures of Parisian style which have left you awe-struck.

If you take a hard look at Parisian designs, you would notice that it is obviously a mixture of old and new designs. It is all about creating a space that is cozy yet stylish using different styles. Without a doubt that it is easy to do this if you live in an apartment with period features but you can use the old and new styles by choosing your pieces wisely.

You can mix and match different flea market finds or garage sale items and put them near modern furniture or modern accessories. Use modern art along with books, pendant lighting and other modern accessories against a French sofa with toile designs for instance.

Windows

One of the most famous features of French apartment buildings are the stunning floor to ceiling windows that welcome light and warmth. They often lead out to Juliet balconies or larger iron balconies for taking in views of the fantastic city.

We’re not all lucky enough to own a house with a view, but we can sometimes adapt the room’s windows to bring in even more natural light. Don’t forget the light and floaty curtains that frame the windows as the room’s main feature.

White walls

Most Parisian apartments have white-colored walls. They even paint over fireplace facades, window frames, and door frames. Tall, white, or cream walls are a protruding feature of classic Parisian home decor.

The light colors allow the natural light (usually from large windows) to swim around the room and highlight the beautiful features of the room.

This is also because Parisians want to maximize lighting by keeping their walls bright.

Pastels and contrasts

We’ve already discussed white walls, but how do you use color in the rest of the home if you’re trying to mimic a stunning Parisian penthouse?

Pastel colors, especially light pinks and blues, are popular in very small amounts. This brings color into the room without overpowering the white or being too demanding of your attention.

You can achieve these color accents with flowers, but also in your furniture. Larger pieces should be kept as light colors so that they don’t draw any light away from the space.

Harder room details, such as window frames, doors, and general fixtures and fittings should stand out to highlight the quality in architecture.

I love painted black steel fittings, but if you don’t have a traditional French building, you can recreate the style by painting your door and window frames a black or dark brown. This also accentuates the white walls and natural light in the room.

Art

Paris is well known for its art culture. It has many museums and is steeped in a history of art, architecture, fashion, which continues into the private homes of its people.

You don’t have to invest heavily in your wall art, but be careful in your selection and opt for one or two striking and colorful features, as opposed to lots of items of a lesser quality.

Flowers

Flowers are another popular feature in Parisian homes. Set against the vast white walls, any color flower will stand out and bring life and color into the home. Anything goes with flower choice, but we prefer traditional European species, such as roses, carnations, and peonies that are both elegant and timeless.

Genuine flowers are preferable since they also bring a lovely scent into the room and provide a more genuine Parisian atmosphere. If you don’t have the time or budget for caring for and replacing flowers, artificial plants and scented room spray can help you achieve a similar effect.

Rugs

A must in any Paris home décor is the use of large rugs. Invest in one or two luxurious rugs. They will not just add style to your room but will also make floors comfortable to step on. A little bit of color will contrast your bright white walls.

Rugs also play an important role in French apartments because they as as sound barriers for the surrounding apartments.

Elegant Decor

Parisian home decor tends not to hold clutter. If you have always had a full home with lots of storage, now might be the best time for a “spring cleaning” if you really want to mimic the Parisian lifestyle through your interior design.

Follow the rule that everything in your home must be functional, beautiful, or both. Anything else must go, and trust me that you’ll feel so much better afterwards!

Use Vintage Furniture and Accessories

Vintage pieces are a must in any Parisian décor. Parisian designs are all about mixing the new with the old and using vintage items is an easy way to make your room ooze Parisian style. It is not too hard to find vintage furniture. You can find them in flea markets, garage sales, and even from online stores.

Using chandelier lighting is another sure fire way to transform any room into a Paris apartment. Flea markets are great places to find the best deals or you can find aged chandeliers online.

Following all these Paris home decor tips will help you with your decorating projects.