Source: Piqsels
The French are one of the most respected nations on the planet for their culture and traditions. Whether it’s their mouth-watering cuisine, their stunning monuments, or their effortless style, France is a country revered as a bastion of class and sophistication.
It’s their impeccable taste in interior design that we’ll discuss in this article, as we explore some of the French design rules that you can adopt to bring a sense of the Parisian or Provençal lifestyle to your very own home.
If you are a budding interior designer, we’ve got six typically French interior design techniques that create effortlessly chic environments you can be proud to show off.
1. Celebrate your flooring
If you have a bland entrance hall or walkway, or even a tired living space, there’s no better way to bring style and personality to your home than with French parquet flooring. In French, parquet means a pattern comprising strips or blocks of wood. It’s by no means a word you’ll find in the vocabulary when learning basic French as the focus will be on everyday words and phrases, but it’s a word or terminology that most interior designers are au fait with worldwide.
Source: Preply
Some might consider parquet flooring to be somewhat plain, particularly those who aren’t keen on characterful floors. However, one way to switch up a parquet floor is to incorporate new tiled patterns around the timber to add much-needed definition.
2. Accentuate architectural features
Many French homes quite literally ooze with period features. Whether it’s characterful fireplaces or intricate moldings around the ceiling, it can be hard for homes to compete with the heritage that households in France provide in abundance; not least in North America. If your property lacks the kind of distinctive architecture that French homes possess, consider bringing in your own faux features instead. Crown molding in your living spaces can generate a sense of grandeur, as can wainscoting around staircases and dining areas.
Wainscoting is particularly popular in high-traffic parts of family homes, designed to preserve walls from scratches and dents whilst providing a sense of depth and texture to a space.
3. Embrace bold, vibrant color schemes
Source: Piqsels
Another interior design aspect that the French are world-renowned for is their use of loud color palettes. Although French interiors can be equally understated at times, many French living areas exude personality through their use of technicolor.
India Mahdavi, an interior designer based in Paris, has cultivated a fine reputation for transforming living environments with ultra-chic colors fused with equally funky furnishings. Some of her most recent work has even found its way into some of the most popular Parisian boutiques and eateries.
4. Don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new
If you are fortunate to have a property with period features, you can still fuse the old with the new, if the contemporary style is more your bag. French interior design is typically a veritable melting pot of styles from a plethora of eras. Homeowners with more tech-heavy, contemporary living environments shouldn’t be averse to blending ultra-modern features with flea market finds that provide a visual juxtaposition and a guaranteed talking point when entertaining family or friends.
A good tip to bring heritage and contemporary features together is to be consistent with color schemes. This is one way to connect the different elements without them jarring.
5. It is possible to overcome any limitation on space
One of the biggest interior design lessons or inspirations that can be gleaned from the French is their willingness to maximize every inch of space. Their creative ingenuity knows no bounds, not even in the tightest of spaces. You only have to think about the traditional French houseboats, with their narrow corridors, and their ultra-compact maisonette studios to see that it’s possible to make design statements in the smallest of spaces.
A recent case study from Julien Fernandez of Gap Interiors reveals how architects celebrated the roof beams and the apex in this cramped attic to create a sophisticated studio apartment.
6. Allow interiors to show their age
Something that many homeowners are guilty of is being ashamed of the imperfections of their living space. This could not be further from the French way of living. In France, beautiful interiors don’t have to be perfect.
As a matter of fact, beauty is found in aged features. This could be anything from tired or distressed wood, to dulled metals or faded paint. Accessories or furnishings that have been allowed to age gracefully can be just as valuable to creating characterful interiors as state-of-the-art additions.
In short, if you wish to adopt the French approach to interior design, don’t stress about the imperfections. Embrace them. Don’t be afraid to accessorize living spaces with ornaments and decorative features that mean something to you. Ultimately, French interior design is about cultivating an environment that you love to spend time in.
