While designing or remodelling our homes, don’t we all desire to make local techniques and international trends meet? This approach promises an appealing design as it strikes the confluence of different design sensibilities. The idea of bringing Paris to your home sounds exciting, right? Bring Parisian-style home décor to your dream home and immerse yourself in a world of timeless elegance, chic aesthetics, and an ambiance that exudes sophistication at every turn.
Offer your heart, eyes, and soul a treat with the soothing decor of Parian homes that speak a unique design language and offer an eccentric touch to the entire abode.
“For Parisians, an interior is not just an interior, a place to go where the cafes and parks are closed; it is a space to impart their personal style, a well-defined sanctuary from the madness of life and the chaos of the city”, says Janelle McCulloch (2011) in his book – Paris Secrets: Architecture, Interiors, Quartiers, Corners.
One of the major destinations on everyone’s bucket list is Paris. The lovely architectural structures and interior spaces have always inspired designers to play around with design elements borrowed from Parisian homes.
Modern minimalism with lustily intricate details composes a central theme that nestles a touch of Paris along with many worlds running through the decor. The gorgeous style brings Parisian culture along with it as you borrow the design elements. Let’s look into the top 10 home decor trends to make your personal sanctuary exude Paris’s luxury and design.
What is Parisian Style in Design?
Parisian design covers a wide range of styles, with each one aligned with elegance within the cosmopolitan approach. The style originated in Haussmannian homes that focused on a palatial scale and wide avenues. The subtle mix of old and new and elegance in every pocket of the room is what defines a true Parisian style in decor.
A play with the colour palette, designer furniture, and talking arts can set the value of space and accentuate the aesthetics. The timelessness of the design makes it more than just a style statement.
A Parisian home excites a different mood and can be more linked as a feeling that’s sure to make you feel calm and satisfied. Elements like tall windows, herringbone flooring, high ceilings, and intricate moldings conjure up a spectacular design, as seen in the works of Jean-Louis Deniot, Gilles & Boissier, Jacques Grange, etc. Bring to your home the priceless antiques and see the space setting the mood for you.
10 Parisian Style Home Décor Trends
When it comes to a Parisian-style design approach, there’s a careful balance between modern and traditional. With such exciting features and promising results, let’s look into 10 Parisian home decor trends to transform your home into an admirably simple yet sophisticated Paris design.
01. Vibrantly Colourful Walls
The Parisian style adds a splash of colour to the walls unconventionally. Rather than simply painting the walls, go for various prints and patterns. Explore the florals on the walls, or opt for a tie-and-dye look with bright shades. Make a unique mix of complementing tones like bright orange, hot pink, and soothing greens for a statement-making design.
There’s a new definition of simplicity that involves bringing out an opulent character in the space via dominating colours and patterns. An alternative take would be to add white and bring colours inside through bold furniture and soft furnishings, as shown in the below image.
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Overall, the essence of a colourful home must stay.
02. Good-Old Rattan Furniture
There’s something so satisfying about bringing nostalgic touches to the home, especially when it’s comforting furniture we’re talking about. Parisian homes were furnished with Rattan furniture, which has made a comeback yet again. Cane furniture is also known as Rattan furniture or a wicker furniture, Gharpedia. Below image shows an old chair made from cane net. Cane net is a mesh of cane strips which is then stretched and fastened to the wooden frame. It is durable and easy maintenance.
Complement the intricate craftsmanship with an earthy touch brought inside homes with Rattan furniture that blends well with the design language set up by walls and floors. This design approach makes a lovely blend of modern decor with traditional elements. Hence, we can say that French design ideas bring an air of sophistication and elegance to your living spaces.
03. An Elaborative Dinner Space
From fashion streets to restaurants, there’s something so royal about Paris. Even the dining spaces designed in Parisian style reflect the same. Rather than adding minimalism to your plate, go for an extravagant design with a well-elaborative dinner table. Curate settings that spark a conversation and let you socialise.
Along with the delicious cuisine, bring to your dining table a touch of fresh flowers and the exotic essence of candles. Ensure that the table runner, cutlery, and glassware go well with each other for a cohesive look.
04. Yellow that’s not Mellow
Enough of keeping things light! It’s time to paint everything bright. Let the shades of yellow dominate and cover everything from your walls to your sofas if you want to have Parisian-style interiors. As the core concept is to induce happy vibes, your living room is the best place to start. All you need as a tool is a bright yellow accent and matching furnishings. Consider adding a feature rug in the same tone for a cohesive look.
The Parisian design theme is based on curating spaces that are welcoming and keep you cheerful with their pleasing accents. Aim at achieving a chalky finish in paints for a game-changing visual appeal.
05. Moment for Art Deco
Another fresh trend popping up in Paris is the Art Deco. French-inspired home decor and art often intertwine, with classic French paintings and sculptures enhancing the elegance and sophistication of interior design. The veritable explosion of colours, along with Bauhaus-style fabrics and furnishings are currently being borrowed from the Art Deco Movement and added to Parisian homes.
Ignite cultural eclecticism with nostalgic patterns and experience retro glamour meeting new-age design sensibilities.
06. A Home that Celebrates Design
One of the signature features of Parisian homes is the intricate moldings and details that go into composing a single space. The minute intricacy is what makes them stand out from the other designer homes. Features like ceiling and wall moldings, white walls, herringbone flooring, marble fireplaces, and wrought iron balconies come together to narrate tales from Paris.
The detailed moldings can prove to be a bit harsh on the budget, but there’s a pocket-friendly alternative to them as well. Get the subtle look with plastic foam medallions and enjoy the decor that fits within your budget as well. Let the enclosure nestle these features and celebrate the nuances of Paris in your modern home.
07. Eclectic Floors
Just like other surfaces, flooring also has a key role to play in composing the decor with a Parisian influence. The flooring in Paris-style homes is all about the exploration of personality and textures. Although there are no strict rules when it comes to the styling of spaces, generally, the bedrooms and living room are ornate with parquet floors. The below image shows the laying of parquet floors.
Let innovation take the front seat and add digitally printed floors that look exactly like real wooden flooring. There are numerous options, ranging from herringbone patterns to traditional French flooring. Based on budget constraints, you can pick timeless marble or charming ceramic tiles to cover the floor. Complete the look by adding traditional Persian rugs that will make the entire room warmer and fill the space with charm.
08. Contemporary Lighting for Parisian Style Room
As high ceilings are one of the feature elements in Parisian homes, opt for a statement-making chandelier that complements the height. Invest in contemporary lighting that highlights the classic design elements incorporated into the space.
If the room speaks a modern language, add an antique chandelier and in the case of traditional decor, don’t shy away from bringing a little contemporary twist with feature lighting. In the case of spaces with low ceilings, consider the idea of semi-flushed lights and explore the options from contemporary to classic to pick the one that blends with the rest of the decor.
09. Coexistence of the Old and New in Parisian Chic Style
There’s a matchless appeal in the blend of old and new. Modern homes with traditional styles and colour palettes are the ones that make a one-of-a-kind home. While the home is nuanced in subtleness, modern elements serve as pockets of eclecticism.
Tie the old and new together to narrate a story that’s well-connected and reflects the evolution of your design ideas. The key rule to follow is to avoid making the space too overwhelming or cramped. While you add classic furniture to common spaces like the dining room and living area, opt for a contemporary bed design for your bedrooms. The idea is to keep the entire look balanced and in sync with each other.
10. Nature within Homes
One of the best accessories in Parisian homes is nature. Whether you’re letting in nature through large windows or bringing planters inside, the entire space will be jazzed up with this little addition. Go for large planters and add fresh florals to make the space bloom anew. You can illustrate your inclination towards nature by adding wallpapers on accent walls. The prints can be anything from vibrant green jungle to petite pink flowers.
Place your favourite plants on the balcony, and ensure to bring a few of those inside as well. The humbleness of natural elements will eventually offer you satisfaction as you live with them inside. Let the indoor greenery be one of the major attention-seekers and space-makers in Paris-style homes.
DIY Paris Style with Home Elements
We’re sure that Parisian styles have enticed you into transforming your home decor into one that resembles them. In case you’re not planning for a hefty remodelling process, there’s nothing to stress about, as we’ve got smart hacks to run Paris themes in your homes all on your own.
- Begin with the Framework: The starting point, in this case, is to select the framework with which you want to begin.
- Introduce Elements that Resonate with the Theme: In order to bring a Parisian flair to the space, all you need to do is look for French country-style elements and offer a space to put them up.
- Matte and Shiny: Buy a gilt-leaf mirror and hang it on the wall to serve as one of the reflecting surfaces that also offer insights into your rich taste in design.
- A Mix of Antiques: For a modern space, ensure that the elements you’re choosing are antique.
- Gold Glamour: A soft gold finish and a little matteness in design are all you need for the reimagination of your home in Parisian decor.
- Chandelier Shopping: Let the chandelier serve as one of the eye-catchy features and bring nostalgic qualities with its classic form and design.
Are you ready to buy a ticket to Paris? Look at those empty walls that are waiting for a Parisian story to be written on them. Gather your tools and start the transformation of your home décor with these Parisian-style home décor ideas. A little investment and a smart design approach will define the character and offer a stylish abode. Tick off the list of all the must-haves and treat yourself to a dazzling home design.
Keep the metallic accents that reflect a retro look and stay modern with the palette as you curate a design that’s synonymous with eclectism.
Also read
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.