Interior Design with a French Air

If you're looking for elegant and delicate decor, a French decor style is what you've been missing.

If you’ve ever been to France, true French decor has probably made a great impression on you. The French take great care to keep things presentable and will mind every last detail. Today, we want to take you deeper into the French decor style.

In both public and private spaces, the French love presentable settings. In other words, they put a great deal into showing a distinctive and elaborated decor that reflects their good sense and delicateness.

Most importantly, French decor looks for a certain robustness and dynamism while using all kinds of different decor resources. The decor resources have to match and relate to each other harmoniously. French decor turns away from aesthetic dichotomies and instead aims to link together elements that make up a decor.

So where did the French decor style exactly originate?

There isn’t too much mystery behind the origins of this decor style: palace decor. The French decor style comes to us from the highest classes of nobility and bourgeoisie. In the 17th century, these groups made it a point to decorate their home interiors with great detail.

The Palace of Versailles is a wonderful example of the French decor style. The Palace has been a prime example that still serves as a French decor guide even centuries later. As it comes from nobility, this decor style will always evoke the palaces of the past in all of their glory.

But how can we even begin to describe it? To get close, we can use words like delicate, elegant, detailed, tender, movement, dynamism, textures, and polychrome.

Pure elegance for your French-air living and dining room

It’s no secret that the living room is the room to entertain guests and where families spend most of their time. In light of that, you should take the time to decorate your living room well and if you want to add elegance or enhance the decor, consider taking a cue from the French.

• Your furniture, mainly its design, will help create a French decor style. The edges of your chairs should be curved, round, or feature rockery designs; in any case, they shouldn’t be straight. The same goes for your table.
• Curtains should flow along with your table and chairs. They should have a dramatic air, which was a design concept throughout the 17th and 18th centuries: dynamic with openings and of course, a valance on top.
• Aim for wooden floors. You can also cover your floors with a large rug with geometric patterns or designs. The result could be fabulously shabby chic that keeps all the room’s features in harmony.

Simple wall color

If you’re not quite sure which colors to use on your walls, don’t go in over your head. Choosing the right color is simple and straightforward.

White will be your main color. It allows you to match with other colors easily while creating a chromatic balance as well. You can also use other colors on your walls as long as you make sure to match them well.

Pastel colors are the most popular options for this decor style. Light greens and blues, as well as warmer tones like salmon, can also create a setting with an elegant color palette.

Other French-style decorative resources

Of course, there are other elements that you can also use to create an elegant French room. Some examples are:

• Mirrors: you don’t have to use a lot of mirrors, but they’re a great resource. Mirrors generate depth and can have a frame that continues the dynamism of the rest of your furniture. Make sure to find one that has movement and curves.
• Central light fixture: this is an absolute must. Whether a chandelier with circle-, diamond- or another-cut glass, it’ll be a clear sign of opulence.
• Plants: besides the natural feel and color they provide, they also create an emotional, delicate setting.
• Chesterfield sofa: you need a couch in your living room, and a Chesterfield can be a great option, whether leather or velvet.