Decorating
5 Decorating Ideas to Steal from the French
Pick up some savvy design tricks popular in France and see how Gallic style could boost your interior
I’m a French native living abroad and find it endlessly fascinating to put my two countries side by side to compare them. Neither stands head and shoulders above the other and I love them both, but there’s much each could learn from the other. Here are five things the French often do when they renovate – you might like to consider some of them for your next project.
If you think you’re going to stay in your home for a few years, why not lean away from the neutrals-everywhere scheme and embrace colour? If you’re unsure, maybe only commit to reversible items – things you could change at a reasonable cost, such as paint, wallpaper or a splashback.
There’s no need to limit yourself to living areas. Strong colours can work in any room, even in wet rooms where white often rules. Just make sure your room gets lots of natural light or it could look gloomy.
If you don’t feel too daring but are still tempted to embrace bold colours, why not start with a small room, such as a walk-in wardrobe or cloakroom? Such spaces are often given little thought, but jazzing them up could really boost your mood – and your colour confidence.
If you don’t feel too daring but are still tempted to embrace bold colours, why not start with a small room, such as a walk-in wardrobe or cloakroom? Such spaces are often given little thought, but jazzing them up could really boost your mood – and your colour confidence.
2 Adopt an open-yet-not-open-plan living approach
Open-plan living has been ruling the world of interiors for a few years, yet it doesn’t work for everyone. Not everyone enjoys sharing the same living space as kitchen appliances. Not everyone enjoys kitchen smells – and noise – while trying to practise the piano, watch TV or simply have a chat with guests on the nearby sofa. Not everyone enjoys not being able to comfortably cool down or heat up their living space without breaking the bank (and our planet).
Explore the trend for ‘broken-plan’ living
Open-plan living has been ruling the world of interiors for a few years, yet it doesn’t work for everyone. Not everyone enjoys sharing the same living space as kitchen appliances. Not everyone enjoys kitchen smells – and noise – while trying to practise the piano, watch TV or simply have a chat with guests on the nearby sofa. Not everyone enjoys not being able to comfortably cool down or heat up their living space without breaking the bank (and our planet).
Explore the trend for ‘broken-plan’ living
For the last few years, the French have been crazy about ‘verrieres’ – glass partitions that create a sense of open space and allow light to go through, but which also provide the possibility of closing off some areas when necessary.
It’s not a new concept – in fact, verrieres were very popular in industrial settings of the early 20th century, and they can be found in countless public and private buildings throughout France.
It’s not a new concept – in fact, verrieres were very popular in industrial settings of the early 20th century, and they can be found in countless public and private buildings throughout France.
Today, they’re loved for their cosmetic value as much as their practicality – and indeed can create an interesting architectural focal point in an otherwise generic room.
Verrieres are also a great option when dealing with a load-bearing wall. Because they don’t require the entire wall to be taken down, they can be more cost-effective than a full-wall removal.
Verrieres are also a great option when dealing with a load-bearing wall. Because they don’t require the entire wall to be taken down, they can be more cost-effective than a full-wall removal.
3 Love your nooks and crannies
Limited (and often awkward) spaces in old French interiors call for resourcefulness. Many period homes have a serious lack of storage, too, as well as uneven walls, unlevelled floors and other quirks that make standard storage solutions a bit of a challenge.
Check out more ideas for small kitchens in the Houzz photo stream
Limited (and often awkward) spaces in old French interiors call for resourcefulness. Many period homes have a serious lack of storage, too, as well as uneven walls, unlevelled floors and other quirks that make standard storage solutions a bit of a challenge.
Check out more ideas for small kitchens in the Houzz photo stream
Take a good, honest look around your home. Can you spot any unused area where a few shelves could fit? Or maybe some shallow kitchen cabinets could fit in that space under your window? What about adding a small bookcase under your kitchen island?
If it looks a little too wonky and you’re after a minimalist style, you might want to choose a finish that’s similar to your wall colour, so the storage blends in better. However, for a quirkier appeal, don’t hesitate to embrace the not-quite-right. Using a different colour to outline its irregularity is a perfect way to achieve this.
Get ideas for creating storage under your stairs
If it looks a little too wonky and you’re after a minimalist style, you might want to choose a finish that’s similar to your wall colour, so the storage blends in better. However, for a quirkier appeal, don’t hesitate to embrace the not-quite-right. Using a different colour to outline its irregularity is a perfect way to achieve this.
Get ideas for creating storage under your stairs
4 Let there be light
Natural light can be limited in France, depending on the region. Yet the French are crazy for natural light, and for all the right reasons. It boosts mood and makes any space look larger, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful, too. But what do you do when you have a dark house and can’t create a new window because of local regulations or sharing a wall with the neighbour? Look up!
Natural light can be limited in France, depending on the region. Yet the French are crazy for natural light, and for all the right reasons. It boosts mood and makes any space look larger, cleaner, healthier and more beautiful, too. But what do you do when you have a dark house and can’t create a new window because of local regulations or sharing a wall with the neighbour? Look up!
Skylights have been popular in France for more than 50 years. As the French started converting their attics to create additional living/sleeping space or individual apartments, the need for roof windows has increased exponentially.
Today, skylights are present in a variety of dwelling types and come with many options: double or triple glazing for insulation, fitted roller shutter or block-out curtains, electric, manual, solar-powered or fixed panels.
How to choose the perfect windows for your home
Today, skylights are present in a variety of dwelling types and come with many options: double or triple glazing for insulation, fitted roller shutter or block-out curtains, electric, manual, solar-powered or fixed panels.
How to choose the perfect windows for your home
Two-storey home? Glass floors may be an option for you (check with a good builder). This way, you get some of the light from your upper storey and an impression of a larger space, too.
When artificial light is required, the French love using dramatic fixtures that will add some oomph to their space, like this amazing pendant by Petite Friture.
5 Enrich the soul
When it comes to renovating –especially when it comes to old buildings – the French love mixing character features with contemporary lines and materials. To them, that’s what gives a home its uniqueness, its soul.
When it comes to renovating –especially when it comes to old buildings – the French love mixing character features with contemporary lines and materials. To them, that’s what gives a home its uniqueness, its soul.
In this kitchen, as an example, the rustic stone wall works beautifully with the minimalist oak cabinets, the white render and the matt concrete floor.
You don’t have to have a very old house to enhance its natural beauty. Sometimes, you can add some character and authenticity by revealing (or not hiding) some of its structural aspects.
Here, a brick wall has been left exposed. The whitewashing allows for it to integrate well within the room (reducing what could have been visual clutter), but the texture and subtle pattern of the bricks add interest and charm.
Here, a brick wall has been left exposed. The whitewashing allows for it to integrate well within the room (reducing what could have been visual clutter), but the texture and subtle pattern of the bricks add interest and charm.
Alternatively, you can opt for materials, finishes or techniques that do create an imperfect look.
Lime paints, polished plaster and tadelakt (Moroccan lime plaster) have been used for centuries around the world and are very popular in France. They are wonderful options for an organic look that works equally well in traditional and contemporary homes.
What do you think of these French renovating trends? Which would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Lime paints, polished plaster and tadelakt (Moroccan lime plaster) have been used for centuries around the world and are very popular in France. They are wonderful options for an organic look that works equally well in traditional and contemporary homes.
What do you think of these French renovating trends? Which would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Buying a house and doing it up to sell is not really a French thing. When we buy a property, it’s often with a long-term view, and we see renovating as a way to put our stamp on the place, to make it our home.
As a result, we don’t renovate and decorate with a ‘market’ approach – we want to make ourselves happy and we don’t really care about a potential buyer. Not surprisingly, this often translates into more individual spaces where strong colours are applied generously.