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For years, I’ve been obsessed with the French woman’s style. From their elegant wardrobes to their timeless home aesthetics, everything carries an air of understated sophistication that looks (somehow) polished without trying too hard. So, as a home editor, you can imagine how elated I am to see this year’s design trends lean toward classic French style. But replicating their effortlessly chic, vintage-inspired interiors can feel like an uphill battle. So below, find ten items every French woman has in her home, from furniture and decor to dried florals and more.
RELATED: The 9 Items Every French Woman Has in Her Closet
A post shared by Sacha Cappuccino (@riccialexandra)
1. UNEXPECTED ANTIQUES When it comes to decor, the French are less concerned about what will look good—and more interested in finding beautiful pieces that evoke a personal, visceral reaction. Betsy Kasha, French designer and co-founder of A+B Kasha tells Mydomaine.com: “Break the rules! Have fun with your décor…Half the fun is in the search.” To do this, Kasha suggests: “Go to flea markets and antique shops. Get to know your own personal style. When an object makes you stop in your tracks and say: I need that 17th-century tapestry—that's your sign.” French-influencer Sacha Cappuccino is a master of this, who fills her space with gentle reminders of her passions—from a vintage suitcase to a wall lined with sporting equipment—in the photo above.
Shop the look: Antique Iron Skeleton Key ($30); Vintage Italian Alarm-Clock (from $40); Antique Set of Brass Bell Weights ($52)
A post shared by Sabina Socol (@sabinasocol)
2. BARENAKED BOOKS Now that you have a few one-of-a-kind pieces, you’ll need to bring the look together on your shelves. The best way to do this? Take it from the ‘gram above, where Sabina Socol, one of our favorite French influencers, accentuates her library with everything from an animal skeleton to a pair of bowling pins. “Book jackets are useful, but the physical book cover is usually more beautiful. Remove the jackets and stash them somewhere for a more classic, uniform look,” Kasha suggests. However, she also warns that your bookcase should look natural, not staged: “It still needs to feel like a usable library—the French actually read their books, you know.”
Shop the look: Set of Hardcover Mixed Antique Vintage Books ($38); Neutral Staging Books ($20); Set of European 19th Century Leather-Bound Books ($565)
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3. AN ARTISAN AREA RUG By now, you’ve probably noticed that the French are all about antique and artisanal designs—and a handmade area rug is your ticket to bringing the whole look together. This can vary from an understated, handmade shag to a vintage Persian design you found at the flea market. Just make sure it anchors the decor and adds to the original charm of the space.
Shop the look: Aubusson Area Rug with Baroque Floral Chintz ($4,900); Vintage French Country Area Rug ($350); Amelie Oriental Area Rug (from $75)
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4. A MISMATCHED GALLERY WALL Next up is an edgy, curated gallery wall with mismatched frames that create dimension and draw visual interest. If you’re struggling with where to start, 1stDibs Editorial and Fine Art Director Anthony Barzilay Freund recommends “artfully mixing works of various size and quality.” He says this can be anything from “well-known prints grouped with beautifully framed textiles or needlepoint, family photos or a child’s explorations in fingerpainting.” So, if your story says kids lunches by day and party girl by night, feel free to display a framed print of Ingrid Bergman smoking next to your family vacay photos—you’ll be the coolest mom in town.
Shop the look: Vintage Style Gallery Wall Frame Set ($222);Antique French Gallery Wall Print Set ($7); Chateau Gallery Wall Print Collection ($1,499)
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5. A JEWEL-TONED STATEMENT SOFA Another way to achieve an antique yet au courant look? By mixing vintage pieces with new, trendy items. ICYMI, jewel-toned furniture is hot right now—and it’s all about the velvet statement sofa. The golden-yellow hue shown in the sofa above is a longtime French-fave—along with a few mismatched, eclectic throw pillows, of course. But you can also go with deeper tones like emerald green or ruby red for a more dramatic, opulent look.
Shop the look: Massoud Hunter Velvet 3-Piece Sectional ($14,239); Milly Velvet Sofa ($999); Hollingworth Sofa by Ginny Macdonald (from $3,898)
A post shared by Jeanne Damas (@jeannedamas)
6. DEMIJOHN BOTTLES AND DRIED FLORALS Search any French it girl’s home and we can almost guarantee you’ll spot a demijohn bottle (AKA a carboy bottle) that’s filled with dried florals. It’s a *must-have* when it comes to French decor and they come in all different sizes and colors—from amber and clear to deep green finishes that are so right now. Luckily, you don’t need to travel to the L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue market to make this look happen. Etsy is your best bet for finding a reasonably priced demijohn bottle with dried florals to boot.
Shop the look: Transparent White And Green Demijohn Vase ($46); Vintage Set of 3 Demijohns ($63); Dried Lagurus Pampas ($20)
A post shared by Fanny (@fannyb)
7. LIGHT AND AIRY LINENS The idyllic bedroom of blogger Fanny B’s Parisian pied-à-terre above would be incomplete without its light, billowy linens. But your apartment doesn’t need floor-to-ceiling windows or ornate moldings for you to replicate this look. You can maximize the natural light of your space with dreamy white percale bedding and semi-sheer Belgian flax drapes. The look should say laissez faire meets luxury with solid, understated linens that can subtly elevate the sun’s rays.
Shop the look: Boll & Branch Classic Hemmed Duvet Cover and Shams Set ($265); Belgian Flax Linen Sheer Tie-Top Curtain ($47); Brooklinen Percale Classic Core Sheet Set ($129);
A post shared by Georgina pimpe sa maison (@je.te.pimpe.maisonjolie)
8. A GRANDIOSE MIRROR One thing that everyone has been copying from the French? Large statement mirrors. The look has been around for centuries (see: the Palace of Versailles) and it typically features a large, framed mirror with gilded accent. Think: Anthropologie’s Primrose Floor Mirror, where the frame’s jeweled embellishments represent the maximalism and elegance of the Baroque period, and its sleek, arched shape skews more modern and minimalistic.
Shop the look: Anthropologie Primrose Floor Mirror (from $548); Metal Vintage Style Leaning Full Length Mirror ($300);Vintage French Louis XV Giltwood Wall Mirror ($760)
A post shared by Jeanne Damas (@jeannedamas)
9. A RUSTIC FARMHOUSE TABLE You know those perfectly styled yet messy tablescapes you’ve seen all over #DinnerParty TikTok? Well, it all stems from entertaining à la Française—and a French dinner party would be nothing without a rustic, understatedly-elegant dining table. If you’re looking to splurge, search for an antique, restored farmhouse table that looks like it’s been plucked from a cottage in Vienne. Or you can achieve the same effect with an simple farmhouse table that can be draped in luxurious linens.
Shop the look: Kinston Pedestal Dining Table ($1,240); 1930's French Farmhouse Table ($2,258);Millwood Pines Solid Wood Dining Table ($410)
A post shared by Giulia Gabriele (@giuliagabriele___)
10. A CLUSTER OF CANDLES Decor? Check. Artwork? Check. Furniture? Check. The only thing your French-inspired space needs now is a cluster of candles. Like everything else, you want the look to be relaxed yet luxurious, so be sure your selections are subdued enough to make a statement when they’re styled together (or just shop our picks below).
Shop the look: Diptyque Baies Candle ($38); Allsaints Sunset Riot Scented Candle ($45); Jo Malone Orange Blossom Scented Home Candle ($70)
RELATED: 24 Easy French Recipes to Make in Under an Hour
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