5 Things the French Interior Designers Do When Decorating

If you want to style your home like a Parisian, pay attention to french interiors first. Grab some ideas and explore the Parisian style, since French people have a flair for refined, yer effortless homes. Speaking of their homes, they look chic at first glance and are always welcoming and classic, but with a modern edge. You see after all French apartments are described just like the effortless style of Parisian women – simple and timeless.

Have you ever heard of Constance Gennari? She is a Parisian and the founder of  The Socialite Family, a website that features the homes of everyday French families. So by being an expert and by having visited and photographed the homes of hundreds of Parisians she really has a lot to say on the matter. Thanks to that now you have the opportunity to find out what makes French decor so covetable and how to implement it at your home.

Embrace Imperfection

When asked about decorating in the States and France she had some fundamental differences to spot on. American style asks for more perfectionism than the French, and the French treasure has something more to offer. And ff wondering what the result is, then Gennari already gave the answer to that. A space that feels more lived-in than immaculate is the thing to be remembered.

Master the Mix

One thing about the French designers is that they have no qualms about mixing things. For example, placing a modern chair right next to an 18th- century dresser. To them, it’s all about the mix, obviously. They really love to mix vintage and contemporary furniture, while the Americans are more homogenized when it comes to style. It’s all about the tension and the dynamic of the different periods and styles.

Audacity

Gennari is that good at her work, that she shared the three secrets to decorating like French people. The first one is to be aware that perfection does not exist, then the second one follows – know how to mix different styles! And the third one would be to be audacious in your choices, so don’t worry too much now when you know the secrets. One thing more that she says is that as long as the proportions are right, fitting pieces together shouldn’t be a problem. Just love every single piece and you will find your personal style through error and trial.

Draw from your personal history

Before diving into this area ask yourself first do you have some pieces that your family has collected that you can incorporate in your decor? If there are, are they a collection of nautical memorabilia, or maybe they have a midcentury penchant; or rugs and textiles from their own family heritage?

This is so useful as Gennari says because her style is linked to her personal education. She grew up with her mother being from Paris and her father from Milan. Her mother, an artist, had a broad collection on Empire-style and 18th-century furniture. Spending her childhood at Les Puces with her mother negotiating with the merchants hailed her style.

So, don’t be full of doubts and weave these pieces in with your own personal taste. You will definitely create a sense of history in your home.

Educate yourself

Does this bed look to you as an average daybed? We hope not, because a discerning eye knows that this piece was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He used to be one of the most influential designers of the 20th century, so if this style interests you can read up on the designers. Also, you can read their history of creating the movement. Gennari personally likes Gino Sarfatti’s lights, Alain Richard’s lights, Osvaldo Borsani’s chairs, and Pierre Paulin‘s desks. One thing more, if you are familiar with these names then this is a good place to start.