Yes, you can bring Parisian apartment style into your home without living in Paris. The magic of French design comes from mixing old and new, picking pieces with care, and creating spaces that feel lived-in and loved.
This guide shows you 12 simple ways to add that famous Parisian charm to your space. You’ll learn about floors, furniture, colors, and small touches that make big changes. Whether you rent a small apartment or own a big house, these ideas work for any space and any budget.
What Makes Parisian Apartments Special
Parisian apartments have a look you can spot right away. They mix history with today’s style. Think tall ceilings, big windows, fancy wall details, and beautiful floors. But it’s not just about looks. It’s about how everything feels together.
Real Parisian homes blend family pieces with flea market finds. They show off books, art, and travel memories. Nothing looks too perfect or too new. That’s the secret. The space should tell your story.
The Key Elements of French Style
French design follows simple rules. Use neutral colors as your base. Add natural materials like wood and marble. Mix old furniture with new pieces. Keep things simple but special. Every item should have a reason for being there.
According to design experts, Parisian style works because it balances past and present. Classic pieces like Louis XVI chairs sit next to modern sofas. Gilded mirrors hang above sleek tables. This mix creates spaces that feel both timeless and fresh.
Herringbone and Chevron Floors
The floor makes or breaks a Parisian look. Walk into any Paris apartment and you’ll likely see wood floors laid in patterns. Herringbone and chevron are the two most popular styles.
Understanding the Patterns
Herringbone has a broken zigzag pattern. The wood pieces meet at angles, creating visual movement. Chevron forms a perfect point where pieces meet end-to-end in straight lines. Both patterns add instant French flair.
These floors became popular in Paris centuries ago. They were cheaper than solid marble but looked just as fancy. Today, they remain a favorite choice for adding European charm to any room.
How to Add This Look
You don’t need to rip up your floors to get this style. Peel-and-stick tiles that look like herringbone wood now exist. They’re easy to put down and look real. For a bigger project, hire professionals to install real wood floors in these patterns.
Choose light or medium wood tones. Very dark floors can make small spaces feel smaller. Light oak or blonde wood keeps rooms bright and open. This works especially well in apartments with limited natural light.
Marble Accents Everywhere
Marble shows up all over Parisian apartments. It’s not just in bathrooms. You’ll find marble on tables, around fireplaces, on counters, and even as wall details.
Smart Ways to Use Marble
Start small with a marble side table or tray. These pieces cost less but add instant elegance. A marble cutting board in the kitchen doubles as decoration when not in use. Marble coasters protect furniture while looking chic.
For bigger projects, consider marble countertops in the kitchen or bathroom. A marble fireplace surround creates a stunning focal point in living rooms. Even a small strip of marble tile as a backsplash adds French style.
Choosing the Right Marble
White marble with gray veins is the most classic choice. Carrara marble offers this look at a good price. For something warmer, try beige or cream-toned marble. The natural variations in each piece make your space unique.
Marble needs some care. Seal it to protect against stains. Wipe up spills quickly, especially acidic liquids like lemon juice or wine. But don’t let maintenance scare you. Many modern marble options come pre-sealed and ready to use.
High Ceilings and Molding Details
Tall ceilings and decorative molding define Parisian architecture. These features make rooms feel grand, even when they’re small. The good news? You can fake this look in regular homes.
Working With Your Ceiling Height
If you have standard 8-foot ceilings, use tricks to make them look taller. Paint the ceiling the same color as walls. This removes the visual break and extends the space upward. Hang curtains from the ceiling, not just above the window frame.
Add crown molding where walls meet ceilings. This classic touch instantly elevates any room. For a true Parisian feel, look for wider molding with decorative details. Paint it white for traditional style or match your wall color for a modern twist.
Creating Architectural Interest
Ceiling medallions around light fixtures add character. You can buy these at home stores and install them yourself with adhesive. They come in different sizes and styles, from simple circles to ornate patterns.
Wall paneling creates depth and interest. Picture frame molding forms rectangular shapes on walls. This technique, called boiserie in French, appears in many Paris apartments. Paint the panels in your wall color or use a slightly different shade for subtle contrast.
Statement Chandeliers and Lighting
Lighting changes everything in a room. Parisians understand this. They use chandeliers as jewelry for their homes. Even tiny apartments often have grand lighting fixtures.
Choosing Your Chandelier
Crystal chandeliers are the most classic choice. They reflect light and create sparkle. But don’t feel limited to traditional styles. Modern chandeliers with brass or black metal also work well in Parisian-inspired spaces.
Size matters. Many people pick chandeliers that are too small. A good rule: add the room’s length and width in feet. That number in inches is how wide your chandelier should be. So a 12-foot by 14-foot room needs a 26-inch wide chandelier.
Layering Your Lighting
Don’t rely on one ceiling light. Add table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces. This creates layers of light at different heights. Use warm-toned bulbs, not cool white ones. Warm light makes spaces feel cozy and inviting.
Candles add romance and atmosphere. Group them on trays or in different heights on mantels. The flickering light creates shadows and depth. Real candles work best, but good quality LED candles offer convenience without the fire risk.
Neutral Color Palettes
Parisian apartments stick to soft, neutral colors. White, cream, beige, gray, and taupe dominate. These colors create calm spaces that never go out of style.
Building Your Base
Start with white or off-white walls. This reflects light and makes rooms feel larger. Don’t worry about white being boring. Layer different shades of white and cream for depth. Your walls, ceiling, trim, and furniture can all be different whites.
Add warmth with beige and tan. These colors work especially well in spaces with lots of natural light. Taupe combines gray and beige for a sophisticated middle ground. It pairs beautifully with both warm and cool accent colors.
Adding Subtle Color
Parisians do use color, but with restraint. Muted blues, soft greens, dusty pinks, and warm terracotta appear in small doses. Use these shades in throw pillows, artwork, or a single accent chair.
Avoid bright, bold colors in large amounts. Instead, choose colors that look like they’ve faded slightly with time. This aged quality fits the Parisian aesthetic of lived-in elegance. Think the color of old books or vintage linens.
Mixing Old and New Furniture
Parisian style isn’t about matching sets. It’s about mixing pieces from different times. A vintage armoire stands next to a modern sofa. An antique desk holds a sleek new lamp. This combination creates character.
Finding Vintage Pieces
You don’t need expensive antiques. Flea markets, estate sales, and thrift stores hide treasures. Look for solid wood furniture with good bones. You can always repaint or reupholster pieces to fit your space.
Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist offer local finds. Search for terms like “French Provincial,” “Louis style,” or simply “vintage wood furniture.” Be patient. The perfect piece takes time to find.
Blending Styles Successfully
Start with one strong vintage piece as your anchor. Maybe it’s a carved wood dresser or a velvet tufted chair. Build around it with simpler, modern pieces. This lets the special item shine without overwhelming the room.
Keep the scale in mind. Big, heavy antiques need breathing room. Pair them with lighter, more minimal modern furniture. This balance prevents rooms from feeling cluttered or outdated.
According to interior designers specializing in French style, the key is intentional mixing. Choose pieces that share a common element, like similar wood tones or complementary curves. This creates visual harmony even when styles differ.
Art and Books as Decoration
Books aren’t just for reading in Paris. They’re decoration. Stacks of art books sit on coffee tables. Bookshelves line walls from floor to ceiling. This shows intellectual curiosity and personal taste.
Displaying Books with Style
Create organized stacks on tables, floors, and shelves. Mix horizontal and vertical arrangements. Place larger, heavier books on the bottom of stacks. Top them with smaller books or decorative objects.
Choose books with beautiful covers. Art books, coffee table books about fashion or travel, and vintage books with interesting spines all work well. You can find these at used bookstores for just a few dollars each.
Curating Your Art Collection
Gallery walls work perfectly in Parisian spaces. Mix different sizes of frames, but keep a common thread. Maybe all black frames or all gold. Or use mismatched vintage frames for an collected-over-time look.
Lean artwork against walls instead of hanging everything. Stack a few pieces on a dresser or mantel. This casual approach feels more relaxed and personal. It also lets you change things easily.
Don’t forget sculpture. Small busts, figurines, or modern abstract pieces add three-dimensional interest. White or cream-colored sculptures work especially well in neutral spaces. They create visual interest without adding color.
Windows and Natural Light
Big windows are a hallmark of Parisian apartments. They flood rooms with natural light. While you can’t change your windows, you can make the most of them.
Window Treatment Options
Keep curtains simple and light. Sheer white linen curtains filter light while maintaining privacy. Hang them high and wide to make windows look larger. Let them puddle slightly on the floor for a relaxed look.
If you need blackout capability for bedrooms, use layered treatments. Sheer curtains during the day, with heavier drapes you can close at night. Choose natural fabrics like linen or cotton over synthetic materials.
For a more minimal look, skip curtains entirely. Many Parisian apartments have beautiful molding around windows that deserves to be seen. If privacy isn’t an issue, leave windows bare to maximize light.
Maximizing Natural Light
Place mirrors across from or near windows. They bounce light around the room, making spaces brighter. Large floor mirrors or groupings of smaller mirrors work well for this purpose.
Keep windows clean and unobstructed. Don’t place tall furniture directly in front of windows. Let light flow freely into your space. This simple step makes rooms feel more open and airy.
Paint window frames and molding in crisp white. This frames the view and makes windows stand out. It also reflects more light back into the room compared to darker trim colors.
Small Space Solutions
Most Parisian apartments aren’t huge. Many are quite small by American standards. But they feel spacious and comfortable. Smart design makes this possible.
Furniture That Works Harder
Choose pieces that serve multiple purposes. A ottoman with storage inside. A dining table that extends for guests. A sofa bed for the occasional overnight visitor. This maximizes function without adding clutter.
Built-in furniture saves space and looks custom. Floating shelves instead of bulky bookcases. A built-in desk in a tiny nook. Window seats with storage underneath. These solutions use every inch wisely.
Creating Flow and Space
Pull furniture away from walls. This sounds wrong, but it actually makes rooms feel bigger. Float your sofa a few feet from the wall. Create conversation areas with chairs facing each other. This defines zones in open spaces.
Use furniture with legs instead of pieces that sit directly on the floor. Seeing under furniture creates the illusion of more floor space. Choose sofas, beds, and chairs that show their legs, not solid pieces that touch the ground.
According to Parisian interior designer Marianne Evennou, who specializes in small apartments, using interior windows between rooms brings light into darker spaces. Glass partitions or steel-framed windows let you see through to other areas, making everything feel more connected and spacious.
Textiles and Layers
Fabrics add warmth and texture to Parisian spaces. Linen, velvet, cotton, and silk appear throughout. Layering different materials creates depth and comfort.
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Linen is the queen of Parisian textiles. It looks casual but elegant. Use linen for curtains, throw pillows, bedding, and even slipcovers. Its natural wrinkles add to the relaxed aesthetic. Don’t iron it perfectly smooth.
Velvet adds luxury and softness. A velvet throw pillow or chair brings richness without looking too fancy. Choose muted colors like gray, dusty blue, or blush pink. Avoid shiny, costume-like velvets. Look for cotton or linen velvet with a soft, matte finish.
Layering for Warmth
Build layers on sofas and beds. Start with solid colors, then add patterned pillows. Mix different sizes and shapes. Two large pillows, two medium, and one small creates good visual balance.
Throw blankets draped over furniture arms or folded at the end of beds add texture and comfort. Choose natural fibers like wool, cotton, or linen. Synthetic throws can look cheap and pill quickly.
Area rugs define spaces and add softness underfoot. In Parisian apartments with beautiful wood floors, rugs protect high-traffic areas while adding color and pattern. Persian or Oriental rugs work well, as do simple natural fiber rugs like jute or sisal.
Brass and Gold Accents
Metallic touches add warmth and shine to Parisian interiors. Brass and gold appear in hardware, light fixtures, mirrors, and decorative objects. These metals feel both classic and modern.
Where to Add Metallics
Start with small hardware. Replace basic drawer pulls and cabinet handles with brass or gold ones. Switch out light switch plates and door knobs. These tiny changes make surprising impact.
Bathroom and kitchen fixtures offer great opportunities. Brass faucets, shower heads, and towel bars instantly upgrade these spaces. They pair beautifully with white tiles and marble. If full replacement isn’t in the budget, you can actually spray paint existing fixtures with specialty metallic paint.
Mixing Metals the Right Way
You can mix metals, but do it intentionally. Brass and gold read as warm tones. They pair well together. You can also mix in black metal or aged bronze for contrast. Just keep the ratio uneven. About 70% of one metal and 30% of another creates balance.
Avoid mixing too many metal finishes in one small space. A bathroom might have brass faucets and light fixtures, with one black mirror frame for contrast. That works. Adding chrome, copper, and silver too would look confused.
The Power of Mirrors
Mirrors do more than show reflections. They add light, create depth, and serve as art. Parisian apartments use mirrors generously, especially large ones with beautiful frames.
Choosing Your Mirrors
Gilded mirrors with ornate gold frames scream Parisian style. Look for vintage ones at antique shops or new reproductions at home stores. Lean a large floor mirror against a wall instead of hanging it. This casual approach feels very French.
Mirrors placed above fireplaces or consoles create focal points. They should be roughly two-thirds the width of the furniture below them. This proportion looks balanced and intentional.
Strategic Mirror Placement
Hang mirrors across from windows to reflect natural light. This brightens rooms significantly, especially important in small or dark spaces. A mirror at the end of a hallway makes it feel longer and more grand.
Group smaller mirrors together for impact. Create a gallery wall of vintage mirrors in different shapes and sizes. All gilded or all black frames keeps the collection cohesive. This works especially well in entryways or dining rooms.
According to design research, mirrors can make small rooms feel up to 40% larger. The key is placing them where they’ll reflect something interesting, like a pretty view or a beautiful light fixture, not blank walls or clutter.
Personal Touches and Collections
The most important element of Parisian style is making it yours. Your apartment should tell your story. Travel souvenirs, family heirlooms, and personal collections make spaces feel lived-in and loved.
Displaying Collectibles
Create a cabinet of curiosities. Display interesting objects on shelves or in glass-front cabinets. Mix old and new, valuable and sentimental. Vintage bottles, small sculptures, interesting rocks, pretty boxes all work.
Keep collections edited and intentional. Too many items look like clutter. Choose your favorites and store the rest. Rotate displays seasonally to keep things fresh without buying new items.
Adding Fresh Elements
Fresh flowers appear in Parisian homes year-round. Simple arrangements in glass vases work best. White flowers in particular look elegant and classic. If fresh flowers aren’t practical, high-quality faux arrangements fool most people now.
Plants bring life and color to neutral spaces. Fiddle leaf figs, monstera, or pothos all grow well indoors. Place them in simple pots, nothing too fancy. The plant itself should be the star.
Scent matters too. Parisians love candles and diffusers. Choose sophisticated scents like fig, white flowers, or subtle citrus. Avoid artificial, overly sweet smells. Good scents make homes memorable and welcoming.
Final Thoughts
Creating a Parisian apartment feel doesn’t require moving to France or spending a fortune. It’s about understanding key elements and applying them to your space. Start with herringbone floors or floor patterns. Add marble accents where possible. Mix old and new furniture. Keep colors neutral and soft.
Remember that Parisian style celebrates imperfection. Worn vintage pieces tell better stories than brand-new furniture. Stacks of books show you actually read. Art leaning against walls suggests you might rearrange things tomorrow. This lived-in quality makes spaces feel real and inviting, not like showrooms.
The beauty of this style is its flexibility. You can adapt it to any space, any budget, and any personal style. Take what speaks to you and leave the rest. Maybe you love herringbone floors but don’t need a chandelier. Perhaps marble isn’t your thing but you adore neutral colors and linen textiles. Make it yours.
Start small with one or two changes. Replace hardware with brass. Add some books to your coffee table. Hang sheer linen curtains. Notice how these little shifts change the whole feel. Then build from there, adding elements as you find pieces you love.
Your home should feel like the best version of you. Use Parisian style as inspiration, not rules. Create spaces that make you happy to come home. That’s the real secret behind those gorgeous Paris apartments we all admire.
Ready to start your Parisian apartment transformation? Begin with the element that excites you most. Your space already has potential. These ideas just help bring it out. Enjoy the process of making your home more beautiful, one French-inspired detail at a time.
For more home design inspiration, explore our guides on vintage home decor ideas, romantic bedroom decor, and small living room design. These resources offer additional ways to create beautiful, livable spaces that reflect your personal style.
