Paris – home to the Eiffel Tower and the city of luxury, romance, style, and class. In 2022, Paris was one of the most visited cities in the world, so it is no surprise that many people are trying to usher some Parisian goodness into their homes.
But before you begin your decor journey, you need to learn about some basic elements to incorporate into your space. These basic elements set the pace and tone for the rest of your vintage decor to look congruent.
In this lengthy blog post, you will learn what defines the true vintage Parisian aesthetic in terms of home decor.
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To successfully incorporate vintage Parisian decor, and bring that la perfection into your home, here is what you need.
Absolutely no one loves antique furniture like the French, so there cannot be vintage Parisian decor with no antique furniture.
Photo by Polina Kovaleva
To set the pace for other pieces to follow through, wooden or cream-colored vintage furniture should be considered.
If you can’t allow yourself to suddenly replace all of your existing furniture with antiques, go for slow decorating. Invest in one statement piece like an antique couch or sofa for now and just keep adding more as time goes on.
Source: Red Online
Metal bed frames made from cast iron, copper, or brass play a major role in vintage Parisian decor. And they are making quite the comeback in 2024. So when shopping for your antique French decor basics, do not hesitate to say oui to a metal bed frame.
Chandeliers are a big part of vintage decor, especially in French culture. So if you can afford to splurge on a couple of chandeliers for different rooms in your house, go right ahead.
Source: House and Garden UK
Crystal chandeliers adorned with ceiling medallions are highly favored in vintage Parisian decor so you should consider getting the duo for your living room.
As you may have noticed, the French happen to have a thing for copper so much so that it is even incorporated into their tableware.
Source: VintageAntiqueNL on Etsy
A unique variety of intricately carved spoons, knives, and forks will surely give your home a vintage Parisian boost.
Source: Style at Home By: Sara Cation Source: Donna Griffith
You do not have to completely change your tableware but a few pieces of copper cutlery sounds like a worthy upgrade.
Same goes for copper cookware – you don’t have to switch up all of your pots and pans, but some copper here and there will add an elegant Parisian touch to your kitchen.
Source: Ramble & Roam Co.
Antique cream dinnerware captures the essence of early 20th-century French interiors like no other. Its delicate hues and refined craftsmanship make it an ideal addition to vintage Parisian home decor. Eating out of antique-inspired (not necessarily antique) dinnerware will make you feel like royalty even in a casual setting.
Source: Fete et Fleur
Fresh or dry, flowers are a key element in vintage Parisian decor. Flowers bring beauty, nature and warmth into the home, especially when displayed in antique vases. There are always flowers in a true Parisian home and they are partial to roses, tulips, and peonies.
Parisians love baskets, specifically the woven kind. Sometimes they are used as errand bags and taken to the market. Albeit they also serve as pieces of decor as well.
Source: Zayian
You can have a few lying around the kitchen just for aesthetics and you can leave a few dried flowers in them.
Source: With Lakin on Etsy
Intricately carved vintage or antique-style floating shelves are a go-to accessory for those wishing to recreate a vintage Parisian interior. Use them to display a vase of fresh flowers, a small plant, a candlestick holder, or even alone.
In combination with antique sconces, they will make your apartment feel almost like the Versailles.
Curved sofas and chairs had everyone living in early France in a chokehold from flowery patterns to plush velvet to leather sofas.
Source: Pinterest
Every vintage French decor-themed home deserves at least one curved sofa or a chaise lounge in their living room, with extra points if it has flowery patterns or a tufted back.
When laying the foundation for vintage Parisian decor think cool, luxurious and free.
Source: Pinterest
Vintage Parisian decor was and is big on soft colors and tones that allow for accent furniture to liven up the space as much as necessary.
Source: Mackenzie Kroh on Pinterest
Or all three! Natural, white or off-white bedding with or without embroidered patterns is a necessity when decorating in the vintage Parisian style. There’s no room for synthetic fabrics – it’s all about cotton and linen.
Linen fabrics are a key part of ancient French history. As early as 1789, families were collecting lax and weaving their tablecloths, and tea towels as ordered by King Charlemagne. Eventually, this tradition diversified into other household textiles.
Source: HouseOfBalticLinen
So it would be practically criminal to not have linen fabrics in your Parisian home. Let’s carry on the tradition.
Vintage wall clocks are one of the simplest yet most adorable ways to decorate your home. They come in a variety of colors and designs that allow them to fit right into any home.
Source: House And Garden UK
You can go for a traditional wall clock, or a pendulum clock, whichever one you prefer as long as it’s antique or antique-inspired.
These types of ornate clocks are so graceful that they can decorate pretty much any wall in your home.
Source: Everyday Parisian
Luxury is one major thing Parisians are known for and there are only a few things besides gold that spell out luxury.
A sprinkle of gold items like a gold-framed mirror in corners of your home is bound to give French luxury.
Vintage brass items are used to decorate parts of the home like the kitchen and living room as part of the whole vintage French appeal.
Source: Anthropologie
Some brass accessories to consider are cup holder racks, plant holders, and curtain tie-backs to mention a few.
Source: Decormcmhome on Etsy
If you plan on decorating with vintage books, then printing and wrapping your books with vintage covers is a brilliant idea. It may seem like a teeny part of decorating but it adds to the overall aura of the room.
Source: Elsie Green
Artworks, drawings or paintings made with lines in them are also fundamental in Parisian decor. This kind of art is subtle and cool and that is the atmosphere needed in vintage Parisian decor.
Prime vintage French decor must integrate elements of Art Nouveau and the Belle Époque.
Vintage illustrations of hot air balloons are also integral to old-fashioned Parisian decor.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the French were big on hot air ballooning, and consequently producing art related to the subject. So one or two le ballon-related posters will surely highlight the importance of this phenomenon.
Vintage French-style side stools are usually completely iron, or wooden. These side stools can also be wooden with iron legs and/or involve gold-plated edges and legs.
French side stools and tables are always very chic and classy.
Source: FaggianisAntique on Etsy
There are a variety of antique side stools to pick from, you just have to decide how far back you want to go.
You could also add a bistro chair or table (or both) to your home, just like the ones you see in iconic French cafes and restaurants:
A minute detail but an undismissable one. Crystal or porcelain door knobs on every door in the home add extra French finesse to the atmosphere and are surely perfect for vintage decor.
Source: Jadore Lexie Couture
The Parisians are big on wood decor, either brown, white, or cream. These decor elements contribute greatly to the soft, luxurious atmosphere.
Source: Hip Paris
When shopping for old wood decor, some options are dressers with gold or brass handles, bookshelves, or gold-rimmed chairs.
Cornices, medallions, board and batten, crown molding – all of these decor elements are a necessity when updating your home with some Parisian vintage style.
Source: Barry Dixon
Thankfully, you can fake your way to achieving the look and at an affordable price. Search for decorative molding trims on Amazon and other online marketplaces to give your home a fancy boost.
Though almost at the end of my list, a marble mantel is one of the top vintage Parisian decor items. Now, most people don’t have fireplaces in their apartments, so getting a fake mantel is the way to go.
Source: Pinterest
Even better, because you can utilize the opening too. Decorate your mantel with a brass candelabra, an elegant bust sculpture, candles, and an antique French book.
Source: WDC Home
Antique wall sconces are classy, period. They can be used anywhere in the home as a way to step up your vintage Parisian game.
Brass sconces can also be used as a duo the classic way – hanging on either side of your faux or real marble mantel.
Whether real or faux, a marble bust is a must! A vintage Parisian-inspired home just cannot go without a bust sculpture or sculptures.
Source: Pinterest
You can place these sculptures anywhere to add a vintage Parisian oomph to your decor.
In recent years there has been a true outpouring of faux marble busts and you can easily get one online. Go for various sizes too – there are plenty of mini bust sculptures out there that you can use as desk decorations without taking up too much space. You can also place them under glass cloches for an extra classy look.
Source: CharmsByL on Etsy
Antique-inspired jewelry trays are the way to go if you need some space to house your treasures. Even if you’re not much into accessorizing, the vintage trays can be used to display other items such as candles or small figurines.
This one should be a given, as you can’t get any more vintage-Parisian than vintage and antique-style candelabras and candlestick holders.
They’re an absolute necessity, preferably those made out of brass or at least brass-colored.
Source: Madhura on Pinterest
I know this one is not for everyone, but if you can, go for a herringbone wood floor. Old Parisian apartments are notorious for them, and this type of floor will immediately upgrade your home to fancy levels.
But don’t worry if you can’t do it, a large vintage rug will look just as fancy, no matter what type of floor you have.
Source: Pretty Privilege on Pinterest
Flowy white or off-white tulle or linen curtains will make you feel like you’re in Paris even if the view outside your window doesn’t include the Eiffel Tower. Go for extra long curtains even (or especially) if your windows are short.
Let’s recap what we’ve learned in this post by addressing some frequently asked questions on how to achieve vintage Parisian decor in your home.
Vintage Parisian decor is styled after old Paris apartments. This type of decor features antique furniture, chandeliers, marble fireplace mantels, ornate gold or brass mirrors, a neutral palette, fresh flowers, and antique elements such as floating shelves, ornate candelabras, and bust sculptures.
To make your apartment vintage Parisian, invest in crown molding, a chandelier, a marble fireplace mantel (a fake one will work too), curved furniture, a metal bed frame, and smaller decor elements such as vintage brass accessories, antique-style flower vases, a vintage clock, classical bust sculptures, and ornate jewelry trays. Remember to stick to neutral colors for the most part, like cream, white, beige and gray. For a pop of color, you can add a low-key color such as blush pink, brown, deep green, or lavender.
To decorate your home like a true Parisian you have to say Non to vivid colors and to take notes from their environment. From the Eiffel Tower to the cafes to the architecture. Parisians love calm, neutral tones, brass, and iron with hints of gold. And of course fresh flowers.
A vintage Parisian home is the epitome of soft luxury, plus the antiques and vintage elements. Despite the inclusion of vintage accessories, the decor elements in a vintage Parisian apartment should still be kept to a minimum. Instead of getting four candelabras, get one. Instead of putting up a gallery wall of vintage French posters, put up one or two in a prominent spot. You get the idea. Even if you go for only a couple of items from this list and declutter your apartment, your home will be magnifique like that of a true Parisian.
