Beauty. Truth. Freedom. Love. Moulin Rouge captured the soul of Paris with those four simple, yet very meaningful, words. For most people the idea of Paris evokes thoughts of romance, glamour, chic, culture and style and who doesn’t want to encompass this feeling and ambiance into their home?

Although your apartment might not have a small balcony that overlooks the River Seine where you can sip your morning coffee while eating a croissant, with the Eiffel Tower providing a magnificent view in the background, there’s no reason why the interior of your home can’t resemble a Parisian apartment.

Parisian interior design is a very sophisticated blend of sleek modern furniture with traditional antique pieces that results in a look depicting enchantment, beauty, panache, style and luxury.

Colour
Colours must have an intense and luxurious feel to them. Choose rich jewel colours like emerald green, crimson, and royal blues which should then be accented with black, white, and gold, for your upholstery, curtains, cushions, rugs, carpets and even walls. If coloured walls aren’t your thing, opt for wallpaper that has a sophisticated design like damask.

Black is the accent colour and a unifying element in Parisian rooms; however, it must be introduced in a way that will not darken the room. Find painted wood furniture, picture frames, fabrics, lampshades and accessories in black or with black trim that will add just a touch of the colour.

Gold is also an important colour for this look, though yet again, this should be done with decorative accents so as not to end up with the Midas touch. Burnished gilt touches will accent architectural details and carvings on furniture helping to add touches of colours while enhancing the pieces in the room.

Soft Furnishings
Parisian chic equates to good taste and sophistication; however, it also needs to look lived in. It’s not the clean, modern lines of millennium decor; it is touches of gilt, silk and damask dressings, rich carpets and large chandeliers. Think bold, curvy, feminine pieces that will leave you awe-struck by its glamour when you walk into the room.

Using layers can add texture and opulence to a room which helps to convey the Parisian chic message of style and beauty. Choose materials like velvet, damask, brocade, lustrous silks, and traditional toile and then add luxurious pieces like tassels, cording, fringes, beading and other details. Textured linen, weathered leather, paisley designs, and bold stripes can all be used (wisely) to achieve Parisian chic. Beautiful, intricate florals are another huge part of the style. Flowing, beautiful, feminine and sultry is the look to go for; sixties-style flower power material will definitely not cut it!

Here’s a tip to make your apertures look larger: If your balcony doors or windows aren’t very high, you can always cheat the eye by hanging a pelmet several inches above the actual door frame so that the curtains will be longer thus making the door appear taller and more elegant. When you’re decorating with heavy, lush fabrics such as velvet then you want to augment space and size.

Furniture
Furniture and accessories should have time-worn elegance and a vintage look. Adding one-of-a-kind vintage pieces brings character to your rooms. Achieve this by adding chairs, tables, and armoires painted in black or cream bearing golden accents that are distressed and crackled, giving the wood an aged look. They’ll blend beautifully with the rich, shimmering silks and luxurious brocades and velvets that adorn your doors and interiors.

Replace traditional furniture pieces with interesting and unique replacements such as a large ottoman covered in rich fabric instead of a coffee table. If the room is large enough, consider adding a small iron bench or bistro table and chairs that are intricately designed and will provide a focal point to the room.

Don’t try to match the elements in your room. Furniture and accessories should look old and used, but definitely not shabby.

If you’re decorating your bedroom in Parisian chic then your dressing table is where it’s at. Think luxurious and decadent, dressing it with silk, mirrors, and voluminous ruffles while adorning the top with vintage accessories, frames and beautiful perfume bottles.

Finishing the Look
To really bring Paris into your house, accessorize using either large posters of French landmarks, or even better, vintage posters of French nightspots. Hang up French signs, large train station clocks, and any scenes of France, Paris, or the Eiffel Tower. If you can find paintings, etchings, old black and white postcards, or sepia-toned photos of anything French, grab it and use it. If you’ve been to Disneyland Paris you can even incorporate your photos by having them printed out in black and white and creating a collage.

Parisian chic is flamboyant, yet tasteful; original, yet contained; above all it’s expensive-looking, though not necessarily pricey. This is your opportunity to seek out small, second-hand shops, antique shops, vintage stores, car boot sales, flea markets, parish bazaars – anywhere that sells old pieces which are either in great condition or can be modified. The trick is to mix old with new, so while you can definitely buy a new chandelier in a striking black colour, also look for an antique curve-legged table with marble top will help to achieve the desired look.

Only attempt Parisian chic if you’re ready to put your heart and soul into it and are ready to embrace the spirit of unbridled luxury that this style embodies. Parisian chic cannot be done in dribs and drabs; you need to be gutsy, flamboyant and ready for an ooh la la change!