French Influence on Interior Design
French influence on interior design has been rather massive, which is why we can see a lot of French themes happening today.
During the 1800s, French society was at the height of fashion. As a result, many influential people within other cultures flocked to France in order to scoop up what they could regarding style. Most of these fashions came directly from Paris, though some people ventured to the countryside as well. Many of these people brought various bits of fashion back with them, and later these remnants merge with other styles. Today, French influence on interior design is obvious if you know what to look for. Essentially, there are two things that create great Parisian style: superb furniture and fine linens.
You cannot create any Parisian space without taking into consideration the numerous types of materials available within the world today. Those that are, and were, considered aristocracy within this city love to take style cues from the Orient, which means lots of silks. Silks can be rather ornate if they are filled with Eastern patterns, though the Parisian silk is somewhat different. Bed spreads that are covered in the blue fleur de lis and heavy lined curtain panels that reflect a blue and gold thread are quite common. In addition to these lush fabrics, furniture must also be glamorous (though slightly understated).
There is nothing modern or simplistic about the French influence on interior design that we see today. Instead, heavy woods full of cut out pieces and claw feet are the norm. Curiously, though you can find items that match the above description in antique shops, modern manufacturers simply don’t make them in this manner any longer. This is why you will have to search the internet far and wide to find any piece that will fit well into this sort of décor.
Creating the quintessential Parisian look is not easy, though if you can pull it off it will be divine. Most of the time, if you think larger than life in a luxurious sort of way, you will be halfway there. Remember to include lush materials and great wooden pieces in order to complete this look.
Clearly, the French influence on interior design is here to stay. Since the 1900s, North Americans have been trying to emulate the old-world look of Paris, though this will never be an easy task.