Even though Fat Tuesday is over, French Quarters is celebrating Mardis Gras all month long! Mention this blog and receive 20% off on all Seda France Candles and Reed Diffusers.

Look for such classic Toile scents as China Musk, Citron du Sud, Elegant Gardenia, Foret Royale, French Tulip, Holiday Classic, Hyacinth Classic, Japanese Quince, Nutmeg Vanille. Minnie’s favorite is the Foret Royale, a rich, earthy blend of eucalyptus, green leaves, oak, redwood and moss.

You don’t have to be French to appreciate the beauty of French interior design. If you’re looking into adding that French interior design look there are a few things you can do.

First understand that French interior design is about creating space using flair and a hint of flamboyance. You’ll want to be original in this area. Making sure you accomplish this can make or break your French design ways.

Always consider your ceilings when doing French-inspired designs. The castles in France are well-known for having marvelous looking painted ceilings. I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t live in a castle why does that matter?” Ceilings are a great chance to showcase how extraordinary you are with interior design. You could paint or even stencil a nice design into your ceilings. Using a sky blue and gold color scheme would make for a great look – radiating the essence of a serene, rich and prince-like environment.

French interior design is always influenced by the past and it comes with a playful attitude as well. It’s the appreciation of the past and gorgeous looking old things that makes French interior design so great. When starting with a French-inspired design, always keep on the look for out for old artifacts to use as a showcase to the room at hand. For example, if you have an old plasterwork, maybe not frame it and just hang it by a rusty iron hook and have it fastened by a faded silk bow.

The impact of colors is so important as well. You’ll want to experiment with all sorts of color. You can create an enlivening look to your French-inspired design by using a mix of colors such as red, blue, pink, rust, and cream. A mix of colors is always appealing and inviting to guests. Have fun with the color scheme.

Gold has always been a major theme in French interior design. If you have something gold to put in the room then that’s great. Something gilded and polished with a very high polished sheen can be the icing on the cake for your French-inspired room.

Contrary to the extravagance of the gold theme, don’t be afraid to bring in the beautiful simplicity of country elegance to your room’s design. The country elegance is another common theme in French interior design to not go missing in your plans. It can be something simple that you’d imagine in a country-esque Bed & Breakfast like a chair in the corner. Whatever you choose, just make sure it gives off the look you are going for.

These are the things to look for when you first decide to dabble into the world French-inspired design.

How many of your know what an Ikat Fabric is? Ikat fabrics found their way back into the fashion and interiors trend now for a couple years, but did you know that they have been around for centuries? Ikat in Indonesian means to “tie” or “bind.” Ikat actually refers to the process in which the fabric is made and the fabric itself. A dye resistant method is used on the warp/weft before the threads can be woven into the Ikat pattern or design.

Patterns can vary from country to country and can often be a symbol of status, wealth, power, and prestige. The beautiful patterns are now being found in the United States and can complement your French-influenced design.

Ikat fabrics are constantly being found in the home interior’s market. Many ikat fabric patterns we are seeing have one single color with a neutral beige or white background. This is because each strand is arranged into bundles, tied and dyed separately before being attached to the loom and woven into a pattern.

Since this can take a great deal of skill if multiple colors are used, my professional assumption would be that it costs less to have a fabric with only one dye color. Both the manufacturer and consumer can win on price this way while getting the same look! Ikat fabrics can be found on many accent pillows; this might be where you may see more than one color since less fabric is used. But we are also seeing these fabrics on full upholstered sofas and chairs; this is a great way to make an impact in your room!

With such a busy fabric on a large piece of furniture, try and keep the rest of the room simple. If you must have accent pillows, keep them a solid color and try adding a decorative trim around the edges for flair. I suggest picking the Ikat fabric for either the sofa or the chairs, when used on both, it can often be a little bit too much. A solid or monochromatic rug can be simple yet effective against the busy pattern.

For artwork I would recommend using mirrors, clocks, or simple pictures without a lot of detail. Finally for accessories, try using a clear glass bowl with some pops of colors through marbles, coffee beans, accessory balls, or dried flowers. Pair this with big coffee table books and a couple picture frames and you should be all set!

French design and style have had a profound influence on design around the world and through the years, dating all the way back to the 1800s. From the very beginning, the most essential elements needed in creating space with French-influenced design have been fine furniture and linens.

Stunning, French-influenced spaces are easy to spot and the designs are actually quite popular. Key design elements of the furniture include wood, claw feet, detailed cutout designs, and curved edges.

By adding a few French-influenced pieces, you can add a bit of elegance to any room. If the goal is create the whole space with such influence, it will be key to use specific furniture, accent pieces (think lamps, decorative sculptures/vases, etc.), fabric designs, and colors.

Defining pieces of furniture include tables, chests, and chairs with curved lines, detailed design and claw feet. What makes such pieces so elegant is their simplicity combined with attention to detail only in key places. Many people do not even realize that they have created spaces of French-influence, as they often think of the style as “vintage cozy.”

French-influenced pieces certainly do give a feeling of vintage and coziness to a room, because they are so classic and timeless.

Chairs with a lot of cushion and big arms are definitive pieces. These first became popular to accommodate the styles of the 1800s, especially women’s dresses that were big and fluffy. The large area and deep seating was popular and the style was preserved over the years.

Another popular piece is the armoire. This classic French, statement-making piece is often clean and simple, with curved lines and claw feet. Formerly used as the main place for clothing storage, armoires are now used more as a decorative piece and for extra storage.

Graphic and textile design of French influence can be clean and somewhat rigid, to complement the intricacies of the furniture and décor pieces. There are many hotels that use this in the rooms, as it has become popular and trendy in the interior design world. One beautiful example of this can be found at the Viceroy hotel in Santa Monica, California, where clean designs are featured on the walls and floors, and beautiful, intricate furniture pieces and décor are carefully placed within the space.

Take a step inside any home store and it is easy to find small pieces, large pieces, furniture, fabrics, paintings, even dishware with French influence. Adding French flair to any room, big or small, or just to one part of a room is easy and can quickly add style with very little effort.

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