With Emily in Paris returning to Netflix on Thursday and the French Riviera already proving to be a trending holiday destination this year with 63.8M TikToks, experts predict that the French design aesthetic will be making a big mark on home interiors over the coming months.
As the Olympics draws to a close, viewers turn to another show set in the city of love – Emily in Paris. The hit TV series returns to Netflix on Thursday with season 4, and anticipation is already building with 29K UK Google searches for the show in the past month alone.
With the Olympics, Emily in Paris and the south of France becoming an increasingly popular holiday destinations, interior experts are coining French Riviera-core as the seasons biggest interior design trend.
When asked which European country they think has had the biggest impact of interior design, the most popular answer given by Brits was France, with 30% of votes. With 15 million tourists due to arrive in Paris this year, it’s no surprise that chic Parisian interiors and rustic French farmhouse décor is forecast to dominate the design landscape.
To explain the unique interior style and offer guidance on how to achieve it at home, ScS have enlisted interior stylist Victoria Foster to provide styling tips and share her favourite products to nail the trend.
Create calm with creams and whites
“French interiors can largely be identified by their core colour palette of white and creams. In a chic Parisian apartment for example, we tend to see tall ceilings and panelled walls of unbroken white.
“Interiors in the countryside also rely heavily on white, however here wooden beams are a common occurrence – channelling the trending farmhouse style, alongside exposed brick and other cosy period features.
“The infamously stylish French Riviera also sees beachy stripes of blue or green cut through the crisp whites. Take inspiration from the coast by adding a statement armchair in these shades to an otherwise clean, neutral set up. Introduce extra layers of colour through chic artwork, lavish bookshelves, or a statement rug.”
Prestige picks
“The Cote d’Azur has been a popular luxury holiday destination for centuries and has lots of historic influences – from ornate architecture to sand-coloured stone buildings with beautiful shutters.
“Provence has a greater influence of regality, with more rural homes often boasting elaborate antique dining sets, formal seating arrangements and patterns and artwork which strikes the perfect balance between stately home and rustic farmhouse.
“Parisians tend to make subtle nods to grander dressing, mixing antique colours, luxurious chandeliers and statement artwork with contemporary furniture, relaxed seating arrangements and a brighter colour palette.”
Loud luxury
“The French Riviera usually conjures up the idea of luxury and grandeur with a vintage touch, largely characterised by the influence the Art Deco movement (which began in France in the early 20th century) has had and continues to have in the wider art and interior scene to this day.
“Art Deco is very much returning and touches of the style can easily be introduced into the home. When it comes to metal hardware, gold and brass dominate. Look for gold lighting – if you currently rent or a chandelier is simply unrealistic, a gold table or floor lamp will work just as well. A gold or brass mirror is an easy way to introduce the metal or incorporate the trend by choosing a sofa with gold feet or furniture with gold hardware.
Plants & natural lighting are essential
“Whether leafy palms on the coast or weeping willows on the banks of the Seine, greenery is a key anchor in a French-inspired setting. To achieve the aesthetic at home, houseplants are a must, so long as you remember less is more. The colour palette of the style tends to miss out on green shades making it important to maintain the correct balance when adding plants to your home.
“Opt for a large statement plant in the corner of the room rather than several smaller ones, and place a couple of flower vases on various surfaces. This way a strong presence of greenery is introduced, without overwhelming the space.
“Natural lighting brings the whole style together, make sure any windows aren’t covered by large furniture to flood the room with as much light as possible. Opting for lighter sheer curtains or blinds will maximise lighting, and will blow in the breeze to give a chic Parisian feel.”
Victoria has shared below her favourite product suggestions for recreating the French Riviera style at home:
Stacey Solomon Bliss Boucle 3 Seater Sofa
RRP: £1299
Fabric options: Boucle or Velvet
Colour options: Snug Boucle Pearl + many more
Dimensions: H87 x W205 x D92 cm
The Bliss 3 Seater sofa embodies the blending of glamour and comfort that French style is synonymous with, with a luxurious boucle fabric and plump foam seat cushions.
Scatter cushions featuring recycled fibre interiors come included, making it a sustainable choice without compromising on luxury. So, go ahead and transform your living room into a sanctuary of style and comfort with the Bliss 3 Seater Sofa.
Stacey Solomon Maple Boucle Accent Chair
RRP: £749.99
Colour Options: Teddy Boucle Cookie + many more
Fabric options: Boucle, Chenille + Velvet
Dimensions: H78 x W75 x D82 cm
The perfect coordinating accent piece, the Maple Accent Chair makes a gorgeous feature. With a chic design and beautiful boucle fabric, this stylish armchair will look great in any room in your home – from the living room to the bedroom.
Living Marshmallow Fabric Snuggle Chair
RRP: £699.99
Colour Options: Palermo Sky + 11 others
Dimensions: H95 x W123 x D112 cm
The Marshmallow snuggle chair is the perfect addition to a formal seating arrangement. An oversized frame, extra depth and plump upholstery give a relaxing and comfortable seating experience, whilst making living rooms or bedrooms feel homely.
Available in a variety of colours, this makes a beautiful accent chair or complementary seating option.
Stacey Solomon Bliss Boucle Footstool
RRP: £449.99
Fabric options: Boucle or Velvet
Colour options: Snug Boucle Pearl + many more
Dimensions: H39 x W134 x D48 cm
With soft family-friendly rounded corners, the Bliss Footstool is the perfect companion to the equally curvaceous design of the rest of the Bliss range. Its narrow shape is a great use of space for today’s busy homes and is the perfect solution for compact living.
