French Designers Share Their Best Home Style Secrets

You won't see any "boring beige" here.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

French interior design is known for its elegant, stylish, and bold aesthetic. Five French designers share their top tips for mastering the coveted French look, from using gilded mirrors and antique stone walls to embracing warm neutral palettes and copper finishes.

Why it matters

French interior design is widely admired and sought after, with its unique blend of classic elegance, modern sensibilities, and a touch of whimsy. By learning the signature design elements and techniques used by top French designers, readers can incorporate these style secrets into their own homes to achieve a chic, Parisian-inspired look.

The details

The article highlights several key French design elements, including the use of gilded mirrors to add a sense of history and grandeur, antique stone walls that provide a beautiful and durable backdrop, warm neutral color palettes that create a cozy yet refined atmosphere, and the incorporation of copper finishes that nod to traditional Provençal kitchens. The designers also discuss the importance of mixing eras, materials, and textures to achieve the quintessential French aesthetic.

  • The article was published on February 19, 2026.

The players

David Jimenez

A Paris-based interior designer who is known for his elegant and personal French-inspired spaces.

Charlotte Reiss

A homeowner and designer who has incorporated original 300-year-old stone walls into her Provençal-style kitchen.

Laura Gonzalez

A Parisian designer who is skilled at creating warm, layered interiors with a mix of patterns, eras, and materials.

Jeff Aird

A designer who has incorporated a handmade copper hood and traditional copper cookware into a Provençal-inspired kitchen.

Betsy Kasha

The co-founder of the design firm Kasha Paris, who has used French oak paneling to envelop the walls of a 17th-century Saint-Germain-des-Prés apartment.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A space starts to feel classically French when ornament and architecture are allowed to talk to each other and harmonize.”

— David Jimenez, Interior Designer (Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez)

“The old oil painting is a brocante (flea market) find that is intentionally on the smaller size to not cover the wall; only highlight it.”

— Charlotte Reiss, Homeowner and Designer (Instagram)

“What makes this room feel quintessentially French isn't only a warm neutral palette, but the Parisian mix of the unexpected: layers of pattern, eras, and materials living together with ease.”

— Laura Gonzalez, Interior Designer (House Beautiful)

“In a traditional Provençal kitchen, you'll often see a batterie de cuisine (copper cookware) displayed beneath a stone hotte (hood). We chose to craft the hood itself out of copper and, along with the cookware, it becomes the 'eye candy' of the room.”

— Jeff Aird, Interior Designer (House Beautiful)

“There is a long tradition of incorporating French oak in the interior spaces, particularly in reception rooms.”

— Betsy Kasha, Co-Founder, Kasha Paris (House Beautiful)

The takeaway

By incorporating classic French design elements like gilded mirrors, antique stone walls, warm neutral palettes, copper finishes, and wood paneling, readers can bring a touch of Parisian elegance and timeless style into their own homes, creating spaces that feel both refined and inviting.