How to Get the Parisian Apartment Look at Home

Last updated: May 2026

The allure of Paris exists across almost every category imaginable: fashion, food, culture, and the je ne sais quoi of the classic Parisian apartment. From the frequently seen gilded mirrors to the herringbone floors to the lived in but chic furniture, there’s a lot to love of the stereotypical Parisian interior design aesthetic.

Fortunately channeling this style doesn’t require you to live in a Haussmann building or even in France at all. There are key elements of the typical Parisian apartment look that you can channel in your home anywhere. Even better is that in 2026, the movement back toward more lived-in, layered, but still elegant spaces is making this style even more relevant.

Why Parisian Apartments Look the Way They Do

In the mid-19th century, Baron Haussmann undertook the wholesale renovation of Paris as directed by Napoleon III, replacing medieval streets with wide boulevards and standardized apartment buildings that shared a remarkably consistent architectural vocabulary: high ceilings, tall casement windows, herringbone parquet floors, marble fireplaces, ornate crown moldings, and wall paneling called boiserie. This really transformed Paris into the iconic city that is the most visited one in the world.

For a deeper look at the history of these interiors, the Musée Carnavalet in Paris documents the evolution of Parisian domestic spaces from the 17th century onward — it’s a useful reference for understanding the broader historical context here.

That architectural consistency is why Parisian apartments look like Parisian apartments. The style isn’t really a “style” in the way that Mid-Century Modern or Maximalist is a style. It’s a set of bones that are beautiful, layered over decades with personal objects, antiques from different eras, and textiles chosen for comfort rather than coordination. Understanding that distinction is the key to recreating the look without it feeling like a costume. It’s also why this aesthetic connects so naturally to timeless design principles. The Parisian interior is one of the best arguments for buying less and choosing better.

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Start With the Bones: Architectural Interest

The single most transformative thing you can do to a flat, builder-grade room is add architectural detail. This is whether or not your want the Parisian look. There are lots of other ways to add architectural interest, but here we’ll focus on the type often seen in traditional Parisian apartments.

Crown Moulding and Picture Frame Moulding

It doesn’t get much more Parisian than crown moulding (decorative wood trim that sits in the space between walls and ceilings) and picture frame moulding (strips of trim applicated to walls in rectangular panels). Both can be weekend DIY projects that are incredibly impactful and both have a ton of variations that suit individual taste.

Moulding and walls can be painted the same color for a more subtle look, or different colors to add contrast and dimension. However, a look often seen in what we think of as the modern Parisian aesthetic is to have the walls, moulding, and ceiling all painted in an airy, bright white.

Ceiling Medallions 

Traditional Parisian buildings say that there’s no such thing as too much moulding and the ceiling/fifth wall is no exception. Ceiling medallions typically surround the area where the light fixture meets the ceiling and have decorative motifs such as florals and other intricate designs.

• Wayfair: This is a very traditional-looking medallion with intricate details and a ton of finish options! However, we’d recommend sticking with a white or off-white finish for a light and bright feel. 
• Wayfair: Here is another great medallion option with very different, but still beautiful details. 

Herringbone and Chevron Floors

Parisian style apartments usually have gorgeous hardwood floors, often in interesting patterns, such as herringbone and chevron. This is a great fit if you’re building a home or considering new flooring in a home, as it’s not the lowest cost way to add Parisian apartment style to a home.

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Elevated Lighting

Chandeliers

There is often a fear of chandeliers in small rooms. It is largely unfounded. A small brass or crystal chandelier in a bedroom or narrow entry hall doesn’t overpower the space, it gives it a sense of elegance.

When choosing one for a Parisian apartment style, look for traditional forms: candelabra-style arms, crystal drops, warm brass or aged gold finishes. The current trend for black iron fixtures reads as more industrial than Parisian. Stay in the warm metal family.

• Wayfair: This chandelier is a bit on the smaller side, so it would look great in a smaller room like a walk-in closet or bathroom. It comes in gold, black, and white. 
• Wayfair: This chandelier is similar to the one above, but is a bit bigger and has gorgeous details. This comes in chrome, dark bronze, and gold.
• Wayfair: Another great chandelier option. This one comes in chrome and gold and also has multiple crystal cut options with some high-end options. 

Wall Sconces

No matter how small your space is, it always seems like there is a lot of wall space to determine what to do with. You also never want to have overhead light only if you want a cozy space. An easy way to take up some wall space while adding great lighting and nailing the Parisian look is to add a wall sconce.

When going for the Parisian look for sconces, similar to chandeliers, aim for candle-style lights. If you don’t have electricity wired for a wall sconce and don’t want to deal with having it added, you can just get candle sconces or have a battery-powered light. Here are a few good options for wall sconces.

• Wayfair: This is a gorgeous, electricity-free option! The mirror behind it adds a great design touch. 
• Wayfair: This one is like a chandelier, but on your wall 🙂 It does require electricity. 

Ornate Mirrors

One of the best pieces you can add to a room is a mirror. It’s an instant way to increase light and make a room look bigger. A mirror can also be a great piece of decor to add a statement in a room. 

To use a mirror for adding Parisian charm to a space, choose one with a bold frame, such as a gold one with intricate designs. Placing a mirror above a fireplace is a classic location, but other options include putting one above a console table or a large, full-length one leaning against a wall. 

Here are a few great ornate mirrors to choose from! 

• Anthropologie: While not super budget friendly, this one is absolutely gorgeous. This comes in a few sizes to fit your space.
• Anthropologie: Another great option from Anthropologie. It also comes in several shapes and sizes to choose from.
• Birch Lane: If you have a place for a full length mirror, this one with its intricate gold frame would be a great option for adding Parisian charm to your space. It comes in gold, antique silver, champagne gold, and white.
• Wayfair: A bit smaller of an option, this would look great in a bathrooms

The Parisian Approach to Furniture

When looking to replicate the illustrious Parisian style, the mistake you can run into is shopping for a “Parisian living room set.” This likely isn’t the best way to get the look you’re searching for. Parisian interiors are defined by the absence of matching — a Louis XVI chair beside a contemporary sofa, a flea market find next to something new and simple. What unifies the room is quality, proportion, and a shared color sense, not a suite of coordinating pieces.

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statement Chairs

If you look at photos of Parisian homes, something typically present is an accent chair. The statement chair is from a range of styles, often being vintage such as a bergere chair or classic mid-century modern. They‘re found almost anywhere in the home, such as pulled up to a desk, angled by a fireplace mantel, or in a bedroom corner.

• Wayfair: This one has a very traditional look, but comes in other colors and finishes if you’re looking to add a bit more color and design! 
• Wayfair: If you’re looking for something a bit more cozy, this one would be a great option. It comes in beige, dark blue, grey, and dark grey to fit most color schemes. 
• Wayfair: This gorgeous chair comes in three different fabrics: tan with a simple stripe design, taupe with stripes, and blue & white stripes. (For more blue & white decor, check out this post!)
• At Home: Here is a great, simple white tufted chair that looks like a great place to curl up with a books

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Dark Wood and Patina

Parisian interiors never look brand new. There is always at least one piece of dark, aged wood — a console, a small chest, a writing desk — that gives the room a sense of time having passed. You don’t need an actual antique, though a good flea market find, lightly cleaned and left in its original condition, is the ideal. What you need is something that looks as though it was chosen, not assembled. This is a sensibility French country style shares, as both aesthetics are rooted in the same appreciation for materials that age well.

Putting It Together

Parisian style is, at its core, an argument for restraint and quality — the idea that a room needs fewer things, chosen more carefully, and allowed to develop character over time. It is the opposite of a trend, which is exactly why it keeps returning, looking relevant in every decade, in homes on every continent.

If you’re interested in why that kind of staying power is so rare in interior design, I wrote about what actually makes a home feel timeless — it’s a question worth pondering before overhauling your space!.