How To Add Parisian Interior Decor Style To A Builder-grade Room

One of the things I’ve always loved about Parisian interiors is that they have so much architectural character.

Even simple Paris apartments often include details like wall moldings, tall ceilings, oversized windows and crown moldings that make the rooms feel elegant and layered.

Since most builder-grade rooms don’t have any of those features, adding panel molding to the walls is one of the easiest ways to give the room a more custom look.

It helps to break up the large expanses of wall space and adds the kind of detail that makes a room feel much more polished and interesting.

For more ideas, read how to add architectural interest to a boring room.

Paint color plays a huge role in creating the Parisian interior design aesthetic.

They often use a white or ivory paint color on the walls because they reflect light and create that airy, elegant feel that Paris apartments are known for.

However, if you’re not a fan of plain white walls (like me), soft, muted colors (such as pastel blues, greens or pinks) can also be used.

So you can choose which one you prefer.

Most Parisian apartments use white on the molding and millwork. Even if it is the exact same color as the walls.

While it might seem like that would make the details disappear into the background, it actually keeps them from feeling too heavy and overwhelming, especially in smaller spaces.

French doors are an easy way to bring some of the architectural character of a Parisian apartment into a more ordinary home.

The glass panes keep rooms feeling open and connected, while the divided frames add a classic detail that instantly makes the space feel more elegant.

Use them between rooms, on a home office or anywhere you want to add definition without completely closing off the space.

Black accents are a signature element many Parisian-inspired interiors, even if it is just in the wrought-iron railing on the balcony, or the fireplace facade.

The black provides contrast to all of the lightness in the room which helps to make the space feel more grounded.

Using the same darker accent color in multiple places (such as furniture, lamp shades and the rug) helps to tie the room together and the contrast gives the room more of that chic Parisian glam feel you’re going for.

Even though Parisian interior design uses pale colors for the walls, they also aren’t afraid of color.

Bold artwork and colorful accents are often used to add personality and a little drama against the lighter walls.

Repeating stronger colors in smaller doses draws your eye around the room and keeps the design from feeling too one-dimensional.

Ceiling-height curtains are another trick that you’ll see often in Parisian-inspired spaces because they emphasize the height of the room and make the windows feel larger and more dramatic.

The same principle will work in your home, too.

Instead of hanging curtain rods directly above the windows, install them either right below the crown molding (if you have it) or just below the ceiling (if you don’t).

Then put up curtains that are long enough to reach the floor.

Fireplaces are another feature that show up in a lot of Parisian interiors because they create an instant focal point and add architectural character to the room.

Even in smaller apartments, decorative fireplaces are often one of the details that make the space feel elegant and layered.

If your room doesn’t happen to have a fireplace, you can still create that classic Parisian look by putting up a stand-alone mantel.

Even a non-working decorative fireplace can make a huge difference in adding warmth and character to a plain room.

Speaking of fireplaces, the mantels in Parisian style rooms are often made from marble which automatically adds an elegant, timeless feel.

The combination of marble with ornate moldings, mirrors and chandeliers is part of what gives many Parisian interiors their classic style.

Since installing a real marble mantel isn’t very practical in a builder-grade home, bringing in smaller marble accents throughout the room can help create a similar look without the huge expense.

Marble-top furniture, trays, accessories and faux marble finishes all add a little of that Parisian elegance.

Large ornate mirrors are often hung over fireplaces in Paris apartment decor because they help reflect light around the room and add another layer of elegance and visual interest.

They also make the rooms feel larger and more open, which is very useful in smaller spaces.

An oversized mirror works the same way in smaller builder-grade rooms.

And a decorative frame instantly makes the space feel more custom and refined.

Gold frames work especially well in glam Parisian-style rooms because they add warmth and tie in with the other metallic accents.

One of the things that makes Parisian interiors feel so layered and interesting is the mix of finishes and textures.

Rooms that use too much of the same material can sometimes feel one-dimensional, while combining different surfaces adds more depth and personality.

Mixing softer textures with shinier finishes also helps create a more collected and sophisticated look.

Things like crystal lighting, gold accents, mirrored surfaces, glossy furniture, and velvet fabrics all reflect light differently, which gives the room more dimension and visual interest.

Statement lighting is another signature detail in Parisian-inspired rooms.

Chandeliers add elegance, sparkle and a more decorative feel than standard builder-grade light fixtures.

The crystal details also reflect light around the room and add another layer of texture and shine.

To make sure the chandelier stands out, Parisian interiors use ceiling medallions.

They draw the eye upward and makes the light fixtures look more substantial and elegant.

Adding a ceiling medallion is an easy way to bring some of that same character into a builder-grade room without doing a major renovation.

And they come in many different styles and sizes, so look for something that suits your decor.

Artwork is one of the easiest ways to add personality and give a builder-grade room a more collected Parisian feel.

Large-scale art, fashion prints, black-and-white photography and gold frames all work especially well in glam Parisian-style rooms.

Art also helps reinforce your color palette and can be an easy way to introduce more contrast, texture or drama into the space.

Herringbone floors are used in a lot of Paris apartments because they add texture and movement without needing bold colors or overly decorative patterns.

Even in fairly simple rooms, the flooring itself becomes part of the design.

So if you’re planning to replace your floors, you might want to consider installing wood planks in this pattern.

It will instantly add more character and visual interest than standard straight planks, which will make the entire room feel more custom and high-end.

Patterned area rugs are a great way to add personality to any room and make it feel more layered and collected.

They help break up large expanses of flooring while adding texture, warmth and visual interest to the space.

Parisian interiors also use them to define

Whether it’s a vintage-style rug, bold geometric design or animal print, the extra pattern helps add movement and gives the room a little more personality.

Black-and-white rugs work especially well because they act almost like a neutral while still adding contrast and a more fashion-forward feel.

While many Parisian interiors have an understated elegance, that doesn’t mean they’re afraid of making a statement.

Much like Parisian fashion, the best rooms mix classic pieces with something unexpected that shows off the owner’s personality.

A dramatic color, bold wallpaper, oversized artwork or an unusual piece of furniture can keep all of those elegant details from feeling too formal or predictable.