4 min readParisians are renowned for their appreciation of history, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty, making it no surprise that antiques play such a central role in the city's interiors. Step inside a classic Haussmannian apartment, and you'll often find an effortlessly curated mix of furnishings and decorative objects that span decades—even centuries. The appeal of collecting antiques also lies in their quality. Many vintage pieces were crafted with exceptional materials and techniques that have stood the test of time, making them not only beautiful additions but also worthwhile investments.
If you're hoping to capture that quintessential French style in your own home, incorporating a few carefully chosen antiques is one of the most effective places to begin. Here are seven antique finds that Parisian collectors recommend seeking out first to achieve that effortlessly chic yet timeless look.
Botanical Prints
Ajiri Aki is the author of Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life and the founder of Madame de la Maison, where she offers French antique sourcing services. One of her favorite items to search for at the brocantes is antique botanical prints.
"Antique botanical prints, with their faded colors and aged paper, feel quintessentially Parisian because they combine art, history, and the French fascination with the natural world," she says. "They reflect the growing interest in collecting, studying, and classifying nature that flourished during the eighteenth centuries, when cabinets of curiosity and natural history collections displayed specimens gathered through travel and exploration."
Aki suggests looking for ones with elegant handwritten or printed names that identify each plant or flower and hanging them framed in a symmetrical grid.
Beautifully Illustrated French Books
On a cozy street tucked behind the Notre Dame in Paris, you'll find Messy Nessy's Cabinet. Here, shopkeeper Vanessa Grall stocks whimsical curiosities, both new and old. Old French books are one thing that she always tries her best to keep on hand.
"To help make your home look more Parisian, why not start with things that literally bring the French language into your space?" she says. "You could do that with a small selection of striking vintage books. Let them sit on your shelf cover facing out, like a
decorative object in between the rest of your books.”
Gilded Mirrors
According to Aki, few things give a room the feeling of a Parisian apartment as instantly as an 18th- or 19th-century gilded mirror, especially when placed above a fireplace.
"I am drawn to mirrors with aged gilding, subtle imperfections, and glass that reveals a little of its history," she says. "In Haussmannian apartments in Paris, large mirrors above fireplaces are used to expand the space and multiply the natural light."
If your home lacks a fireplace, she notes you can achieve a similar effect by hanging one of these mirrors above a console table or simply propping a large one on the floor and against the wall.
Bistro Match Strikers
If you want to add a flair of Parisian café society to your home, Grall says there's no better accessory than an old bistro match striker. These once sat on every café table in the city over a hundred years ago.
"They were not just for smokers to light up," she says. "They were used as much by absinthe drinkers to melt the sugar. So if these things could talk, they'd have a lot of Parisian secrets to tell."
These tabletop accessories come in all sorts of colors and fonts. According to Grall, some are rarer than others, and you'll often see that reflected in the price. It all depends on the age, detailing, and the liquor brand advertised on it.
Chairs From Different Time Periods
Adding an antique chair to a space is an easy way to add a sense of history and personality reminiscent of old French salons. And don't worry if the rest of your furniture contrasts with this style. Aki says that's actually ideal.
"Parisian interiors are rarely furnished entirely in one style or period," she says. "It is all about mixing and matching your finds. An antique chair might sit beside a modern sofa, at a contemporary desk, or in the corner of a bedroom."
She adds that there are many types of quintessentially French chairs to choose from, like a deep, enveloping bergère, a compact and curvaceous crapaud chair, a low chauffeuse, or a Louis XVI-style médaillon chair with its signature oval back.
Artful Etched Plates
French gravures, which are engravings or etchings, are another antique find that Grall says Parsians love collecting. You can typically spot an authentic engraving by checking for a plate mark surrounding the image.
"I always look out for the cheekier Rococo scenes from the 18th and 19th century when a decadent sexual revolution for the privileged opened the floodgates for some naughtier art," she says.
Ornate Brass Hardware
Aki believes that sometimes it is the smallest details that make a home feel truly Parisian. That's why she recommends adding ornate brass or bronze handles, drawer pulls, and old key plates to your doors, furniture, and cabinets.
"Antique French hardware brings history, craftsmanship, and character to doors, windows, cabinets, and dressers," she says. "I particularly love hardware that has not been overly polished because patina is absolutely part of the charm."
