5 Ways To Bring A French Summer Aesthetic Into Your Home
My guide to the feeling of summer through textiles, texture, tradition, and timelessness of a French lifestyle
When you think of summer, what comes to mind? For me, it’s a bright and airy season that takes over all of my senses. Watching late sunsets, enjoying fresh produce, the scent of salt from an ocean breeze, the texture of crisp linens, and the feeling of sunshine and nature spilling into everyday life.
Living in France years ago, I was fortunate enough to enjoy 2 whole summers there that shaped me to my core and very much shaped the way I would forever approach the summer season. So many memories of long golden days, air scented with lavender and sea salt, weekly visits to my local cheese monger to help me pair unique cheeses with the tastiest salami. I loved leaving my balcony door open all day, the air just perfect, and somehow no bugs ever came in (unlike here in LA). And I definitely cannot forget the peaceful early morning jogs by the Mediterranean. What stayed with me most about my time there wasn’t the expensive décor or design, but the way people lived in the moment and enjoyed each season….especially summer.
Whether you’re in a New York city apartment or a sunny home in LA, you can absolutely bring that same French summer feeling into your space. Here are five easy (and very chic) ways to do just that.
1. Switch to Summer Linens
Linen is synonymous with a French home, in fact much of the world’s flax for linen production comes from Normandy, France. I love a cool sleep, so when the weather gets hot, I like to swap out heavy cottons for stonewashed linen in colors that feel like Provence: chalky white, dove gray, faded mustard, or a classic French stripe (stripes are definitely having a moment this summer!). On a dining table, I always opt for something loose and long, letting the table cloth puddle slightly on the floor with all the wrinkles encouraged. I feel like the lack of structure of an oversize table cloth makes a dining room more inviting, especially for summer gatherings with a large spread and family and friends hanging casually around the table. For perspective, my dining table is a little over 90 inches long and I always get tablecloths that are over 144 inches in length.
Linens don’t stop at your sheets or the dining table. Other great ways to incorporate linen into your home for the season are to toss a linen throw at the foot of the bed, hang a gauzy cafe curtain in the kitchen, use linen napkins for your meals or even use linen cloths instead of paper towels. Each small choice adds to the sensory experience of a French summer at home.
Below are links to shop French linens:
Shop Luxurious Bed Linens here → Merci Paris French Flax Bed Linens
Shop Vintage Linen Napkins here → Chairish 19th Century French Hand-Woven Linen Napkins Vintage
Shop a gorgeous linen Table Cloth here → I Love Linens Tablecloth
Shop Linen Dishtowels → Thieffry Linen Dish Towels
Chic touch: Add a vintage monogrammed napkin as a guest towel in the powder room.
2. Terracotta is the New Neutral
Living in sunny SoCal, I LOVE terracotta. It’s everywhere and I can’t imagine existing without this accessible, yet beautiful clay. I recently replanted my terracotta planters for the balconies around our home and am so thrilled to enjoy them for the summer! Terracotta is not just for gardens. It’s the undercurrent of many French interiors. From weathered urns on Marseille balconies to rustic jugs in countryside kitchens, it gives a grounded elegance that feels timeless and earthy. What’s great about terracotta as well, is that it can be painted so you have an endless amount of options if the natural color isn’t the best fit for your home. I recently purchased a black, weathered looking terracotta vase for my formal living room and it added the level of old world European sophistication I was looking for to tie the coffee table together.
If you want to add a bit of rustic French charm into your home for the summer, I recommend Incorporating small terracotta vessels on a shelf or place herb pots near a sunny window. I do this in my “Nona” inspired kitchen and grow mint, basil and thyme. These, as well as rosemary and lemon balm, are all great for summer cooking! The earthy clay creates a beautiful contrast against crisp linens and pale stone.
If your pots are too new, you can “age” them with this little hack. Brush them with plain yogurt and set them outdoors for a week. It will create the perfect patina and look like a lovely antique piece.
Below are links to shop Terracotta:
Shop Terracotta Planters here → Terrain (one of my favorite shops for planters!)
Shop Handmade Painted Terracotta Urns here → Etsy Handmade Terracotta Artisan Urn
Shop Vintage Terracotta Pottery here → 1st Dibs 19th Century Terracotta Olive Jar
3. Weave in Woven & Rattan Accents
From wicker café chairs to straw bags slung on doorknobs, woven textures are everywhere in a French summer. They offer visual lightness and tactile warmth, a reminder of both the beach and the farmers market.
I like to layer them sparingly for texture and movement. Too much can be overkill and lean a little too casual for my taste, so subtlety is key. Some ideas are a rattan tray holding apéritifs at your next gathering, cane back chairs for a more formal look, or a handwoven fan above your bed. A quick addition I made this summer is market baskets that double as decor and function. I replaced my entire pantry with large market baskets lined with linen to hold dry goods by category. There’s something really joyful about reaching into the “baking stuff” basket to grab my bag of flour.
If you aren’t feeling rattan or woven accents for your home, straw hats are a great way to enjoy the sentiment. I keep them readily available in my home during the summer for days outside on the patio, gardening, a walk to the park with my friends (where I have enough hats for all to enjoy), or the last-minute trip to the beach. I wore one to a recent appointment just because the sun was out.
4. Make Scent Part of the Atmosphere
The French have long understood that scent isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of your identity (mine is a perfect mixture of Oud and roses). One of the simplest ways to channel an identity for your home? A beautifully made room spray. I could go into a long DIY here, but honestly there are so many gorgeous and luxurious room sprays on the market, I wanted to list my favorites for the summertime that are a click away. Here are three that capture the essence of a French inspired summer, each one distinct and incredibly transportive.
Diptyque’s Figuier is a classic for a reason. It smells like the entire fig tree. Not just the fruit, but the milky sap of the leaves, the woodiness of the bark, and the perfect balance of sweetness that is reminiscent of summer and sunshine. It’s clean and green, but warm and grounding at the same time.
Flamingo Estate’s Roma Heirloom Tomato is a love letter to the garden. It opens with the vivid sharpness of tomato leaves, then settles into something herbal and fresh, thanks to notes of wild tarragon and black pepper. It’s unexpected, bright, and somehow smells exactly like summer. I can’t believe I only recently discovered this special brand a few months ago. They have me hooked and I love all their products!
Cyrnos by Trudon is a standout and has a story laced in with a bit of drama. Inspired by a villa on the Côte d’Azur that once hosted Empress Eugénie, this scent channels lavender-covered hills, sun-drenched fig trees, and a breeze of Mediterranean citrus. It feels like a warm, sunny (and very aristocratic) vacation. The quality of Trudon products are so apparent, because the scent lingers for hours or even a day after you light their candles or spray their room spray. My guess is it has something to do with the quality of oils they use in their fragrances. What I love most is the old world charm and beauty of this room spray. With its handblown glass bottle, chic pump and regal history, it’s definitely a conversation piece and deserves a moment of its own in a room.
Links below to shop the scents:
Shop Trudon here → Cyrnos Room Spray
Shop Diptyque here → Figuier Room Spray
Shop Flamingo Estate here → Roma Heirloom Tomato Room Spray
5. Let the Light In
If there’s one thing the French understand, it’s atmosphere. Summer interiors let light wash in like rosé in a glass. But when the sun goes down, the glow continues. I’ve discussed this before in several of my articles, but the French rarely use overhead lighting. Instead, they rely on small, warm pockets of light like a lamp on a sideboard, or a candelabra on the dinner table. Set the tone of your home with golden light and soft shadows. Because when you think of a summer day or evening at home, don’t you just crave an environment that feels lived in and loved?
Below are links to shop my favorite category (which I cleverly weave into every article)…candelabras!
These are just a few reasons why I believe that French summer style is simply the best. It’s warm bread, a chic linen dress, straw hats on your errands during a sunny day. All it takes is a few considered choices and a desire to slow down just enough to notice how beautiful your life already is.
Your friend,
Deepa