Why is French interior design for the ordinary person stuck in the 1970s?

[Fatportfolio65]

Ok so that’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation - and yes I have heard of Elle Magazine - but just trying to buy some towels, a shower curtain and some duvet covers for a holiday apartment and the available designs are out of the ark! Honestly like something my parents would have bought in Woolworths or the Co-op back in the 70s?

Of course you can get beautiful high end bed linen costing hundreds of Euros if you live in a chateau but I am talking about merchandise that is generally available to the ordinary consumer?

I guess France didn’t have a Terence Conran who democratised good design for everyone? Or, owing to high taxes, people have less disposable income to spend on interiors than in the uk? Or people live in apartments and don’t entertain at home as much?

Before everyone gets at me, I love France and all things French and speak the language. I just don’t understand this quirk in a country of such exquisite taste and elegance in other areas, and wondered what everyone thought?

Is there a Maisons du Monde?

What are you on about?!
Do you live in some tiny town with the average population age of 60 and local shops catering to this demographic?
All the big French retailers have nice stuff!

People spend a lot on interior decor in the UK? Well, some do, I guess...

hahahaha sorry but I am laughing so much because I totally get this. I know another PP has mentioned Maisons due Monde which may be worth a shot if you can find one but yeah I have noticed this with family in France (and not just the older generation) that the decor is a bit behind the times (as is the fashion for the average person tbh!)

Maybe it’s that Gooseclues and it hasn’t reached our fairly big South Western nearest town but it doesn’t seem to be available on-line either?

Compare the local estate agents pictures and look at interiors in France v UK. You’ll see a difference I promise!

Get yourself to ikea!

Phew! Glad it’s not just me *littleteapot86! *
😂

Maybe because it’s essentially quite a conservative, conformist country? A tad insular too?

Again, I promise I love it really 😄

France had Terence Conran in the form of Habitat for many years. As far as I know Habitat still exists in Paris at least.

As for 70s type design currently in the shops, I believe retro patterns are in vogue, are they not?

haha don't worry I have a love/hate relationship with France too 😅

as PP said, IKEA might save you if you have one close enough. Otherwise...😆

Of course that is what everyone does in reality!

I just wondered why there weren’t more decent affordable options? It’s a big market after all?

Is la redoute not French? I like their bedding.

As for 70s type design currently in the shops, I believe retro patterns are in vogue, are they not?

Yes they are blackcherryconserve but the designs I am referring to are not cool 70s rebranded for 2024! They are more 1970s original BHS ; although even BHS had had quite a good revamp latterly!

I was thinking of La Redoute as well, I love their bedding, and lots of the other homeware stuff. That's where my knowledge of French interior design begins & ends though.

Yes La Redoute has improved enormously admittedly. That’s a good point!

Of course Habitat still exists. La Redoute has an insanely large offering of different styles online. You have all the cheap international stuff - IKEA, H&M, Zara Home I mean…. I really can’t understand how you can have this problem.
Do by “modern design” you mean an extremely British style? Sorry to break it to you, but no sane person is going to, for example, put carpets everywhere in a country that gets 40C in the summer.
Yes, you can see plenty of out dated homes in real estate ads but so can you in the UK.

You’re not wrong, OP. I used to take most things with me when we had a house in France , outside the large cities there is much less choice than in the UK ( although I think the UK retail sector is shrinking all the time). It’s partly because there is not the online retailing that we are used to, delivery is much more expensive.

I used to be surprised at the interiors of lots of peoples houses, perfectly clean and comfortable but very much as you describe. I came to the conclusion that many French people would much rather spend their income on high end food and wine than updating their curtains!

You can probably get H&M to deliver to you, the washed linen bed ranges are an interiors editors little black book secret, great prices and fantastic quality. Otherwise look out for the bedlinen sale at Merci Paris: https://merci-merci.com/en

I was thinking this, La Redoute has a massive homeware range. Also, Sézane does homewares as well.

And since half of the home counties seems to pop across to France each weekend for the antique fairs can you not do similar? Or do the French come to the UK for le car boot sale?

Then top up with the international brands like IKEA, H&M, Zara.

Fantastic tips! Thank you 80smonster!

No. I definitely do NOT mean carpets or British style.

I know it is subjective. But most local French department stores still seem to have turquoise towelling loo seat covers with long loopy bits and bath mats with flower designs all over them. And black shiny sheets! Really strange!

Yes 😄

Or maybe they have their priorities right and spend their money on health care and good restaurants? 😂

It's the department stores - they're old fashioned. Well, the provincial ones are. Obviously there are a few very high end ones.

Most people would buy in hypermarkets, or ikea. Or H&M, La Redoute type places as mentioned.

My French colleague laughs at me for having carpet and says how old fashioned it is but I've seen some of his house and it isn't my taste for sure 😉 maybe it is also that as a nation they're not all trying to be instagram influencers?!

colour <shock>
geometric pattern <shock> <horror>

never went out of fashion in france (and other parts of europe, apart from hotel linen)

white is boooooooring