25 Fabulously Festive French Christmas Decor Ideas [2023]

Want to add some French Christmas decorating ideas to your home this year? Keep reading for tips and ideas this holiday season for bring authentic french country style into your home. 

There’s a hint of Christmas magic in the air isn’t there? Time soon to dig out the Christmas decorations, untangle the fairy lights ( cursing ) and almost always, add one or two new shiny baubles to the Christmas collection! 

So, what better occasion to add simple, French charm than at Christmas using natural textures and tones to sprinkle on some festive magic? Whether you love french country decor or prefer the Paris city look, we have lots of ideas on recreated the look in your own home this Christmas season.

Here are some easy Christmas decorating ideas for a Rustic French Home from Katie Anderson – an ex-pat living in France.

Fresh, woody scents, warm lighting and natural textures are top of the list for a Rustic French Home at Christmas, but a few little seasonal rituals can be all it takes to turn a great Christmas into a truly special one.

In France, the Christmas markets usually start early in the month and can be a great place to find handmade goods or treats to decorate at home, it’s a real family time.

The French style Christmas is a natural one, full of the scents of the season and lots of delicious things to please the senses, here’s a few simple ways to jump in on the magic.

25 French Christmas Decor Ideas to Decorate Your Home this Festive Season

Let’s give you a quick run down of the ideas we’re covering in this article.

1. French Seasonal Christmas Foliage

Christmas time is all about the fresh greens isn’t it? From the classic tree to the garland wrapped around the banister on the stairs, green really is the colour of Christmas.

Great news for anyone who loves bringing a little of the outdoors into their home décor and using natural foliage is a cheap alternative to mass-produced decorations.

If you’re unsure where to start then eucalyptus is a fantastic foliage to use at Christmas time, not only for its lovely dusty green-blue leaves but also because it has the most wonderful, subtle scent.

A French Christmas is simple and not too overdone, one that the whole family can enjoy getting prepared for. French homes are warm and inviting so adopt the french way of doing Christmas and keep it authentic.

2. French Style Homemade Advent Calendars

The countdown to Christmas is the best part for most little people wherever you’re celebrating in the world and the advent calendar can become a really special tradition.

If you love baking at Christmas time, try making traditional French madeleines with Christmas spice. It’s one of the french traditions we love.

Chocolate truffles are easier to make than you might imagine but you could also try making traditional cinnamon biscuits.

These can be delicious treats to add to a homemade advent calendar and a yummy way to count down to the big day!

3. French Christmas Ornaments 

Generally we love adding French themed Christmas ornaments to our tree and across the house. It’s the easiest way to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the home.

4. Eiffel Tower Ornament

The ultimate Paris Christmas ornament that every home should own. French ornaments should always include one of the Eiffel tower!

5. Macaron Christmas Ornament

Another cute and quirky way to decorate your French themed Christmas tree is by incorporating a little macaron!

6. Toile du Juoy

Don’t forget to Incorporate this classic French fabric in throw pillows, tablecloths, or wall hangings to add a little French flair to your festive home.

7. French Lavender

Why not create wreaths and bundles with dried lavender for a fragrant touch? Use them on the front door for a typical French welcome, or in your advent wreath in the run up to the big day, or even as part of your christmas table centrepiece.

8. French Christmas Table Decor

A simple but beautiful Christmas starts with planning the Christmas table and a Christmas table centrepiece. Adding that lovely French country Christmas style  is easy using natural touches to create a really elegant but undone look.

A crisp white tablecloth is the key ingredient to your Christmas tablescape, followed by a bit of height with a centre decoration and tall candlesticks combined with twinkling fairylights and natural wood and glass decorations.

Mixing up antique and contemporary is very much part of the French look so bring out your old candlesticks, hand-me-down Grandma plates and silver cutlery to combine rustic and chic seamlessly.

Using foliage as part of the table décor is a great way to bring the Christmas table to life.

Just pop a sprig on top of each napkin and tie it in place with a nice ribbon or some rustic string or create a centre piece using berries and the pine cones or excess branches from the tree cut to size around the base of your candles.

You could even dry out slices of orange in a low oven on parchment paper for a couple of hours and then spray them with some Christmas scent and add them to window or table displays.

9. French Christmas Door Wreath

There are loads of online tutorials this year on flower arranging and making wreaths, thankfully, but you can also make a simple, but effective rustic door wreath using floristry wire and some foraged branches and flowers.

Just be careful to select branches and berries that can last the Christmas period, eucalyptus is a great choice as it won’t lose its leaves and is easy to weave around the wire and pin in place.

Why not entwine some battery-operated fairy lights within the greenery for a sparkling Christmas entrance to see you right through to the new year?

10. Christmas Candles and Room Sprays

The French Christmas is a traditional one, with simple lighting and handmade goodies to decorate the tree with.

A scented festive candle is a great way to bring that added ambience into your home and depending on your tastes there are loads to choose from.  

Pine, Citrus and Cinnamon are all great perfumes to deploy at Christmas whether you choose to use a natural room spray to spritz on the tree branches or around the house on Christmas morning or with scented candles on the fireplace.

11. Christmas Lanterns

Metallic lanterns arranged around the fireplace can help create a beautiful, festive scene on Christmas eve and make a living room feel so cosy.

A simple glass lantern is a great, safe place to house your scented Christmas candles and if you choose a few different ones of varying heights and shapes then you can add loads of character to even the simplest mantlepiece or shelf.

12. Nativity Scene

It’s the ultimate Christmas decoration for the coffee table, both in France and beyond. Add a vintage nativity set to your French themed Christmas home for a truly authentic piece of holiday decor.

13.Antique Linens

Drape dining tables and side tables with vintage French linens for a rustic, timeless feel.

14. Provencal Pottery

For some authentic french decor why not display festive items or candies in traditional pottery from the Provence region.

15. Book Pages

We love this idea. Think about creating decorations using pages from old French novels or sheet music.

16. Marble and Gold Accents

Embrace the elegance of French decor with marble coasters, trays, or candleholders with gold accents.

17. Fleur-de-Lis

Integrate this classic French symbol into your ornaments, wall art, or table settings.

18. Antique Silverware

Set the table with ornate French silverware, adding a touch of sophistication.

19. Mini Arc De Triomphe

No French Christmas home is complete without an Arc de Triomph decoration – it’s a classic!

20. Mistletoe

Hang mistletoe in doorways, a common tradition in France, known as “le gui”.

21. French Market Baskets

Fill with gifts, logs, or blankets for a touch of country rustic charm.

22. Fairy Lights

 Drape fairy lights over mantles or windows to mimic the sparkle of Paris streets.

23. Trumeau Mirrors

Reflect the festive lights with a French-inspired mirror.

24. Vintage French Postcards

Display these as part of a garland or wall decor.

25. Champagne buckets

Fill vintage champagne buckets with poinsettias or other festive flora.

Embracing these French-themed Christmas decor ideas will undoubtedly infuse your home with a blend of timeless elegance and rustic charm. Whether it’s the delicate scent of lavender or the glint of a gilded frame, each touch adds a sprinkle of French magic to your festivities. You don’t need to fly to Paris to feel its enchantment; just try a few of these suggestions. Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth, beauty, and a touch of ‘joie de vivre’. Joyeux Noël!

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How to Decorate an Elegant and Modern Christmas Tree

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