Today's Tip
The French do not fill every surface. A shelf with three well-chosen objects and space between them is more sophisticated than one crowded with things. Empty space is not neglect. It is a design decision. The eye needs somewhere to rest.
Try This
Choose one shelf or surface in your home. Remove everything. Put back only what you would choose to keep if you were allowed only three items. Leave the rest off. Live with it for a week before deciding what, if anything, to add back.
French interior design draws from the concept of "épure" — the reduction of form to its essential elements. What remains after everything unnecessary is removed is what reveals quality. This principle explains why French apartments look effortlessly put-together despite having less furniture than American equivalents. The discipline is not minimalism for its own sake. It is about letting the few things you keep speak clearly.
One French lifestyle tip, every morning at 7am. Free — always.