Coquette Décor: How to Get the Look
Until recently, if someone heard the word coquette, it was probably in a classic novel or a soap opera. However, the term coquette is making a comeback, and it’s bringing with it a decorative style that might be exactly what you’re looking for.
What is Coquette Décor?
Though the word “coquette” was originally used to describe a gal who used her womanly wiles to charm and flatter men, it has taken on a significantly different definition. Begun as an internet fashion aesthetic, coquette style has become a model for self-expression through vintage themes and hobbies. The coquette trend is a little sweet, a little flirty, and focused on self-care, making it a great way to create an inspirational and calming living space.
The Coquette aesthetic blends a variety of decors, such as French style, retro 50s and 60s looks, and femininity.
It’s cute and dreamy and can also easily be incorporated into other trendy styles like balletcore, cottagecore, and other decorative trends that embrace antique charm.
Color Scheme
When choosing the color scheme for your coquette room, stick to tones that make the room feel light, airy, and delicate. Ground your room in shades of cream or off white, and accent with pastel colors such as lavender, yellow, light blue, light or blush pink, or mint green. The coquette style also has a bit of a luxe look, so feel free to accent with gold or other high-end metallics like silver and antique bronze.
Too many secondary colors and accent colors will distract from the unity of your design and make your space look cluttered instead of cute. To prevent this, stick to one base color, one secondary color, and one accent color.
Remember the 60-30-10 rule when decorating your space, which states 60% of your décor should be your base color, 30% your secondary color, and 10% your accent color.
Coquette Furniture
The coquette aesthetic leans heavily into vintage French style. To get the look, choose furniture that is elegant and refined with beautiful detailing such as pieces in the French Provincial, French Rococo, Parisian, or Louis XVI style. If you’re not sure what to look for, choose pieces that feature arched elements, sophisticated prints, and carved detailing.
Overstuffed chairs and sofas with curved lines and rich fabrics will help build the foundation for a coquette look in any room. These pieces should be beautiful, but also comfortable and luxurious, making them the perfect spot for cozying up with a good book, playing games on your smart phone, or indulging in an old-fashioned hobby like needle point. Most of your furniture pieces should be in your base color to ground your space.
If you are decorating a bedroom, choose a bed with an arched, preferably upholstered headboard that is both comfortable and elegant. Find a dresser with curved legs or carved detailing for practical storage and a vintage feel. If you have the room in your space, the most efficient way to bring the coquette look into your bedroom is with an armoire or a makeup vanity as these pieces emphasize both the feelings of classical femininity and self-care.
Patterns and Textures
Enhance your room with patterns and textures that are lacy, frilly, floral, or have a strong feminine vibe, such as designs with bows or dainty trellises. If there is a soft surface in your room, it should utilize at least one of these features.
If you don’t want to feel too overwhelmed by patterns, you can start in small, changeable areas. Create a base of simple, solid-colored bedding or upholstery and use more complex patterns and textures on throw pillows, cushions, curtains, or tablecloths.
Wallpaper is another great way to bring some of these elements into your room. Wallpaper is a big design choice, so if you want to bring in that look without committing your whole room, you can apply wallpaper on only an accent wall.
Lighting
The coquette aesthetic is designed around a feeling of delicate coziness, so keep the lighting in your room warm and soft. Chandeliers with glass beads and floral and/or candelabra designs offer the gentle beauty and ambient lighting you need.
Choose table lamps with gold, marble, or ceramic bases and add decorative lampshades. These lamp shades can have floral designs, glass beads or tassels, and vintage silhouettes such as bell or square bell. Find wall sconces in similar designs if you need a little extra lighting.
Candles naturally have that romantic, vintage look so essential in coquette décor, so feel free to add pillar, taper, or decorative candles around the room.
.If you can burn them safely, do so. But even if you don’t burn the candles, they can still add a nice touch of flair to your space.
Finishing Touches
It’s really the little things that turn a room from vintage or shabby chic to coquette. When most people think of coquette design, they think of bows and flowers first. Add bows to throw pillows, curtain ties, and blankets. If bows aren’t your thing, lean hard into the florals. Bouquets of fresh flowers, and artificial garlands hung on your wall or over your bed frame give your space a fresh feeling and a finished look.
The coquette look is the perfect time to display gifts from older relatives, such as pearl necklaces, lace doilies, old sheet music, or dolls.
Other coquette accents include mirrors, old brushes and perfume bottles, antique picture frames, vintage record players and vinyls, and old-fashioned telephones. Or, for more ideas, you can display statuettes, vintage photo prints, lipstick kisses, gauzy canopies, music boxes, or heart-shaped items. You can use any or all of these ideas, just be sure to choose pieces that speak to you.