Cozy Chalet Interior

Passionate about skiing, snow sports, fireplaces and raclette with friends? Who said the mountains needed to stay in the alps? Bring the mountains to you this winter by adopting the chalet style in your home. When the cold weather comes, chalet decor is a timeless trend that comes back every year without exception. 

Whether you have a second home in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Jura or not at all, it doesn't matter. By applying the typical features of chalet decoration to your home, you will be able to warm up any house in the city as if it were in the mountains. So, what are these typical features? 

The chalet style is above all an ambience. It is important that you feel good, that the environment is warm and cozy. To create such an atmosphere, start by kitting yourself out with fleece blankets and thick faux fur rugs to keep your feet toasty and warm. We like to choose soft textiles that retain the warmth— think of knitwear and thick wool. This brings a vintage side to any living room. Gathering big soft cushions on armchairs and sofa will also make you feel as if you are on a cloud any time of the day.

Another top tip: we prefer natural materials for the furniture to ensure chalet authenticity. We play on textures but we still put wood at the heart of chalet decoration. Driftwood, raw wood, solid wood, light or dark wood... it does not matter, it must simply recall the logs and fireplace so typical of the alpine chalet. If your house contains exposed beams then jackpot! You can also introduce touches of stone and slate to reinforce the rustic side of this decoration.

For the colors and patterns, we opt for safe picks that contribute to the cozy and cocooning atmosphere of the house. We draw from a traditional palette of warm colors to keep the temperature warm inside even when the thermometer outside is below zero. Add lots of brown, gray and white for more luminosity, maybe add some touches of red and green here and there because, after all, why not? Make sure to also bring out the traditional and timeless motifs of the cottage atmosphere that give the vintage and nostalgic vibe: houndstooth, tartan and tile.

However, the key to a perfectly executed cottage decor is not to overdo it. We prefer a minimalist, Scandinavian style. The contemporary cottage style is achieved with a few well-placed pieces: a photograph with forest animals by Pierre Schwartz, a sculpture of a polar bear revisited by Pascal Chesneau, an abstract painting reminiscent of the tones of mountain panoramas like those of Annick Antoine.

Michel Trapezaroff also paints forests across the seasons, especially in winter. The blanket of snow covering the trees and rivers seems to put nature to sleep and no doubt it will also allow you to hibernate at home. 

Bonus tip! You can place scented candles with winter scents around your house to instantly send you into snowy landscapes.