When you think about French homes, what do you imagine? Maybe it’s the enviable apartments in Paris’s 6th arrondissement or the fairytale-style châteaus that can often be found in the Loire Valley. Whatever springs to mind, the image is always the same: elegance and luxury.

One such property is Château de Chanet, situated around 90 miles from Bordeaux in Périgord, south-west France. With 11 bedrooms and grounds that boast a heated swimming pool and pétanque court, its founder, Laetitia Morlat, has made every design choice in the property. Whether it’s the bedroom paying homage to her family’s friendship with the renowned singer and dancer Josephine Baker or the ‘Secrète’ turret bedroom that allows the inhabitant to feel like a real-life princess, every room is the epitome of chic French design.

Château de Chanet is not the only property where Morlat has carefully and tenderly lent her hand to interior design. There are three other properties that make up her Domaine de Vieux-Mareuil estate of holiday homes: Bagatelle, which offers a luxurious home complete with an orangery; Lavy, a historic house with panoramic views; and La Roussie, a villa that’s perfect for families. Each has been designed solely by Morlat herself and features carefully selected art, furniture and timeless design pieces. A further property is set to open in 2026. Despite having no formal interior design training, Morlat has taken years to choose decor that suits each venue. “I have a passion for it,” she says. “I used to travel the world and get my inspiration that way. I enjoy the triumphs and challenges of picking the right pieces. I just love decoration.”

Of course, for most of us, luxury apartments and Disney-style castles aren’t an attainable idea, but rather one we fantasise over. But, that’s not to say that we can’t use these properties to inspire us to decorate our own homes – whether that’s by incorporating the colours, patterns or furnishings often found in these residences.

Looking for inspiration? I was lucky enough to visit Château Chanet myself to see how the decoration has come to life. Feeling inspired, I sat down with Madame Morlat to ask her for her top tips on channelling chic, French-inspired interiors in any home. Here’s what she told me…

Over the years, we’ve seen more neutral colour palettes dominate homes on Instagram and Pinterest. First, there was grey, before people turned to shades such as cream and oatmeal.

Luckily, we’re now seeing a resurgence of colour at home – and Morlat says there are certain shades you can never go wrong with. “Spring colours and soft colours are something I really like,” she says.

Morlat also encourages people to think not only about how a certain colour looks – but how it makes them feel. “In a bedroom, you’re looking for something that makes you feel cool and relaxed,” she advises. “For example, I would never pick red bedsheets; this is a strong colour, so it would not help me fall asleep.”

Just like colour, texture is an equally important choice when choosing items you want for any room in your home. And again, you want to think about how certain textures make you feel, not just whether they look aesthetically pleasing in a certain space. “You want items that make you feel like you want to reach out and touch them,” Morlat says. “I always feel like soft textures bring me a sense of peace.”

People often think that they have to stick with one theme when decorating. For example, if you’re after a rustic feel, look for older wooden pieces, whereas a modern home may be filled with glass and metal. But, Morlat advises mixing styles from across a range of time periods and aesthetics, as this will add interest to your home. “I love to mix old with new,” says Morlat. “As an example, mixing materials like wood with iron or metal at home can really look great.”

If you’re looking for older furnishings or pieces to put in your home, Morlat recommends antique shops as they cater to all budgets. “A good place to start is with a lamp,” she says. “Everybody can buy a lamp. Then, take some old fabrics, perhaps even from a family member, and make it into a unique lampshade. It takes something that’s old and may have otherwise been thrown away and gives it a new lease of life.”

Even in a tiny London flat, you can still decorate beautifully with a bit of careful planning. “If you don’t have room for a bouquet of flowers on your table, get a bud vase and add one or two stems,” says Morlat. “The size doesn’t matter; you just want something that will bring you joy when you look at it.”

Morlat also advises not to let the corners of your room go unnoticed. “If you have corner spaces in a bedroom or living room, you’ll often find you can put something there, like a chair,” she explains. “This often creates the illusion of making the space feel bigger.”

To find out more about Domaine de Vieux-Mareuil and to book one of the properties, visit domainedevieuxmareuil.com.

Images: Gaelle Le Boulicaut; Franck Sonnet