If you loved the movie about the shy Amélie, you may have loved her apartment! Here are decor ideas inspired by Amélie for you to try!

“I like to look for things no one else catches.”

This is a dialogue by Amélie Poulain, the protagonist of the 2001 French movie Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain,  which translates into ‘The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain‘. From this, you get an idea about her character – she’s quite observant and has a wild imagination!

The movie was immensely successful and won several awards, including  two British Academy Film Awards, and was nominated for five Academy Awards. It also entered several lists of iconic movies: The New York Times‘ “The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made”, Empire magazine’s “The 100 Best Films of World Cinema“, BBC Magazine’s “21st Century’s 100 Greatest Films” and Rolling Stone’s “50 Greatest Romantic Comedies of All Time”.

The movie stars Audrey Tautou and is set in Montmartre in 1997. Amélie’s apartment is the background for many of the movie’s iconic scenes, and the decor matches Amélie’s whimsy perfectly well. Here are some ways you can bring in some of that magic into your own space!

Decor Ideas Inspired by Amélie

Before we begin, let me tell you that Amélie’s decor style isn’t for the faint-hearted – it’s quite bold! If you’re the kind who loves everything neutral and plain, this apartment may shock you a little.

Aline Bonetto is responsible for the movie’s production design. The apartment’s style is a mix of vintage Parisian chic, French boudoir and a very eclectic theme. Let’s break it down some more!

Lots of red

The first thing that pops out when you look at Amélie’s apartment is all the red! Red is in the baroque wallpaper, on the curtains, in the bedding, on the kitchen tiles and cabinets, as well as in her dishes and utensils. Even the place she works, the Café des 2 Moulins, has a bright red roof!

Now, so much red can be overwhelming for some, but in the movie, it gives the space a certain warmth, and also reflects Amélie’s cheery disposition and enthusiasm for life. If you’d like to experiment with this look, you can start with one bold red element – maybe the walls, or a bright red sofa. Amélie’s apartment also balances the red with some electric blue and emerald green, so that’s something you can try as well.

Traditional elements

Amélie’s apartment seems to be in an old building, due to which it has many traditional architectural elements. There are stained glass windows, parquetry on the floor as well as chequered tile patterns on the floors and walls. Even her furniture is made of solid wood and has a weathered appearance, indicating that it’s been around for a while.

Even if you live in a modern home, it’s easy to add some traditional elements like some faux stained glass and chequered tiling. You can find the same kind of furniture at antique markets, and you can spruce it up with some wood stain.

Vintage finds

If you look closely, you’ll find lots of lovely vintage items in Amélie’s home, including things she uses on a daily basis. She stores her toiletries in vintage perfume bottles, which are stored in a vintage wall cabinet. Her liquor is in vintage crystal flasks and carafes. The wall art is displayed in vintage frames and there are vintage analog clocks on the table.

Again, a quick trip to the flea market or an antique store will help you find a lot of cute vintage stuff. The old world charm works beautifully with the bright colors and all the glassware adds an element of sophistication and keeps things from entering pop art territory.

Multiple textures

You know why, despite all the red, Amélie’s apartment doesn’t look flat or monotonous? It’s because of the mix of all the textures! Wooden furniture, velvet pillows, beaded curtains, glass bottles and fabric-covered lamps – there are a multitude of textures co-existing in this home.

Things like beaded curtains may seem a little outdated today, but they can create a talking point in an otherwise neutral space. Textures are also a ‘safer’ way to add interest to your home if you’re scared of bright colors or loud architectural elements.

Quirky decor

Whimsy is a center point of Amélie’s personality, and while she is shy, her imagination certainly runs wild! This is reflected in the many knick-knacks that lie around her apartment, like dog-themed needlepoint embroidery, a pig lamp, brightly patterned dishes, and the highlight – two Michael Sowa prints of kitschy animal art.

Despite the seemingly chaotic look, each piece is intentional, and this creates a kind of symphony without a cluttered look. This is a great look if you’re a maximalist and have treasured collections. Displaying parts of your personality is a wonderful way to add whimsy to your space, and make it feel more like yours.

The cafe where Amélie works has a light interior, with pastel shades like mint green and pink being the main colors. Her home is a complete contrast, with bold colors, quirky knick-knacks and lots of textures. This shows that Amélie can really be herself at home, a place that reflects her kind, unique and whimsical personality. After all, that’s what home should mean at the end of the day!