What Makes a Home a Haven: My Six Essentials
After more than a decade of designing interiors—and living—here in Paris, I’ve come to believe that creating a truly personal space is as much about emotion as it is about aesthetics.
When I first arrived in the city with just a few suitcases and a handful of treasured objects, I began assembling what I called my “home haven list”—a personal inventory of small, soulful comforts that made even a temporary flat feel entirely my own.
Over the years, that list has evolved with me: refined by experience, shaped by countless moves, and influenced by the many homes I’ve had the privilege of designing for clients.
Today, as the founder of a Paris interior design studio, I find myself always returning to the essence of what makes a home not only beautiful, but deeply restorative—a haven. Whether it’s a pied-à-terre in Saint-Germain or a family apartment in the 16th arrondissement, I believe a truly well-designed home engages the senses and reflects the quiet joy of a life well lived.
Here are the six elements I return to again and again, both in my personal spaces and in those I create for clients.
1. Objects That Tell Your Story
Many of my most beloved pieces fit into a few small boxes: a baby vest from the Ottoman Empire embroidered in silver thread, a carved shell my parents brought back from Italy, small silver ashtrays from Istanbul, snakeskin trays, framed photographs, and even a tabletop I never travel without.
These are more than decorative—they are fragments of a personal narrative. They anchor me wherever I live and continue to add soul and texture to every room.
Design reflection: Curate with intention. Let your home feel like a visual autobiography, layered with pieces that hold meaning—not just those that match your color palette. This is the essence of meaningful home decor.
2. Layered, Lived-In Textiles
Exceptional bedding has always topped my essentials list. Nothing compares to the timeless appeal of heavy European flax—the way it crinkles, softens, and embraces imperfection. Cashmere follows closely: robes, blankets, slippers.
Layering soft, tactile materials throughout the home is more than décor—it’s a sensory experience when I create spaces. Quality textiles invite rest, comfort, and quiet indulgence.
Design reflection: One of the interior design tips for small spaces or larger ones is to choose fewer, but better pieces. Especially in Paris, where space is precious, every touchpoint matters.
3. A Signature Home Scent
Creating a cozy home also involves the scent. It’s an invisible calling card, as evocative as a favorite perfume. Whether amber, orange blossom, or simply freshly laundered sheets, fragrance shapes how we experience a space.
Design reflection: Treat scent as a design layer. Use different notes for different zones—welcoming, calming, uplifting.
4. Fresh Blooms
No room feels fully alive without something living in it. I prefer simple, single-variety bouquets: blush roses, lush peonies, or timeless orchids. Even the smallest arrangement brings vitality, grace, and a sense of ceremony to daily life.
Design reflection: Keep blooms simple. A few stems in a graceful vessel can transform a room’s energy and your French home styling. Placed near a window, fresh flowers catch the natural light, enhancing their beauty.
5. Meaningful Pleasures
When I first moved to Paris, a dear friend gifted me an espresso machine—it was waiting before I even unpacked. That first morning, robe wrapped around me, coffee in hand, with the city just waking outside, I felt grounded.
Since then, I’ve made small indulgences part of daily life: rose petal jam, salted butter caramels, rich Normandy butter, a chilled bottle of champagne. These aren’t extravagances; they’re rituals that make a space feel gracious and alive.
Design reflection: Among the best Paris apartment decor ideas, the most important is to create a home ready to delight you. Little pleasures transform the everyday into something extraordinary.
6. The Sounds of Home
Silence is a luxury, but so is sound. The gentle hum of Paris outside my window, or a curated playlist for mornings, dinners, or long afternoons, shapes the atmosphere as much as light or furnishings.
Design reflection: Consider sound as part of sensory design for interiors. Eliminate noise that jars; invite sounds that soothe and inspire.
In the End: Joie de Vivre at Home
My “haven list” hasn’t changed much over the years, but I approach it now with more clarity and softness. My home is layered, but never heavy; intentional, but never rigid.
It celebrates rituals, indulges the senses, and reflects a certain joie de vivre—a lightness I strive to bring not only into my own life, but into every home I design.
Wherever you live, and whatever your square footage, your home can become your haven. All it takes is awareness, a few meaningful pieces, and the desire to live beautifully, every day.
About the Author
Lichelle Silvestry
Lichelle Silvestry is the founder and creative director of Lichelle Silvestry Interiors, an English-speaking interior design studio based in Paris. Known for creating timeless interiors with warmth, elegance, and a deep understanding of her clients’ lives, she blends Parisian refinement with modern comfort for a truly lived-in luxury.
