Breton decor captures the spirit of a stone house by the Atlantic: white walls and granite, navy blue, stripes, oak, painted earthenware and sturdy linen. To bring it home, start with a white and grey base, then add a few traditional pieces and pictures of the coast that smell of sea spray. ⚓
Here is what makes a Breton house, its colours, and 12 ideas to bring Brittany into your home, wherever you live.
What is Breton decor?
Breton decor is inspired by the traditional houses of Brittany, in north-western France: built of granite, with thick walls and narrow windows designed to stand up to the wind. It blends two worlds: the sea, with harbours, boats and sailors’ clothing, and the land, with farmhouse furniture and local crafts.
- Local materials: granite, slate, oak and chestnut, linen and hemp.
- A maritime palette: white, navy blue and grey, with touches of yellow and red.
- Recognisable patterns: the Breton stripe, the ermine, the painted designs of Quimper earthenware.
- Objects with a past: family furniture, ropes, driftwood, nautical charts.
- A cosy atmosphere: a house you come home to after a walk in the drizzle.
What colours suit Breton decor?
| Colour | Where it comes from | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| White | The limewashed facades of coastal villages | Walls, ceilings, bed linen |
| Navy blue | The ocean and sailors’ clothing | Shutters, cushions, a feature wall |
| Granite grey | The stone of houses and rocks | Floors, throws, ceramics |
| Oilskin yellow | Sailors’ rain gear | A touch: a raincoat, a cushion, a poster |
| Red | Boat hulls and sails | In small doses: a lamp, a tea towel |
| Pink granite | The rocks of the Pink Granite Coast | A softer alternative to red |
12 ideas for Breton decor at home
White walls and a stretch of stone
The foundation of a Breton house is the contrast between white lime and stone. If you have a granite or rubble stone wall, show it off. If not, a slightly off-white on every wall and a ceiling with exposed or painted beams are enough to set the scene.
Navy blue as the common thread
Shutters, front door, garden bench, cushions: navy blue links every room together. Paired with white, it instantly evokes the coast. For a softer version, blue-grey or duck-egg green recall the shutters of fishermen’s cottages.
The Breton stripe, from wardrobe to home
The blue and white stripe of the Breton top became the official uniform of French Navy sailors in 1858. Today it dresses the home too: cushion covers, tablecloths, deckchairs, shower curtains or bed linen. One striped piece per room is enough. And to wear it, the Saint James Breton top has been made since 1889 in Saint-James, in Normandy, a stone’s throw from Brittany.
Posters of Breton harbours and coastline
A fishing harbour, a beach at low tide, a granite village: a poster of Brittany brings back the changing light of the coast every day. It is also the simplest way to pay tribute to the corner of Brittany that matters to you, the one of your childhood holidays or your family home.
The harbours and beaches of Brittany
Quimper earthenware and name bowls
Quimper earthenware, made since the late 17th century, is recognisable by its hand-painted designs: little figures in Breton costume, flowers, blue and yellow bands. A dresser filled with old plates found at flea markets, or a row of personalised name bowls above the sink, and the kitchen turns Breton. The personalised eared bowl was born in the 1930s in the workshops of the Henriot-Quimper faience works.
Oak farmhouse furniture
Traditional Breton furniture is solid, made of oak or chestnut and often carved: sideboard, dresser, wedding wardrobe, chest, and of course the box bed, a bed enclosed by doors that kept out the cold. A single antique piece, found or inherited, gives soul to a modern room.
Linen and hemp
Before its harbours, Brittany was a land of cloth. Locronan, in Finistère, is an ancient weavers’ town, now listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, with its granite houses and large cobbled square. It was a real stunner for us, as we describe in our top medieval villages in Brittany on Rolling Trippers. At home, that means raw linen curtains, wool throws and striped tea towels.
The yellow raincoat, a pop of colour
Hanging on a hook in the hallway, a yellow raincoat is not just practical: it is the pop of colour that wakes up a white and blue interior. The same yellow can return in a cushion, a bunch of broom or a poster where a yellow boat waits on the water. The most famous raincoat, Guy Cotten’s Rosbras, was created in 1966 in Finistère, near Concarneau.
Treasures from the sea
Driftwood, pebbles picked up on the beach, bits of rope, a cork buoy, an old lantern, a framed nautical chart: these objects are collected walk after walk. Group them on a shelf or a windowsill rather than scattering them around.
The Pink Granite Coast on your wall
The orange-pink of the rocks of Ploumanac’h and Perros-Guirec is an unexpected alternative to blue. On the coastal path, the scenery is so beautiful that you stop every five minutes. We set off in search of seals there without spotting a single one, as we tell in our Brittany coast itinerary on Rolling Trippers. A poster of these rocks adds a soft pink glow to a bedroom or living room.
The ermine and Breton patterns
The ermine, symbol of the Dukes of Brittany, slips onto a cushion, a tea towel or a doorstop. Bigouden embroidery, with its colourful and very graphic patterns, can be found on furnishing fabrics. Use them sparingly: one or two nods are enough.
A crêpe and kouign-amann corner
In Brittany, food is for sharing: a crêpe griddle (Krampouz has been making them in Brittany since 1949), a jar of salted butter caramel, a stoneware bowl and a big wooden table. In Rochefort-en-Terre, voted France’s favourite village, we have lost count of the kouign-amann pastries we have tasted. 🧈 A poster of its flower-filled lanes carries the mood into the dining room.
Soft light for grey days
Drizzle is part of the charm. For grey days, multiply sources of warm light: a brass ship lamp, a lantern, candles in glass holders, string lights in the hallway. A Breton house is made to take refuge in, with a mug of tea or warm cider in hand.
Which poster should you choose for Breton decor?
The best choice is still the place that connects you to Brittany: your harbour, your beach, your village. Then match the poster to the room.
| Room | Suggested poster | Suggested size |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | A Breton harbour, a boat | A4 (€19) or a pair of A4 |
| Living room | The Pink Granite Coast, Belle-Île | A3 (€24) on its own or as a pair |
| Kitchen or dining room | A village: Locronan, Rochefort-en-Terre | A4 (€19) |
| Bedroom | A beach at low tide | A3 (€24) |
| Hallway | A trio of harbours and villages | 3 x A4 or 3 x A5 (€15) |
Our posters come in three sizes: A5 (14.8 x 21 cm), A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) and A3 (29.5 x 41.9 cm). For a large wall, create a pair or a trio of A3 posters. Before drilling, read our guide on how to hang a picture frame at the right height.
More posters for Breton decor
What mistakes should you avoid with Breton decor?
- Going all-in on nautical: anchors, buoys, nets and lighthouses everywhere feel like a seafood restaurant. Keep two or three maritime objects.
- Forgetting the land: Brittany is also granite villages, moors and forests. Farmhouse furniture and linen balance the seaside side.
- Choosing new things that imitate old ones: one genuine Quimper plate from a flea market is worth more than ten “Breton style” objects.
- Neglecting warmth: blue and white can feel cold. Add wood, wool and warm lighting.
Frequently asked questions
What are the colours of Breton decor?
Breton decor is based on white, navy blue and granite grey, warmed up by wood. Touches of yellow, like sailors’ raincoats, and red, like boat hulls, are added. The pink of the Pink Granite Coast is a softer variation.
How do you decorate a Breton house?
Keep the walls white and the stone exposed, choose oak or chestnut furniture, and add linen, Breton stripes, Quimper earthenware and a few treasures from the sea. On the wall, a poster of a Breton harbour or village connects the house to its landscape.
What is a Breton box bed?
The box bed (lit clos) is a traditional Breton bed, enclosed like a wardrobe by sliding or hinged doors, often carved. It kept out the cold and gave some privacy in one-room houses. Old box beds are now turned into bookcases, wardrobes or reading nooks.
How can you get Breton decor without living in Brittany?
Focus on three easy-to-carry elements: a white, navy and grey palette, a few genuine objects (Quimper earthenware, name bowls, a yellow raincoat) and one or more posters of Breton places. They are enough to create the mood in a city flat.
What is the difference between Breton decor and seaside decor?
Seaside decor is generic: sand, sky blue, shells, rattan. Breton decor is rooted in a region: granite, oak, Quimper earthenware, the Breton stripe, the yellow raincoat and specific landscapes of the Breton coast and villages.
A piece of Brittany at home
Breton decor does not need a longhouse by the sea: a white wall, a family piece of furniture, a stripe, a Quimper bowl and a poster of a place you love are enough to bring in the sea breeze. If you like decor that tells the story of a region, discover our Italian decor ideas too. And browse our France posters to find your corner of Brittany.
