Louis-style furnishings are a mainstay of traditional interiors. With the extended lead times and shipping delays plaguing designers and regular folk alike, people are turning to consignment stores, estate sales, and online sources like chairish, 1stdibs, and FB Marketplace to find home furnishings. It is helpful to understand the characteristics of various furniture styles in order to decode descriptions of second-hand goods – and to ensure you’re buying what you think you’re buying! Today I am breaking down Louis-style furniture to turn us all into savvy shoppers and style lovers.
The Louis-style furnishings of today were inspired by the styles popular during the reigns of three French kings: Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI, from 1643 to 1792. During those periods, furniture featuring ornate carvings and luxurious materials would have been available only to royalty and nobility. These days, reproductions and pieces inspired by the styles are within reach of anyone who wants to inject a touch of the traditional into their interiors.
louis xiv-style
Known as the Sun King, Louis XIV reigned from 1643 to 1715, and is known for his transformation of Versailles into a grand and opulent palace. The Baroque style is a study in maximalism – think excessive, over the top, in-your-face luxury. Furnishings and décor were lavish, with gilding, inlays, carvings, and luxe and exotic materials. Furniture was heavy and grand. Chairs typical of the period have high straight backs (like a throne), long curved arms, X- or H- shaped stretchers, and usually sport carved ornamentation.
louis xv-style
Louis XV’s reign lasted from 1715 to 1774. In contrast to the furnishings of the Louis XIV period, the furniture of Louis XV’s time was more functional and comfortable. It was during this period that the sofa was invented. During the 18th century Enlightenment era, furnishings had to accommodate “polite society” in which people spent long stretches of time sitting around chatting with one another about politics, literature, current events, and gossip. That said, furnishings were still highly ornate, and you will find lots of carvings featuring curves and natural motifs like florals on Louis XV-style pieces. A distinctive chair of the day was the fauteuil, which had an exposed carved wood frame, cabriole legs, and an upholstered back, seat, and arm rests.
louis XVI-style
Louis XVI was the last king of France, and the style of his time took a turn away from the royal opulence seen during his predecessors’ reigns. A revolution was brewing, and furnishings came to reflect the philosophy of the period. Inspired by Roman and Greek architecture, Louis XVI-style is marked by clean lines and more simplicity. The furniture pieces are characterized by fewer ornate, curvy carvings and embellishments, favoring straight lines and architectural shapes. The Louis XV period’s emphasis on functionality and comfort continued, with the Louis XVI period giving us the rise of nightstands and upholstered headboards. You can identify a Louis XVI chair by its shield- or oval-shaped back and straight legs that are reminiscent of architectural columns.
I hope this guide to Louis-style furnishings has been informative! Let me know in the comments if there are other decorative styles you’d like to see decoded in future style primers!