What does “Lana Del Rey-coded” mean? What exactly is Bridgerton-core? And why are there pink bows everywhere – like on that big-eyed hamster? All of these questions can be answered with one word: coquette.
Believe it or not, this aesthetic can make its way into the home, too, so keep reading to see how coquette room decor ties up every interior space with a pretty bow.
What is “coquette”?
Coquette, not to be confused with the fried French dish croquette, is one of the newest aesthetic trends on the scene. Reliant on bows, lace, pastels, and all things stereotypically “girly,” the coquette aesthetic is ultra-sweet and drips with daintiness. But, what is coquette and what defines the aesthetic?
The word “coquette” literally translates to “a woman that flirts,” which is where the aesthetic draws its two main pillars: women and romance. Firstly, the coquette aesthetic is all about embracing femininity.
Opposing the male gaze, this movement celebrates womanhood with classic “girly” motifs like bows, hearts, and flowers – things that are often (unfairly) deemed childish due to their relation to women.
The coquette aesthetic is also about releasing the inner romantic with draws on the second half of the definition. Starlight Fair puts it best: “Coquette appeals to the inner playful romantic in us, and it focuses on enhancing the inner glow of hope that graces the stuff of fairy tales and our sweetest dreams, and can be embraced by all genders, races, and ages.” In a way that almost “heals the inner child,” coquette allows one relish in whimsy – to dream and romanticize life.
“Transforming a space into a coquette haven means indulging in unabashed femininity,” says Spartanburg, SC-based House of Interiors Design, and that is what this article is all about.
The coquette aesthetic, at its core, is feminine, but it draws on other design styles like French, regencycore, and vintage. So whether you’re looking to coquette-ify your home in San Bernardino, CA or apartment in East Providence, RI, this Redfin article is the guide to all things coquette – interior edition.
Learn how French, regency, and vintage styles contribute to what weknow as the coquette aesthetic today and get room decor inspiration for making your space the ultimate flirty haven.
Shamelessly feminine
At its core, the coquette style is unashamedly feminine and is “all about celebrating the feminine and embracing all things girly,” says Mariah Hilsen of Worcester Run. In terms of interior design, Decor Curator elaborates that “coquette style is all about unapologetically showcasing the ultra- feminine designs that bring life to a space.”
With its feminine roots, a good rule of thumb to make your space scream “coquette” is to incorporate traditional “girly” elements: “Think pink, bows, florals, lace, hearts, swans, and an overall sense of elegance and grace,” says Decor Curator.
Although trendy, this style isn’t anything new as these classic elements have truly stood the test of time: “A lot of pieces in this style also have a timeless aspect of them, allowing you to enjoy your pieces for many years to come.” The coquette aesthetic incorporates the femininity of several different design styles (French, regency, and vintage) which we’ll touch on in the following sections.
Homage to French design
French design is another core aspect of the coquette aesthetic with its roots in romance, elegance, and charm. Specifically, the coquette style draws inspiration from “the chic allure of vintage Parisian aesthetics” says Katie of Literally Pretty. This allure stems from both French fashion with Parisian fashion icons like Brigitte Bardot and Coco Chanel alongside the opulent Rococo architectural style.
In terms of interior design, The French Cottage’s Jennifer Bronson explains that “bringing coquette room decor touches to a home is all about embracing the ultra-feminine elements of decor, which goes hand in hand with French furniture and accessories.” Jennifer recommends pieces like antique buffets, gilded mirrors, and Florentine trays help to bring in that “warm, elegant, formal, and simultaneously easy" French interior style.
Although we may not live in the Palace of Versailles or often wear 1700s French dresses, incorporating coquette elements into our space can bring about that coveted French sophistication. The allure of French design is “infused with the elegance of regencycore and the romanticism of Parisian salons,” and hinges on its historical chicness.
Influenced by regencycore
In part stemming from French design, regencycore has also largely influenced today’s coquette aesthetic. The regencycore aesthetic centers on the opulence of the 18th century, the time of corsets, bustles, and, of course, reigning royalty.
This aesthetic has mainly seen a rise due to the popularity of both Netflix’s Bridgerton and HBO Max’s The Gilded Age, TV series that focus on the English Regency era in the earlier 1800s and American Gilded Age in the later 1800s, respectively.
Much like the coquette aesthetic, regencycore is romantic and feminine. “[The] coquette style blends cottage-chic with classical regency, creating a romantic and ultra-feminine look. It features soft pastels –especially light pink – along with elements like florals, lace, and French curvature. Bows and ruffles add to its charm, while Victorian-style picture frames, mirrors, and lighting provide a touch of regal flair,” explains Katie Gallagher of Walls of Wonderland.
Incorporating elements like cherub sculptures, gold candle holders, and vintage glass pieces are great ways to nod to the regencycore’s influence on the coquette aesthetic.
Stolen Inspiration’s Kendra Jeffery suggests “opt[ing] for soft pastel color schemes such as blush pink and lavender to create a soft and romantic ambiance… [and adding] delicate accents like bows, ceramic figurines, and vintage-inspired decor pieces to elevate your space to be something straight out of Bridgerton.”
Alessandra Aslfm, blogger of A Sparkly Life for Me says, “Coquette is on the rise, and there’s no denying that the visual spectacle that is Bridgerton is a huge influence in the growing popularity.”
Although regencycore hinders on opulence, its influence on the coquette aesthetic allows those to “embrace the trend with a few simple updates” like “swap[ping] neutral pillows for blush pink ones in soft velvets or delicate patterns, replac[ing] stark artwork with dreamy pastel florals or landscapes, and hunt for vintage Hollywood Regency lamps to add a touch ofglamour.”
Vintage vibes
As regencycore embraces the style of an older era, vintage elements are integral to the coquette aesthetic. The "coquette style in living spaces embodies a charming blend of femininity and vintage elegance,” explains Juneptune. With vintage pieces evoking romantic charm and timeless allure, subtle touches like crystal trays and needlepoint pillows “create an ambiancethat is both sophisticated and delightfully romantic"
With the near necessity of vintage pieces, achieving the coquette aesthetic is quite cost-effective. Rachel, blogger of Days Inspired, says that she particularly loves this decor style because “it works really well with thrifted and vintage finds [which are] both an affordable and sustainable choice.”
When picking out pieces, she recommends looking secondhand for “a charming vintage vanity, ornate gold antique mirror, or even floral upholstered furniture” to create that “ultra-feminine, dreamy atmosphere.”
If you are thrift shopping or browsing secondhand, it may be hard to find the perfect item, but Freshly Fuji’s Blaire Fujimoto reminds us to not be afraid to DIY. She suggests looking for “vintage art, mirrors, dishes, figurines - basically anything pretty and vintage-inspired” and that it’s easy to “transform your finds with a little imagination” like “breath[ing] new life into an old picture frame with some spray paint or sew floral sheets into bow-shaped pillows for a cute andgirly look.”
Key coquette elements
Now we have a basis of what the coquette aesthetic is and where it draws its inspiration, how do we give a space that feminine touch? Below are five coquette aesthetic constants to keep in mind when aiming to achieve this style.
Pastel colors
Communicating femininity, charm, and whimsy, the color pink plays a fundamental role in the coquette aesthetic. Similarly, pastel hues convey the same tune with blush pink being the defining color of the coquette aesthetic.
One easy way to transform a space into a coquette haven is by incorporating lots of soft blush tones. A simple approach is by painting a wall or two pink as paint plays a pivotal role.
If you’re renting or just want to try out this aesthetic before completely committing, Samplize offers a mess free way to achieve this look with their peel-and-stick samples. Samplize’s Emily Grundy of recommends “incorporat[ing] soft pastel hues like ‘Ballet Slipper,’ ‘Misty Lilac,’ and ‘Soft Mint,’ [to] evoke a sense of romance and elegance [or adding] a vintage-inspired shade such as ‘Dusty Rose’ and a fresh cream color such as ‘Gardenia’ to enhance the aesthetic.”
If you’re allowed to paint or want to fully commit, Craftwork’s Marybeth Schmidt recommends painting your space either with Marrakesh by Backdrop and Persimmon by Sherwin-Williams.
However, not only can the wall color be transformed, but Marybeth suggests incorporating elegant molding and/or wallpaper (see below) to completely transform the space for the perfectromantic ambiance.
Patterned wallpaper
Instead of a solid color, another technique to achieve the coquette style is wallpaper.
Using wallpaper can also add depth, dimension, design, and texture to the space while paying homage to both the vintage and ornate (stemming from regencycore) aspects of the aesthetic.
Wallpaper is also a great way to include classic coquette motifs like bows and hearts. Whether you own or rent, Peel & Paper offers both peel and stick and paste-the-wall options to incorporate wall paper into your space.
Lead designer Danielle recommends combining two wallpapers for the best look like “choosing an intricate wallpaper design such as 'Priscilla' and then using the colors 'Baby Pink' for the background and 'Vase' for the pattern.”
If you’re unsure what pattern to pick, Pam Ginocchio, co-founder of Project Nursery, suggests taking inspiration from nursery design. Similar to the coquette aesthetic, nurseries also embrace elements like “sweet floral patterns, lavish upholstery, and an abundance of beautiful bows.”
Pam suggests their swan wallpaper which not only gives off “major royal vibes,” but also is a great way to “amp up your coquette-core aesthetic.” This pattern also includes ribbons and florals, two main coquette motifs, which would greatly transform the space with a hyperfeminine and whimsical feel.
Florals everywhere
Speaking of florals, this component is essential for achieving that coquette look. Holly of Woodchip and Magnolia notes that florals greatly help to soften a space and suggests adding florals to the walls – once again by using wallpaper. Specifically, she recommends their AvaMarika Electric wallpaper in conjunction with adding floral fabric on soft furnishings (see more on fabric details below) to “create a feminine feel” with color and character. Floral elements are not only limited to walls and fabrics as Hello Eve Adams’ Eve Adams expresses.
She offers the idea of “layering petite florals in pastel shades of pink or baby blue” to elevate “a basic lamp or photo pin board by adding chantilly lace, fabric rosettes, and ribbon.” Both an easy DIY and cost-effective, this detail helps to enhance the space for a more vintage feel that even incorporates some of that feminine southern charm aesthetic.
Bows and other subtle touches
The coquette aesthetic is really all about the little details and subtle touches in the space. When searching for coquette room decor inspiration, several decor items flood the results with lots of bows, floral prints, ornate gold picture frames, and candlesticks just to name a few.
Shelly Schmelzer of Rococo Interior Design talks about larger furniture pieces, like an armoire, and the importance of paying attention to a piece’s details. She explains that “a lovely, ornate vintage furniture piece that has been refreshed and embellished with muted tones and subtle feminine details, like florals or script lettering, can seamlessly carry the coquette style into the living areas of any home.”
When shopping for a larger piece or revamping an existing one, pay attention to details like gold hardware and decorative trim. For furniture (and decor) colors, GF Warehouse recommends to stay with “pastel hues like light pink, periwinkle, and cream [to] transform your room into a charming, feminine retreat.”
For smaller decor pieces, the options are truly endless. Whether you’re adding vintage gold candleholders with pink candles, a tray of perfumes, or an ornate mirror, its the little details that really pull the space together.
When in doubt, achieving the coquette aesthetic is as easy asadding a bow.
Forever Dolled Up’s Caroline suggests adding ribbons and lace in pastel shades everywhere: “consider…tying ribbons around the candle stands on your dining room table to effortlessly add a pretty splash of coquette style to your home without undergoing major remodeling changes.”
Similarly, Ericka Axtle-Ludwig, founder of Girl Power 247, suggestsadding bows on chairs to “adorn your room with delicate touches” and embrace pastel hues, hearts, and lace while doing so.
Whether you’re adding a new furniture piece, revamping an old one, or just adding a bow somewhere in your space, the combination of several little details are what cultivates the coquette aesthetic.
Although it may seem little, items like a teacup candle or lace bedskirt willhelp make the coquette style shine in every inch of your space.
Fancy fabrics
Not only are bows the only important fabric elements of the coquette style, but the aesthetic is heavily reliant on fabric and textures. Sheets, pillows, curtains, and of course ribbon bows all contribute to making a space feel truly coquette.
Felicia Wallace, blogger of Hello Home Girl, says to “embrace the coquette style through the use of gentile fabrics” like her beloved “vintage white bedspread that featured embroidered rose details and a fringe trim.”
Sheets with dainty floral prints paired with a pastel duvet and gold bed frame for example would make the perfect coquette sleeping space.
Another great bedding option is the Vintage Red Hearts Bedding Set from 22 Home Decor that adds a pop of red with classic hearts for a more Lana Del Rey-esque take on the coquette aesthetic. This set has a “vintage flair, combining classic design with a playful, feminine touch,” says owner Albert Banica.
In general, sticking to “bedding with ruffles, lace, or floral patterns,” in pastel hues for “a cozy and feminine touch,” is the way to go, recommends Romane of Everlasting Fabrics.Not only is bedding a key component, but Felicia reminds us to look at curtains and tablecloths as well since all “fabrics add much-needed texture and visual depth to make your coquette space feel curated and interesting.”
Lace fabrics and ribbon can easily be found secondhand and offer a great way to add more texture and coquette-ify a space. For instance, you can add beaded or lace trim to the edge of a lamp or throw pillows, tie ribbon door knobs, or put up feminine curtains.
Ultimately, for the perfect blend of texture, “think frilly lace, soft satins, and cotton quilts,” says Felicia for the cutest interior.
Make the coquette aesthetic your own
Although there are some coquette aesthetic “musts” like the color pink and bows, content manager Feisal Peer of Trendy Home Hacks, reminds us to make it our own.
She claims that the “coquette style is super versatile, making it perfect for any decor preference,” as for example, “If boho is more your thing, mix those pastel colors with rattan and toss in some vintage mirrors for a whimsical touch.”
Likewise, Lizzie in Lace blogger Elizabeth Hugen, reminds us that “although the coquette aesthetic is all about embracing delicate femininity and softness, adding in elements of your personal style creates an environment that is uniquely you."
For instance, if you want to lean more into the regencycore aspect, add “elements like gorgeous drapes, angel decor, or a Roman bust,” or “unique thrifted items that tell a story and make a statement,” for a more vintage feel.
While yes, the coquette aesthetic has its defying traits, there isn’t one set formula to achieve the style. After all, it’s your home or apartment, so it’s important to prioritize personal preference and be creative with your interior design.
Putting a bow on coquette home decor
Ultimately, the coquette aesthetic boils down to five main things: feminine, elegant, vintage, romantic, and whimsical. The coquette aesthetic embraces femininity in a modern fashion while borrowing aspects from regencycore and French design while incorporating vintage elements to create one of the most coveted styles today.
Pastel colors (specifically pink), along with bows, lace, swans, hearts, florals, etc. create the coquette aesthetic. Creating the perfect coquette space with “stereotypically feminine iconography [is] kind of like styling an outfit; just think pink and add ribbon,” says Ilona’s Nathaniel Purnama.
Although it may have started as a fashion trend, it looks like the coquette aesthetic is here to stay. Whether you’re scrolling on TikTok and see the big-eyed hamster meme adorned with a pink bow or find yourself gravitating to gold candlestick holders or lace curtains, it’s no doubt that this newest style has taken the world by storm.
By Darby Mulligan at Redfin
