How to Live Like the French This Summer, No Matter Where You Are

Embrace the slow, beautiful, and intentional rhythms of a French summer—wherever you live.

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When you imagine a French summer, your mind might drift to the lavender fields of Provence, breezy cafés in Paris, or seaside escapes along the Côte d’Azur. But the true essence of la vie française isn’t found in the location—it’s in the lifestyle.

French living, especially in summer, is about presence. It’s about simplicity, sensuality, and soul. It means savoring a ripe peach over the sink, lingering at the table long after the meal is finished, dressing beautifully for yourself, and finding joy in the ordinary.

The good news? You can bring this spirit into your daily life—no passport or plane ticket required. Whether you’re working full-time, staying close to home, or navigating a busy season, here’s how to infuse your summer with French elegance, ease, and everyday pleasure.

1. Start with a French State of Mind

Before you adjust anything about your home or routine, start by shifting your mindset. The French don’t romanticize summer because of what they do, but because of how they move through it.

Ask yourself:

• How can I slow down and be more intentional today?
• What small moments of beauty am I overlooking?
• How can I create a daily rhythm that feels like a gentle exhale?

Living like the French is not about copying a Pinterest-perfect aesthetic. It’s about living more richly in the moment you’re in.

2. Create a Summer Morning Ritual

The French understand that how you begin your day sets the tone for everything. Even in the summer heat, their mornings are slow and sacred.

Try this French-inspired morning routine:

• Open the windows. Let fresh air and morning light fill your space.
• Brew a café au lait or espresso and enjoy it seated—ideally outdoors.
• Pair it with something simple: toast with jam, yogurt with honey, or fruit.
• Wear something that makes you feel chic—even if you’re staying in.
• Journal, stretch, or walk slowly around the block before jumping into your day.

The key? Savor, don’t rush. Make your mornings feel like a love letter to yourself.

3. Eat Like the French

One of the most iconic elements of French living is the relationship to food. In summer, that means effortless meals made from simple, fresh ingredients—and lots of lingering at the table.

Key French Summer Food Principles

• Cook with the season: Think tomatoes, zucchini, berries, herbs, and stone fruit.
• Focus on fewer, higher-quality ingredients.
• Eat outdoors when possible—even if it’s just your front steps.
• Make meals beautiful, even simple ones. Use real plates. Add a cloth napkin.

Sample French-Inspired Summer Meals

• Baguette with soft cheese, sliced tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt
• Niçoise salad with tuna, eggs, olives, and greens
• Pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, basil, and lemon
• Chilled melon with prosciutto and arugula
• Berries with a dollop of crème fraîche or plain Greek yogurt

This isn’t about recipes—it’s about rhythm, ritual, and pleasure.

4. Dine Like You’re in the South of France

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or eating solo, the French approach to mealtime is about slowing down and enjoying the process.

Try this French-style dining ritual

• Pour a glass of chilled wine or sparkling water with a lemon slice.
• Light a candle, even if it’s bright out.
• Sit outside with music playing softly in the background.
• Take time between bites. Linger after eating. Talk. Laugh. Observe.
• End with fruit or a square of dark chocolate—not because it’s fancy, but because it feels complete.

Summer meals aren’t meant to be rushed—they’re meant to be remembered.

5. Curate Your Summer Wardrobe Like a Parisienne

French style is never fussy—but it’s always thoughtful. In summer, that translates to a curated wardrobe of breathable fabrics, soft silhouettes, and pieces that make you feel effortlessly elegant.

 Essentials for French-Inspired Summer Dressing

• Crisp white button-up shirts
• Linen trousers or breezy midi skirts
• Lightweight sundresses in solids or subtle prints
• A woven basket bag or straw tote
• Oversized sunglasses and a silk scarf
• Strappy sandals, espadrilles, or ballet flats

Wear perfume—even if no one else is around. Do your hair, put on earrings, and wear your favorite shade of lipstick. Not to impress others, but to elevate how you feel.

6. Set the Scene

French homes are not about trends—they’re about soul. They mix old and new, useful and beautiful. In summer, they open up. They breathe.

 How to Make Your Home Feel Like a French Summer Retreat

• Let in natural light. Remove heavy curtains. Keep windows open.
• Use woven baskets to store seasonal produce and market finds.
• Keep a pitcher of water with herbs or citrus on the counter.
• Add a small vase of flowers (wildflowers or a few stems) to the table.
• Stack a few books, a candle, and a linen napkin on a tray—instant charm.
• Display beautiful items you use often: a wooden spoon, a cutting board, a straw hat.

Make your home feel like somewhere you want to linger, nap, and cook barefoot.

7. Take a Daily Walk, French-Style

In France, the walk (la promenade) is an art form. It’s not just for exercise—it’s for connection, observation, and pleasure.

How to take a French-style summer walk

• Go slowly. This is not a power walk.
• Leave your phone at home or keep it on airplane mode.
• Dress nicely, even for a short loop.
• Observe the architecture, the flowers, the sky, the sounds.
• Stop at a bench. People-watch. Breathe.
• Maybe grab a coffee or baguette to bring home.

Walking is a beautiful way to stay connected to your neighborhood, your body, and your senses.

8. Make Space for Beauty, Even When You’re Busy

French living values aesthetic pleasure. That means surrounding yourself with things that delight your senses—even on the busiest days.

Small ways to add beauty to your summer routine

• Use a linen towel instead of a paper napkin
• Burn a scented candle while you work or tidy
• Arrange fruit in a bowl by color
• Use a real glass for your iced tea
• Write your grocery list on pretty paper
• Display your favorite summer books by your reading chair

It doesn’t take much to elevate your everyday—just a shift in attention.

9. Schedule (and Protect) Rest

The French protect rest the way they protect good food and art. It’s not something you earn—it’s something you need.

Summer rest the French way

• Take a real lunch break away from your desk
• Nap with the windows open and a fan humming
• Sit in the shade and read, journal, or simply do nothing
• Take a tech-free afternoon
• Protect your evenings from unnecessary commitments

Slow is not lazy. Slow is intentional. Summer is short—savor it.

10. Prioritize Pleasure Without Guilt

If there’s one rule in French living, it’s this: pleasure is not a sin—it’s essential. And in summer, pleasure is everywhere if you’re paying attention.

Daily summer pleasures to embrace

• A peach eaten while standing over the sink
• A linen dress that swishes when you walk
• Fresh bread dipped in olive oil
• A nap in the middle of the day
• The scent of jasmine or tomato leaves
• Wine at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday with music and nothing else

Let summer be felt, not just scheduled.

11. Enjoy Time Alone

French culture embraces solitude. Summer is a beautiful time to spend time with yourself—not in loneliness, but in richness.

Ideas for solo summer romance

• Take yourself to a farmer’s market and buy just what looks good
• Read in a shady spot with a picnic basket
• Journal at a café with sparkling water and lemon
• Cook a beautiful dinner for one and eat it by candlelight
• Start a summer “selfie diary” documenting your mood and look each day
• Visit a museum or art exhibit alone

You are allowed to be your own favorite company.

12. Plan a Staycation Like You’re in Provence

You don’t need to go anywhere to enjoy a luxurious, French-inspired summer. You just need to reframe your environment and your mindset.

Tips for a French-style staycation

• Set boundaries around your time—no work, no stress
• Stock your fridge with cheese, wine, fruit, and bread
• Eat outside as much as possible
• Wear your “vacation” clothes at home
• Watch French films (Amélie, A Good Year, Call My Agent)
• Read lighthearted novels or memoirs
• Take a “tour” of your neighborhood on foot with fresh eyes
• Say no to errands. Say yes to naps.

Make home feel like the countryside, even if you’re in the suburbs.

French Living Isn’t About Where You Are

Living like the French in summer isn’t about recreating a movie set. It’s about choosing presence over productivity, quality over quantity, and ritual over rush.

This summer, give yourself permission to:

• Wake up slowly and drink coffee outside
• Eat fruit with your fingers and smile
• Dress beautifully for an ordinary day
• Read under a tree and nap on clean sheets
• Say no to things that drain you
• Fill your life with little luxuries that bring you joy

French summer living is about creating space for what matters most—pleasure, beauty, peace, and time. And the best part? You don’t have to go anywhere. La vie française can start right where you are.