Mountain chalet décor: our tips for a warm and contemporary style

Gone are the days of varnished pine panelling and red checked curtains! Today, chalet décor is more natural, understated and, above all, timeless. Here are a few ideas to breathe new life into your interior, while retaining the authentic spirit of a mountain chalet.

At Chalet Les Cerises, a unique ceiling was custom designed. In the bathroom of the Warens suite, light fixtures integrated into the logs add an authentic and contemporary touch.

Old wood, the essential

For a truly cosy chalet, wood is a must. Authentic and warm, it immediately immerses your spaces in a chic mountain atmosphere. Natural woods, ideally old, are preferable, and glossy varnishes should be avoided at all costs. Today, matt finishes allow the beauty of raw wood to be preserved.

Increasingly rare in the Alps, old cladding boards – once used to cover the exterior of chalets – have become real collector's items. Weathered beams, rafters and logs are even harder to find, but what character they add to an interior! Burned by the sun for decades, all you need to do is brush and treat them to enhance your walls.

Don't look for perfection: cracks, holes and knots are part of their charm. The more the wood bears the marks of time, the more it tells a story and brings soul to your cottage. What's more, it evolves with you: in a cottage intended for rental, it will naturally develop a patina, becoming even more beautiful with each stay. As for maintenance, nothing could be simpler: marks and small imperfections are not flaws, but memories that enrich its personality.

In the Aravis suite, the roof combines century-old wood with newer wood that has been weathered to look old. It's up to you to guess which ones are original!

Dare to transform the wooden frame of the chalet

A somewhat bland wooden ceiling can quickly lack character. The solution? Give exposed beams a new lease of life by artificially ageing them. The technique requires a little patience, but the result is well worth it.

Start by breaking the corners of the beams with a plane to recreate the effect of old tools. Then add a few irregularities using an axe or a plane. Don't hesitate to make deep marks in the wood: the imperfections are part of its charm. Then, brush or sand vigorously to bring out the natural grain. (A useful reminder: wear a mask, as wood dust is abrasive.)

Next comes the staining. To imitate the brown tones left by the sun, you can lightly char the surface with a blowtorch. After removing the soot with a copper brush, a walnut stain finish will give it an authentic patina. Then add a few old planks or rafters between the beams, and your ceiling will look just like that of a century-old Alpine farmhouse.

Softwoods such as fir, larch or spruce are ideal for this. However, avoid hardwoods such as oak, which are too dense to achieve the same effect. This method can also be applied to existing door and window frames and joinery to create a harmonious whole.

Be careful, though: too much old wood can be overwhelming! The total look can quickly become stifling. The ideal solution is to balance it with complementary materials: a wall painted in slate grey, natural stone or neutral shades will add contrast and elegance. When it comes to colours, it is best to stick to sober tones in order to preserve the warm and balanced atmosphere of a real cosy chalet.

Antique furniture and vintage finds: the essence of authentic décor for a cosy chalet in the heart of the Alps.

Never neglect the lighting in your chalet

Old wood, with its matte tones and dark grain, absorbs a lot of light. To avoid a dull interior, it is essential to pay attention to lighting and use multiple light sources. Opt for warm white bulbs (2700 K): their light is reminiscent of the warmth of a log fire and immediately creates a cosy atmosphere worthy of a luxury chalet. Vary the intensity: wide beams for ambient lighting and more precise spotlights (8°) to highlight the details of your décor.

Feel free to play with shadows and contrasts: a few darker areas add depth and avoid uniformity, while enhancing the warm and lively effect of your interior. In the mountains, light is a decorative element in its own right: when well thought out, it enhances the wood, creates a welcoming atmosphere and makes your chalet a real cocoon of light.

Wood fires, a must-have for cosy chalet décor

Nothing beats a wood fire for warming up the atmosphere in a chalet. If you don't have a fireplace, a wood-burning stove is an excellent alternative. Complete the ambience with a few candles: they give off a soft light and enhance the cosy feel. Flames, whether large or small, bring warmth, conviviality and real comfort in the heart of winter.

To further enhance this luminous atmosphere, consider mirrors. Much more than a simple decorative element, they visually enlarge rooms and reflect light to create a more lively interior.

Finally, anticipate your lighting and electrical needs: choose the location of lamps, pendant lights and additional sockets in advance. This is also a good time to install discreet network cables, so you can enjoy a chalet that is both authentic and connected.

These contemporary deer-shaped wall lights offer a modern reinterpretation of traditional hunting trophies. Design: Chen Bikovski.

Trust our passionate carpenters

Savoyard carpenters, who are passionate about their heritage, are invaluable allies when it comes to creating an authentic chalet interior. Their expert advice will make all the difference. The direction in which the boards are laid has a significant impact on the final result: laid vertically, they accentuate the height and avoid the crushing effect in dark rooms; laid horizontally, they create a feeling of space and warmth, ideal for bright rooms with high ceilings. The latter solution is also more economical, as it limits wood waste. By using long, continuous planks, punctuated by a few vertical elements, you can achieve a beautiful post-and-beam effect, perfect for structuring a large chalet. Before installation, it is essential to sort the planks by colour and density: this will allow you to achieve a subtle and uniform gradient. This is where the carpenter's expertise comes into play.

To reinforce the antique character, you can add a few false pegs: these will give the impression that the chalet has stood the test of time. But be careful not to overdo it: a successful mountain-style decor should look natural, as if each element has always been there.

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The kitchen at Chalet Les Cerises exudes authenticity, with its cabinets featuring doors crafted from antique wood.

The art of mix and match: finding the right balance

Once the walls have been clad in old wood, the key is to play with contrasts. A chalet decorated solely in a rustic style can quickly seem heavy and dated, while an overly contemporary style can appear cold and impersonal. The balance lies in mix and match. Have fun hunting for charming antique objects: a carpenter's workbench converted into a console table, a vintage sledge repurposed as a coffee table, or even logs converted into bedside tables. These pieces tell a story and breathe life into your interior. However, avoid the cliché of old skis hanging on the dining room wall: it's better to place them casually in the entrance to the ski room, next to old wooden snowshoes, for a more subtle effect.

To avoid falling into the trap of excessive rusticity, also focus on contemporary design. A modern painting, a bold light fixture or statement seating fit perfectly into an alpine chalet and create a refined contrast. Designers, who are fond of these pieces, offer a multitude of options that will allow you to personalise your decor while making it unique.

In Cordon, Haute-Savoie, this mountain chalet uses natural materials to create a spectacular and authentic balcony.

Opt for raw materials for an authentic décor

Nothing enhances old wood better than natural materials such as leather or fur. Cowhide, currently very much in vogue, fits perfectly into a chalet. It can also breathe new life into a tired club chair after a visit to the upholsterer. It's no coincidence that iconic designers such as Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand already used it to adorn their famous pieces, such as the LC4 chaise longue. For added comfort, sheepskins are ideal: at the foot of the bed, on an armchair or casually thrown over a chair, they add softness and warmth. Add to that some soft throws and cushions, and your interior will instantly become more welcoming.

Why not also recycle old fur coats forgotten at the back of a wardrobe? Transformed into cushions, they gain a new lease of life and add a touch of refinement.

Another ally of old wood is rusted metal. Corten steel, for example, offers an elegant and stable patina, perfect for bay windows or radiators. Some rust-effect finishes offered by manufacturers also blend beautifully with a mountain decor.

And that's not all: linen, wool, stone, ceramics, feathers, reeds... Raw and natural materials, even those with an ethnic inspiration, combine perfectly with the chalet spirit. In the bedroom, slightly crinkled linen bed linen or a thick wool blanket accentuate the simplicity and elegance. Some artisan companies, such as Arpin, still use traditional techniques, offering unique fabrics such as Bonneval cloth and even wool wall tiles, perfect for creating a warm and original headboard.

With these noble and authentic materials, your mountain chalet will gain in comfort, character and timelessness.

The Mont-Blanc suite charms guests with its beaver fur cushions and aged wooden French windows that open onto the balcony. Above, a faux grooved roof frame elegantly conceals an LED strip light, creating a cosy atmosphere.

Pinterest, your essential interior design ally

Need inspiration for decorating a cottage or redesigning an interior? Pinterest is a real gold mine. Thousands of images are accessible in just a few clicks, and amid this abundance, sometimes a single photo is enough to elicit that famous 'wow' effect and spark our creativity.

Decorating tip: create a folder for each theme and save all the images you like without thinking too much about it. After a few days, come back to it with a fresh eye: you will quickly spot the common features that really appeal to you. The idea is not to copy, but to reinterpret in your own way. This is how you create a unique decoration that reflects your personality.

Here is a link to my inspirations, and another to my interpretations.

Now it's your turn! Explore the photo gallery of Chalet Les Cerises and be inspired by our creations.