The absolute, most important tip I can give when shopping anywhere in Paris is to say bonjour when you walk up to a stand. Not acknowledging the dealer will highly offend them and it will reflect in the price and your discount!

There are lots of places to shop for vintage goodies along with the flea markets. Some are coordinated by neighborhood and are on the sidewalk and others are indoors. Daily listings can be found in Aladin Magazine, which lists upcoming sales and shows all over France each month.

Antiquités Brocante: The word translates to Second hand antiques. You’ll find a little more upscale items here, as dealers will shop for their own stores and booths.

Dépôt-vente: Consignment shop for either furniture or clothing

Vide-Greniers: These are known as attic sales. People take to the streets to sell their furniture and clothes. You never know what you’ll find.

Antiquités (Antique Markets) Also called Salons des Antiquaires

Marchés aux Puces: Fleamarket

Go as early as possible since it gets crowded after noon. Steer clear of the crowds in the new section at Clingancourt and watch out for pickpockets when you’re at the Metro. And don’t fall for shell games!

Try to go when it’s warm and not raining. Many dealers will close up in bad weather. All the flea markets are open year round.

Be sure to bring cash, as not everyone accepts credit cards and small items require cash money! There are ATM’s but they invariably run out of cash just after you’ve waited in a really long line. Keep your wallet tucked away and have some cash (small mixed bills) in your pocket. Take out a little at a time and use it to negotiate.

Most everyone is expecting to bargain, so have fun, but don’t be insulting by asking for half off. Ask for the best price on two or more items and you’ll be more likely to get a good deal.

If you love something but you’re just not sure about it, introduce yourself and get the dealer’s phone and stall number. Sometimes you can negotiate a better deal if it was slow over the weekend.

Shopping for furniture in Paris is one of life’s great pleasures. It’s a candy store where you’ll find pink satin slipper chairs, silk tufted daybeds, mirrored vanities, and all the accessories you’d want to set up a boudoir.
The best advice I can give is that if you love it, get it. It’s probably a one of a kind, and if you don’t get it someone else will. Having one or two key pieces is all you need to set the stage so keep an eye out for that special something. If you’re shipping a larger piece home, getting a few things can actually save you money. Shipments are based on cubic footage, so if you can fit your linens or a chandelier in a cabinet, it ships for free!

It may seem a little intimidating to shop for furniture in Paris if you haven’t done it before. But that’s the way it is with all things unknown. Until you do it, it’s a mystery, then suddenly it’s so simple!

Paris has the best lighting. Keep your eye out for chandeliers, lamps, gironles, lampshades, wall sconces and candelabras. Just one great accent can set tone for the room. Some may just need a few crystals, which are abundant at the markets, and lets you put your own twist on a classic.

Tip: Some chandelier bulb sockets may not have to be rewired if you use a European bulb, which can be found in a regular hardware store. It’s best to have a professional electrician look everything over and definitely change the plugs on lamps.

I love to hunt to for images of women; slices of life that were captured moments in time. These pictures and drawings give great insight into the details of daily life. Paris is filled with thousands of etchings, engravings, lithos, watercolors, and pen and ink drawings. Most people won’t take the time to go through them all, with so much else to see. Use this to your advantage. Carefully go through the stacks of paper and you’ll be sure to uncover a one of a kind piece that you’ll treasure forever. Keep an eye out for the perfect frame and matte too.

There are also lots of old wallpaper and fabric and watercolors that will turn up. Many of these are museum quality, at least to us as they can be well over 200 years old. Be sure to look in all old photo albums and books that look like they may have pictures in them. You’ll definitely be rewarded for being thorough.

Linens are one of the most unique and lovely items in Paris. Many have monograms and are made of the finest cottons and linen. There are lots pieces that have never been used, especially linen sheets. Some will have tags on them. They’re great for adding your own detail with vintage fabrics or ribbon.

You’ll find a huge variety in textures of the fabrics. Some cotton linens will be as soft as silk while others are heavy, nubby linen. Thicker pieces are great for upholstery, a chic alternative to muslin.

If you fall in love with something that has a stain or discoloration, you may bring them back to their former glory with this

Linen Care

• For stain removal, squeeze a fresh lemon add rock salt directly on the mark. Lay it in the sun for 20 minutes, then rinse
• Don’t put linens in the dryer. Dry them on a dryer rack.
• Press linens on the reverse side with starch.

Look for swatches and larger pieces of traditional French fabrics. You’ll find swatches from 1800’s and even earlier. They’re great for making pillows and quilts, or adding detail to sheets and accenting clothes. For detail lovers, the lost art of embroidery can be discovered here. If you’re ambitious, you can find old instruction manuals for sewing monograms and emblems using the old techniques and revive them!

Don’t miss any chance to check out dealers selling trims (aka) passementerie. You’ll find tassels, curtain tiebacks, and old beaded pieces from purses, clothing and hats.