The Jolie Laide Interior Design Trend, Explained
The French have gifted us many things—Champagne, croissants, and now, a fancy word that gives us permission to embrace the wonderfully weird in our homes: “Jolie laide.” If you played hooky during French class, allow us to interpret. Jolie laide (pronounced “zho-lee-led”) literally translates to “pretty-ugly,” and is the latest interior design trend taking over the internet. And while ugly might be the last word we want associated with our carefully curated homes, don’t let it scare you. This isn’t about collecting aesthetic disasters—it’s about curating pieces that raise a few eyebrows, spark some conversation, and reveal your true personality. Hear us out, s’il vous plaît.
What is jolie laide?
If you’ve ever walked into a home so perfectly styled that it feels like no one actually lives there, the jolie laide trend is the antidote. You know that bizarre brass lamp that’s absolutely ridiculous but makes you smile every time you pass it in the vintage store? Or that unsettling portrait that your mother swears is “disturbing” but you find utterly mesmerizing? That’s joile laide territory.
The portrait of the incredulous little girl in this bedroom designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Ghislaine Viñas proves that this is indeed your party and you will cry if you want to. (Art: Awe by Jill Greenberg)
“I think it might be difficult for some people to digest but that is also the beauty of it,” says New York– and Palm Beach–based designer David Lucido. “Every home should have pieces that make people stop, think, and start a conversation. These bring energy and personality to a space.”
We first heard the term from author and design expert Virginia Chamlee, who explained in an Instagram reel that “ugly, in this sense, is used as a term of affection—a painting that is a little jarring, a sculpture that is maybe a little gaudy, a wooden chair that, on its own, might be a little ugly.”
Chamlee tells ELLE DECOR that jolie laide is fundamentally about balance: “It’s really all about tempering those really pretty, precious pieces with a dose of what some might call ugly—or pieces that most of us think of as unconventionally beautiful,” she says. “When paired with pretty things, the one ugly or weird thing becomes more attractive—and it keeps everything else in the space from looking too serious.”
Christie Ward, coprincipal of Ward + Gray, agrees: “Something that feels a bit off or wrong is sometimes exactly what the space needs,” she tells us.
But how do you know when something is “so wrong it’s right” versus just plain wrong? Chamlee offers a simple litmus test: “There has to be something that’s drawing you to it. If it makes you shudder, that’s a bad sign, but if it makes you go, ‘wait…huh?’ that might be a good one.” She points to historical examples like Jackson Pollock’s abstract art or even Crocs—pieces that initially faced pushback but eventually found their place in the mainstream aesthetic.
OK, is this really a thing?
Joyce Huston, lead interior designer at Decorilla, has taken notice of the trend: “I’ve really been noticing this interesting shift lately, where more and more of my clients are embracing the quirkier, more unusual elements in their homes,” she tells ELLE DECOR. “It’s a nice counterpoint to the very curated, magazine-ready looks that were so popular for a while. I think a lot of people are craving something with a bit more personality and soul.”
Not only are clients craving it—but designers are too. For designers like Ward, helping clients embrace the unconventional is part of the excitement. “Creating a new world is what draws us to design,” Huston says. “There’s usually a more ‘right’ answer for a room, but it will likely be something someone’s seen before. We’re always trying to work in a piece that is unique to both the space and the people who visit it.”
And she’s not the only one who loves upending some rules: “Breaking the mold is what good design is all about, and incorporating unusual pieces moves the needle forward,” Lucido tells us. “The best spaces are the ones that feel authentic and personal.”
In an era of algorithm-driven design, where our social media feeds are flooded with what Chamlee calls the “fifty shades of greige” look, jolie laide feels like a breath of fresh air. “For so long, design was about symmetry and balance,” she tells us, “but these days, tension and juxtaposition feel so much more fresh.”
Interior designer Darlene Molnar agrees, noting that algorithmic design has made it increasingly difficult to challenge conventional choices. “I think we get inundated with algorithms that push a specific, popular look,” she says. “That makes it difficult to challenge design choices or go outside the norm.”
The trend can manifest in various ways, whether it’s a taxidermied fish or a bold pattern combination that conventional wisdom would advise against. These are the pieces that make a space truly distinctive, even if—or perhaps because—they challenge traditional design sensibilities. “I think some of the most successful designs are ones that not everyone likes,” Molnar tells us. “If you’re appealing to everyone, you’re doing something wrong.”
The beauty of jolie laide lies in its deeply personal nature. Unlike the cookie-cutter aesthetics that have dominated in the past, this approach encourages genuine self-expression. Shannon Askinasi, lead interior designer at Ash & Pine Interiors, has seen this philosophy bubble up organically in her practice. “Sometimes this approach gets birthed with a client simply asking to incorporate their grandmother’s ‘eclectic’ painting, or maybe it’s an avant-garde chair one of my clients purchased from a recent trip,” she explains. “For me, an ugly-pretty piece creates a strong jumping-off point, and both inspires and challenges me to create a unique design experience in a room.”
For Molnar, this isn’t just another fleeting trend. “I actually don’t think it’s as much a trend as it is a deeply rooted design philosophy,” she says. It’s about creating spaces that tell your story, whether through that garishly gilded mirror you haggled for in a Parisian antiques shop (the one that made your partner question your taste but reminds you of that perfect spring weekend) or those mismatched dining chairs inherited from your grandmother (they’re falling apart but remind you of childhood summers).
Perhaps most importantly, embracing jolie laide can change your entire perspective. “I think it changes the way we look at the world and gives you the confidence and power to believe in your own point of view,” New York City–based designer Ghislaine Viñas says. “Everyone has their own taste and sees beauty in different things. There should be no judgment.”
Embrace your own jolie laide moment.
Ready to inject some personality into your space? Askinasi suggests starting small. “Dip your toe in the water by starting out with room decor or accessories,” she advises. “Reconsider a family piece that’s been gifted to you that’s been relegated to your basement, or keep an eye out for an antique market find that elicits a reaction from you.”
When hunting for these conversation pieces, Ward suggests looking beyond the obvious sources. “It’s always a good idea to use more obscure websites or visit antiques markets in person,” she says. “I love to dive into Live Auctioneers and try to find something really obscure that will be a statement piece.” Estate sales are another goldmine for unique finds—take time to see what catches your eye and consider why.
This little piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, and this little table piggy, in a home designed by Ghislaine Viñas? He gave us major jolie laide vibes. (Pig Table by Moooi)
The key is finding pieces that spark what Chamlee calls a “good WTF moment”—items that might raise eyebrows but ultimately make your space more interesting and personally meaningful, whether it’s a “crazy” pillow fabric scheme or a kitschy chair. As Askinasi puts it, “The goal is to create something disruptive.”
Also, consider wallpaper. “I love when a client reacts strongly to a bold or jarring wallcovering—something that may seem gaudy on its own, but can actually be a powerful moment to elevate a room design,” Askinasi says. “I’ve found if a wallpaper speaks to my clients in some way, or even freaks them out a bit, it usually ends up being the part of the room they love most.”
But honestly? There are no rules here. “There doesn’t have to be a reason for everything in your home other than that it makes you happy,” Chamlee says. “Buy the big weird painting. Re-cover your grandmother’s couch in a fabric that might have horrified her. Life’s too short not to have a little fun while we’re here.”
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE DECOR, where she manages the brand’s social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Her eye for emerging styles helps bring the latest in interior design to ELLE DECOR’s audience across platforms. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, design, and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
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