The French
art de vivre.

It's widely quoted, exported, imitated. But the French art de vivre isn't about luxury or postcards. It's a way of giving importance to simple pleasures, and giving them time. Here it is in six habits, to adopt wherever you live.

1. The meal as a moment, not a formality

Sitting down, setting the table, even alone, even for a simple dish. Eating without a screen, taking time to taste. In France, the shared meal remains a social ritual in its own right, even listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. It isn't the menu that matters, it's the attention.

2. The market rather than the list

Going to the market means letting the season guide you instead of a list. Chatting with the grower, smelling the fruit, choosing what looks beautiful today. Cooking then becomes an extension of the stroll.

3. The art of conversation

A coffee on a terrace that lasts an hour, a dinner that stretches into passionate debate. In France, conversation is a pleasure in itself. Putting the phone down, truly listening, daring to disagree without tension: it's an art worth cultivating.

4. Few things, but beautiful ones

A few well-cut clothes rather than an overflowing wardrobe. A lovely tablecloth brought out for an ordinary occasion. French elegance often lies in this chosen restraint: less, but better, and cared for.

5. The art of strolling

Walking aimlessly through a city, stepping into a bookshop, sitting on a bench. Baudelaire made the flâneur a poetic figure. To stroll is to allow yourself to go nowhere in particular, and to notice everything along the way.

6. Pleasure without guilt

A square of chocolate, a glass of wine with dinner, a pastry on Sunday. The French art de vivre values measured pleasure, savoured slowly, over deprivation or excess. Pleasure isn't a lapse; it's part of a balanced life.

An art that travels

You don't need to live in Paris to live this way. These habits fit in a kitchen, on a balcony, in a neighbourhood street. They only ask for attention, and a little time given back to yourself.

The Art of Everyday Living blends the French art de vivre with the Japanese wisdom of wabi-sabi, across twelve months. And Luxia can suggest outings, places and ideas near you to bring these habits into your daily life.