Updated on September 16, 2026 — by César, editor at AestheticPoster
For a poster of Paris or another French city, choose the style before the city: retro PLM (flat colors from the 1930s) for an entryway or corridor, minimalist black line for a sleek living room, black and white photo for a more mature look. A single XL poster is enough to anchor a room; beyond three cities, keep a dominant style and a pivot size L.
Key takeaways
- Three styles, three atmospheres: retro PLM (warm, entryway/corridor), minimalist black line (discreet, bedroom/office), black and white photo (gallery spirit, living room).
- Paris is the only city with enough references for a multi-style wall; for Lyon, Strasbourg or Nice, rely on one strong poster rather than variety.
- Formats: XL (60×84 cm) for a single poster, L (42×60 cm) for 2–3 cities aligned, L + M (30×42 cm) for a gallery wall of 4 or more cities.
Retro PLM, minimalist or photo: which style for which room
| Style | Visual codes | Effect | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retro PLM (Art Deco) | Flat colors, bold framing, integrated typography — heritage of railway posters 1920–1935 (Cassandre, Broders) | Warm, nostalgic, identifiable from a distance | Entryway, corridor, colorful living room |
| Minimalist black line | Monument silhouette in fine contour, solid background | Sleek, fits any palette | Bedroom, office, Scandinavian or japandi living room |
| Black and white photo | Silver-grain look, contemporary urban framing | Sober, mature, gallery spirit | Living room, stairwell, office |
The original PLM posters are held at Gallica (National Library of France) and are in the public domain. Posters sold today draw on their visual codes applied to current views: they are creations, not reproductions. To apply the same style to destinations worldwide, see our guide vintage travel poster.
Which city, which collection
The number of references per city determines your room for maneuver: multiple styles for the same city, or one strong poster.
| City | References | Collection |
|---|---|---|
| All French cities | 299 | France Posters |
| Paris | 23 | Paris Posters |
| Toulouse | 16 | Toulouse Posters |
| Bordeaux | 13 | Bordeaux Posters |
| Marseille | 12 | Marseille Posters |
| Nice | 10 | Nice Posters |
| Lyon | 8 | Lyon Posters |
| Strasbourg | 3 | Strasbourg Posters |
Paris allows a multi-style wall with the capital alone: Eiffel Tower in retro PLM, Montmartre in minimalist, Seine quays in black and white photo. For cities with fewer than 10 references, a single strong poster well placed is worth more than a variety that doesn't exist.
Where to hang it and in what format
- 1 city, 1 strong poster: XL (60×84 cm, ≈ A1) alone, in an entryway or corridor. Our guide entryway and corridor decor details placement facing the door and lighting.
- 2–3 cities: one L (42×60 cm) per city, top edges aligned, 6–8 cm apart. The case of a couple from two cities (Paris + Marseille).
- 4 or more cities: one L for the main city, M (30×42 cm) for secondary ones. Clear hierarchy avoids the postcard collection effect.
Center of the poster or group at 145–150 cm from the ground. To decide based on wall width and viewing distance, see which poster size to choose; to integrate a city poster into a larger composition, our living room wall decor ideas.
Frame or adhesive strips
The paper is matte, 250 g/m², PVC coating: no glare on the flat colors of a PLM poster, nor on the deep blacks of a photo. There is no glossy version.
- Adhesive strips provided: no tools or holes, removal without marks on smooth walls. Convenient to test a layout before framing.
- Optional frame (black, white, light wood or dark wood), sized to format: +50 € for M, +70 € for L, +100 € for XL. Black for all three styles, light wood for a PLM, white for a black and white photo.
Three mistakes that ruin a city poster wall
- Mixing styles on the same wall: a PLM next to a minimalist breaks unity. One dominant style per wall, others as single pieces elsewhere.
- Stacking cities flat: five posters of the same size with no hierarchy = tourist office display. One main city, one pivot size.
- Adding folklore: no giant France map or enamel sign around it. The poster alone already tells where you're from.
FAQ
Do retro PLM posters reproduce protected works?
No. The style draws inspiration from the visual codes of French railway posters from the 1920s–1930s, now in the public domain. The posters sold are current creations in this spirit, not reproductions of copyrighted works.
A city poster in a bedroom: which style?
Minimalist black line, in M or L, on a side wall rather than above the bed. The saturated flat colors of a PLM work better in a pass-through room than in a rest room.
Can you mix a Paris poster and one from a foreign city?
Yes, provided you stay in the same style and palette: two PLMs, or two minimalists, in aligned L format. This blend works better at two or three posters than in a large gallery wall.
Find your poster in the France Posters collection or directly in the Paris Posters collection.
César, editor at AestheticPoster — I hung my hometown in retro PLM before I understood that a minimalist black and white would have suited my living room better.
