Nail It: Bricolage and Hardware Stores in Paris

Paris is well known for its grands magasins enjoyed by fashionistas such as Galeries Lafayette or La Samaritaine. Although it’s interesting to explore French fashion and brands in these stores, it’s not everyone’s passion. If your profession or hobby involves fixing things, find inspiration by exploring Paris’ selection of bricolage (DIY – do it yourself) and quincaillerie (hardware) stores to see the French version of how do-it-yourself fixit is done.  

From Leroy Merlin to BHV to Castorama and others, exploring these stores can be fun and educational. They offer a collection of tools and design trends that are interesting and inspiring so, for a mechanic, repair or handyperson, a visit to a bricolage is like exploring the fashion stores in Paris. There are plenty of unique tools and hardware to buy as souvenirs and great storage and decor items too, so a visit is not boring for Mr./Ms. Fixit and perhaps their not so fix-it partner. 

The stores provide a wide selection of outillage (tools) and products for quincaillerie, électricité (electricity), éclairage (lighting), menuiserie (carpentry), carrelage (tiles), peinture (paint), plomberie (plumbing) plus salle de bains (bathroom) and cuisine (kitchen) products. And lots more, especially in design and storage options. Many of these products are small enough to pack in a suitcase. Or get packing creative if a big product is wanted.

Obviously, there are electrical differences as Europe uses 220 voltage, but exploring the electrical section of a bricolage or quincaillerie can be interesting because these stores offer more than plugs and sockets. They offer a selection of lamps and lighting styles that are inspirational. With knowledge of how to change an electrical plug, buy that cool lamp and change the plug from European standard to U.S. standard when back home. Plus, there are plenty of chargeable options.

If one is inspired by something that would take up excess suitcase room, get creative and buy another soft suitcase for clothes and pack the irresistible product in the hard case. For example, very small bathrooms are common in France and there are a wide selection of tiny sinks that can’t be found in the U.S. A friend bought a small, triangle corner sink that was perfect for renovating a petite bathroom. Sinks use standard plumbing connections so no worries about piping. The small sink fit in his hardcover suitcase with clothes wrapped around it for protection.  

There are a nice variety of bricolage and quincaillerie stores throughout Paris, but let’s start in the city center with the BHV which is next to the city’s Hotel de Ville.  

Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville – BHV/Marais 

The BHV has a long history as a Paris department store and has a bricolage and quincaillerie in the basement (-1 or au sous-sol.) The other floors offer fashion and housewares so it fits all desires. The entire store is going through renovations due to new management, but according to the renovation list, the au sous sol will remain a bricolage. It used to be the go-to place for many fix-it fans and professionals, but the renovation work-in-progress has eliminated much of the quincaillerie products, although some are still available.  

BHV is a fun place to explore as it is more than a bricolage. It includes a collection of French-styled items for a variety of home areas. The classic building address plates with blue background and white numbers are available, so buy your house number. Explore colorful and interesting drawer pulls and take some home to spark up a dresser. Get inspired by color in the paint section that sells paint in small cans. Help spring clean closets with clothes rails to separate hanging clothes or shoe storage that makes extra space for shoes. There are lots of fold-up colorful storage boxes that would fit in a suitcase to take home. Or uniquely designed clothes drying hangers that take up little room but deal with a lot of laundry. Fun lamps light up a patio area and many are chargeable, so no worries about sockets.

Tools and hardware items can be explored too, although there are limited brands – Stanley and Bosch. Check out the hand tools along with drills, brushes and saws. The rows of nails and screws are interesting. Looking for small screws with long nail points? They’re here. 

Leroy Merlin 

This is a popular store with four locations in Paris and several in the Île de France. It focuses both on professionals and do-it-yourselfers who are remodeling and/or need courses and tutorials along with design inspiration. There is no better place to explore than Leroy Merlin. Store sections include plumbing; tools; quincaillerie full of nails, screws and fasteners; electrical, paint, construction and carpentry tools and materials; and anything else found in a hardware store. It has specific sections for bathrooms and kitchens that are full of stylish products. Find a faucet that would upgrade a family bathroom? Then find a spot in your suitcase as French faucets can be installed in the U.S. Want a spice storage rack that looks like a beehive? Also easy to pack. 

Leroy Merlin has sections for terraces and gardens (jardins), lighting, decoration, closet and storage arrangement that focus on trends. Beaucoup styles of lamps are on display and many are rechargeable. The current return of vintage lighting is also found, including colorful Tiffany lamps. A wide selection of straw and colorful lampshades make finding a new treat for a lamp easy, and they are light to pack. Foldable storage boxes are also to be found, including straw boxes. Many small storage boxes or containers are inexpensive and fit easily in a suitcase. There is a big tile section that can be inspirational, along with an easy to browse section for drawer pulls.

The tools section has many brands and it’s interesting to see the machines and hand tools used by French experts. There is also a section with colorful protective gloves and tools, so pick out a glove and a screwdriver that match. 

On the way out by the cash registers, there are boxes full of interesting tools and household goods. There has to be something you need or just want as a bricolage souvenir. 

Castorama  

For big projects, many professionals go to Castorama. Building an outside patio with modern seating; renovating a kitchen or bathroom with updated accessories and machines; installing windows; artfully using paint, wallpaper and lighting; even bringing household energy techniques up to modern standards are the types of projects the stores support. There are five stores in Paris and stores can be found in locations in the Île de France. 

It’s a serious store but the focus is on inspiration for professionals and expert do-it-yourselfers with help from store professionals. Styles are modern, ecological, and economic and there are store assistants help to do the project correctly. If you’re a professional that does big projects, visit Castorama to see how it is done in France. 

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Bricorama 

Bricorama are do-it-yourself stores located in Paris residential areas such as the 15th, 13th and 19th arrondissements plus the Île de France. They are open until 8 pm every day, including weekends, as the need to fix something often happens on the weekend or after work. Every store has lots of support for helping buyers understand their projects whether DIY or professionals. Bricorama are hard-core hardware stores without the focus on large décor sections so anyone interested in the basics will enjoy exploring the aisles full of hardware, paint, plumbing, electrical, etc. 

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Mr. Bricolage 

Professionals tend to shop at Mr. Bricolage throughout France and there are over 700 stores serving the country, but it’s a popular store for do-it-yourselfers too. Store personnel provide advice to all and help with projects and answer questions about products regarding electricity, plumbing, building materials, decoration, and interior and exterior design. The many Paris stores are in the more residential arrondisements in Paris and tend to be large and offer online and delivery services. Anyone interested in seeing how a French hardware store works for the average French hardware professional, Mr. Bricolage is the place.

If your interest is home design and fix-it focused, explore the bricolage stores in Paris. It’s a fun and interesting way to nail your Paris experience.

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