Maisons du Monde
French home furnishings, furniture and home decoration retailer
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Maisons du Monde is a French home furnishings and decoration retailer founded in Brest in 1996 by Xavier Marie. The company built its identity around an accessible, highly visual and internationally influenced approach to interiors, combining furniture with decorative objects, lighting, textiles, tableware and related household products. Rather than concentrating on a single design tradition, the brand has historically organized its offer around multiple decorative moods and lifestyles, using references drawn from different regions, periods and cultural influences. Its name, meaning “Houses of the World,” reflects this broad international inspiration. The business developed through a combination of company-owned stores, e-commerce and a constantly renewed product assortment. Its first physical expansion took place in France and later extended across continental Europe. In 2006, Maisons du Monde launched an online shop offering its furniture catalogue and a substantial portion of its decoration range. Digital activity subsequently became central to the business model, supported by click-and-collect, in-store digital selling and a curated marketplace that expanded the range beyond products sourced directly by the company. The group describes itself as an omnichannel retailer, using its stores as inspirational environments as well as transactional locations. The company has undergone several ownership and strategic phases. Investment firms Equistone and Nixen became involved during the 2000s, followed by Apax Partners, LBO France and Nixen in 2008. Bain Capital acquired an 80% interest in the group in 2013 for approximately €680 million. Maisons du Monde prepared for a public offering in 2016 and subsequently became a listed French company. Its public-market development gave the business access to capital for European expansion, digital investment and brand development. International growth initially included the United States. Maisons du Monde opened its first American store in Wynwood, Florida, in 2018 and later opened a location in Aventura Mall. The company also acquired a 70% interest in Miami-based furniture retailer Modani in 2020. However, after a strategic review, Maisons du Monde reduced its stake in Modani to 15% in November 2021 and refocused its resources on Europe, where management considered its brand recognition, operating model and market knowledge stronger. The United Kingdom was also subsequently reduced as a market; online activities ceased accepting new orders on May 24, 2023. The retailer’s product mix is weighted toward decoration, which accounts for approximately 58% of sales, with furniture representing about 42% according to reference material. Major categories include sofas and seating, tables, bedroom furniture, storage, outdoor products, lighting, rugs, curtains, cushions, bed linen, tableware, kitchen accessories, wall decoration and smaller decorative objects. The brand competes through design variety, frequent assortment renewal, visual merchandising and a price position intended to make decorative styling broadly accessible. It also serves professional customers through B2B activity, including furnishing and decorating hospitality and other commercial spaces. Maisons du Monde has increasingly connected its commercial proposition with sustainability and social commitments. Its Good is beautiful movement links product design with responsible materials, European manufacturing, traditional craftsmanship, repair, refurbishment, reuse, inclusion and support for community organizations. The Maisons du Monde Foundation, established in 2015, supports forest and tree-preservation projects, while the company also contributes products and funding to organizations that create welcoming living spaces for vulnerable people. The company purpose is to inspire people to embrace the world and create unique, warm and sustainable living spaces together. In 2024, the group reported sales of approximately €1.002 billion and operated 338 stores, including affiliated locations. The business faced a difficult market for home furnishings and decoration, recording lower sales and a substantial net loss after impairment and store-closure-related charges. Management responded through the Inspire Everyday transformation plan, emphasizing customer experience, brand investment, store renovation, assortment simplification, cost reduction, working-capital improvement, category expansion and digital improvement. By 2025 and 2026, the company’s stated priorities included continued store refurbishment, stronger franchise and affiliate development, a new loyalty program, improved online experience and a gradual return to growth.
History
Maisons du Monde was established in Brest, Brittany, in 1996 by Xavier Marie. From its beginning, the business pursued a distinctive retail concept: a broad and frequently refreshed selection of furniture and decorative goods inspired by different places, cultures and historical styles. This approach allowed the company to sell complete interior atmospheres rather than isolated products. The brand’s commercial proposition combined accessible pricing with strong visual presentation and an emphasis on helping customers imagine finished living spaces. The first stage of development was centered on France. Maisons du Monde expanded its store network through a combination of directly operated locations and later affiliated or franchised stores. The company’s stores served as both sales outlets and sources of inspiration, with room-like displays and collections arranged by mood, color or style. During the 2000s, ownership and financing evolved as investment firms became involved. Equistone and Nixen entered the shareholder structure in 2005, and Apax Partners, LBO France and Nixen became associated with the group in 2008. A major commercial milestone came in 2006, when Maisons du Monde launched its online store. The website initially carried the full furniture catalogue and a large part of the decoration range. E-commerce later became a major part of the group’s omnichannel model, alongside store-based digital ordering, click-and-collect and a marketplace. The company also developed annual catalogues and collection presentations to communicate its new ranges and reinforce its image as an inspirational lifestyle brand. In 2013, Bain Capital acquired 80% of Maisons du Monde for approximately €680 million. Under Bain ownership, the group continued to expand its store network and international presence. Sales reached approximately €699 million in 2015, including about €460 million in France. In February 2016, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup were mandated to prepare an initial public offering. The company subsequently became a listed French public company, giving it a broader shareholder base and access to public capital markets. Maisons du Monde’s European expansion extended into Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Austria and Luxembourg. The company also pursued a US strategy. It opened its first US store in Wynwood, Florida, in 2018, followed by a store in Aventura Mall in 2019. In 2020, the group acquired 70% of Modani, a Miami-based furniture retailer with stores and e-commerce operations across the United States. The transaction was intended to provide a controlled entry into the American market by using Modani’s local knowledge and existing infrastructure. The Covid-19 crisis created significant disruption in 2020, especially for store-based retail. Maisons du Monde reported a 13.3% decline in sales for the first half of that year but remained operationally resilient relative to the severity of the disruption. The company also prepared a second warehouse near the port of Le Havre, intended to improve inbound logistics for goods arriving from Asia. In 2021, group sales recovered strongly to approximately €1.307 billion, while international sales represented about 46% of the total. The store network reached 357 locations at the end of that year. The same year brought a strategic reversal in the United States. After a review announced in March 2021, Maisons du Monde reduced its Modani holding from 70% to 15% on November 10, 2021. Management stated that the move would enable a renewed focus on Europe, where its brand, customer knowledge and omnichannel model were considered more competitive. The group also launched a €50 million ESG-linked share buyback program and continued to develop its sustainability and social-impact agenda. In 2022, Maisons du Monde launched Good is beautiful as a broader brand and corporate-responsibility movement. Its themes include more sustainable and European-made products, protection of forests and biodiversity, support for vulnerable communities, equality of opportunity, repair and refurbishment, reuse, and reduction of operational emissions. The Maisons du Monde Foundation, created in 2015, became an important vehicle for forest-preservation projects and community support. The company also partnered with organizations such as the French Red Cross, Emmaüs and Fondation des Femmes. Leadership changed in 2023. Julie Walbaum, who had served as chief executive since 2018, left the role, and François-Melchior de Polignac became chief executive. The company separated the positions of chairman and CEO, appointing an independent chair to oversee the board while the CEO assumed operational responsibility. The business also ended online sales activity in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2023, continuing its concentration on continental Europe. The company entered 2024 under the Inspire Everyday transformation plan, which sought to make the brand more inspiring, accessible, committed, experiential and service-oriented. Priorities included store remodeling, improved digital experience, assortment and supplier simplification, customer events, category expansion and cost savings. In its 2024 results released in March 2025, Maisons du Monde reported sales of €1.002 billion, a network of 338 stores and positive free cash flow of approximately €15 million. However, sales fell materially in a difficult home and decoration market, and the group recorded a net loss of approximately €115 million, including goodwill impairment and store-closure-related costs. The company’s subsequent direction has focused on restoring growth while preserving cash generation and strengthening its European position.
- 2025
Science-based emissions targets validated
[8]Maisons du Monde stated that its 2030 emissions-reduction targets had been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- 2024
Inspire Everyday transformation continued
[4]The company renovated stores, launched its French loyalty program, simplified its assortment and pursued cost and working-capital improvements.
- 2023
CEO transition and UK online exit
[11]François-Melchior de Polignac succeeded Julie Walbaum as CEO, while the company stopped taking new UK online orders on May 24, 2023.
- 2022
Good is beautiful movement launched
[7]Maisons du Monde introduced a formal movement connecting product responsibility, social action, circularity and environmental commitments.
- 2021
Strategic refocus on Europe
[6]The group reduced its Modani stake to 15% and announced a stronger focus on European markets.
- 2020
Modani acquisition announced
[5]Maisons du Monde acquired a 70% interest in US furniture retailer Modani.
- 2019
Aventura Mall store opened
[1]The company expanded its US presence with a store in Aventura Mall, Florida.
- 2018
First United States store opened
[1]Maisons du Monde opened its first US store in Wynwood, Florida.
- 2016
IPO preparation began
[1]Goldman Sachs and Citigroup were mandated to prepare the company for an initial public offering.
- 2013
Bain Capital acquired a majority stake
[1]Bain Capital acquired approximately 80% of the group for around €680 million.
Products and positioning
An inspirational, accessible and increasingly sustainability-oriented European home furnishings and decoration brand. Maisons du Monde differentiates itself through broad stylistic variety, frequent collection renewal, atmospheric stores, omnichannel shopping and a blend of furniture with decorative accessories.
Home furnishings · 1996
Furniture
Furniture is one of Maisons du Monde’s two principal commercial pillars. The range includes sofas, armchairs, dining tables, desks, chairs, beds, bedside tables, wardrobes, shelving, sideboards, consoles and other storage pieces. Collections are presented across multiple aesthetic directions, allowing customers to coordinate complete rooms or combine individual pieces. The company emphasizes frequent assortment renewal, visual styling and accessible design rather than a single signature furniture language.
Home accessories · 1996
Home decoration
Decoration is the brand’s largest product segment by sales. It includes vases, mirrors, frames, candles, sculptures, baskets, clocks, wall decoration, small storage, decorative boxes and other objects intended to shape the mood of an interior. The breadth and visual distinctiveness of this category help Maisons du Monde refresh its collections frequently and encourage customers to update rooms without replacing all major furniture.
Lighting · 1996
Lighting
The lighting range includes ceiling lights, pendants, table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights and decorative lighting accessories. Lighting products are coordinated with the company’s broader furniture and decoration themes and are used to reinforce the room atmospheres central to the brand’s merchandising approach.
Home textiles · 1996
Textiles
Home textiles include cushions, throws, rugs, curtains, bedding, bath textiles and related soft furnishings. Textiles give customers a relatively accessible way to introduce color, pattern and seasonal changes into a room. They also complement the company’s furniture and decorative-object collections and form part of its sustainable-materials agenda where certified or recycled fibers are available.
Tabletop and kitchen · 1996
Tableware and kitchen accessories
Maisons du Monde sells tableware and kitchen-related accessories including plates, glasses, cups, cutlery, serving items, storage and decorative kitchen objects. The range extends the brand’s interior-styling proposition into dining and entertaining, with products commonly designed to coordinate by color, material or collection theme.
Outdoor furniture and decoration
Outdoor
Outdoor products include garden and terrace furniture, outdoor seating, tables, accessories, textiles and lighting. Outdoor is a category extension of the same lifestyle model used indoors, enabling customers to create coordinated exterior spaces. The company identified outdoor lighting as an area for further category development under its 2025–2026 priorities.
Responsible products · 2022
Good is beautiful selection
Good is beautiful is a curated product selection rather than a separate store brand. Products may qualify through the use of recycled or certified materials, reduced-impact manufacturing, European production or the preservation of traditional skills. The program is intended to connect the company’s aesthetic proposition with more responsible sourcing and product-development criteria.
Digital retail platform · 2020
Marketplace
The Maisons du Monde Marketplace supplements the directly sourced assortment with products from selected partner brands and sellers. It supports the company’s one-stop-shop ambition and expands the breadth of the online offer while retaining the brand’s role in curation and customer experience.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Ma Maison du Monde
France
The company launched its first French loyalty program, combining customer rewards with services, relationship-building and a more personalized omnichannel experience.
Outcome. The program became a central customer-experience initiative within the Inspire Everyday plan.
- 2022Good is beautiful
Europe
Good is beautiful became a formal brand movement covering responsible products, European production, traditional know-how, community support, equality, circular services and internal environmental action.
Outcome. The movement became a continuing framework for product selection, philanthropy, social partnerships and emissions-reduction work.
- 2022Train pour l'Egalité
France
Maisons du Monde contributed to the Train pour l'Egalité initiative in partnership with Fondation des Femmes to raise awareness of gender equality across France.
Outcome. The activity supported the company’s equality and anti-violence commitments.
- 2021Aux Arbres!
France
The Maisons du Monde Foundation used the Aux Arbres! initiative to encourage public action and awareness around the preservation of forests and trees.
Outcome. The initiative formed part of the foundation’s longer-term environmental and biodiversity work.
- 2020Solidarity support during the first Covid-19 lockdown
France
Maisons du Monde supported solidarity organizations during the first lockdown, including initiatives addressing the needs of women and children affected by domestic violence.
Outcome. The relationship with Fondation des Femmes continued through donations, furnished accommodation and later solidarity products.
- 2017Good is beautiful store ambassador network
France · Europe
Maisons du Monde began deploying Good is beautiful ambassadors in stores to communicate environmental and social initiatives, encourage responsible practices and connect head-office programs with store teams.
Outcome. The network became part of the company’s ongoing operational sustainability program.
- Let's create my unique and distinctive room decor
France · International
Maisons du Monde promoted an interactive digital contest in which participants created bedroom or living-room designs using products from the website and shared their designs through social media.
Outcome. The initiative supported user-generated content and international engagement across eight countries.
Brand decisions
2024
Inspire Everyday transformation planStrategyBackground
Maisons du Monde faced falling demand in the home and decoration market and sought to restore growth while protecting cash generation.
Action taken
The company prioritized customer experience, store refurbishment, assortment and supplier simplification, online improvements, category extensions, cost savings and working-capital reduction.
Aftermath
The 2024 results showed continued pressure on sales but positive free cash flow and an expanded cost-savings program targeting more than €100 million over three years.
2024 group sales. Approximately €1.128 billion in 2023 → Approximately €1.002 billion in 2024 (Fiscal year 2024)
2024
Ma Maison du Monde loyalty programProduct launchBackground
The company wanted to place customer satisfaction and relationship-building at the center of the Inspire Everyday strategy.
Action taken
Maisons du Monde launched its first loyalty program in France, combining benefits, services and personalized customer interaction.
Aftermath
The program strengthened the company’s customer-experience and direct-to-consumer agenda.
2023
Withdrawal from UK online activityStrategyBackground
The group was simplifying its geographic footprint and concentrating resources on markets with stronger strategic fit.
Action taken
Maisons du Monde stopped accepting new online orders in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2023.
Aftermath
The company continued focusing on continental European markets and its core omnichannel model.
2022
Good is beautiful responsibility frameworkStrategyBackground
The company sought to integrate environmental and social considerations into its product range, operations and brand identity.
Action taken
Maisons du Monde formalized Good is beautiful around responsible materials, European production, traditional craftsmanship, social partnerships, circularity and emissions reduction.
Aftermath
The framework became a continuing platform for product qualification, philanthropy, store engagement and sustainability targets.
2021
European refocus and Modani divestmentStrategyBackground
The US operation did not provide the same strategic attractiveness as the established European business, while the group was reviewing capital allocation after the pandemic period.
Action taken
Maisons du Monde reduced its Modani stake from 70% to 15% on November 10, 2021, explicitly refocusing on Europe.
Aftermath
The company concentrated investment on its European stores, digital platform and omnichannel model.
2021
ESG-linked share buyback programOtherBackground
Following strong 2021 operating performance, the group sought to return capital while linking the program to environmental and social impact.
Action taken
The company launched a €50 million ESG share buyback program running from October 27, 2021, to May 27, 2022.
Aftermath
The program was intended to support employee share plans, cancel shares and direct outperformance to the Maisons du Monde Foundation and another nonprofit focused on equal opportunity.
Share buyback program size. €50 million (October 2021 to May 2022)
2020
Acquisition of ModaniM&ABackground
Maisons du Monde sought to establish a controlled presence in the large US home-furnishings market.
Action taken
The company acquired 70% of Miami-based Modani, which operated stores and an e-commerce business in the United States.
Aftermath
The investment was later reduced as Maisons du Monde reassessed its international capital allocation.
2016
IPO preparationStrategyBackground
The group had expanded materially under financial-investor ownership and was seeking a public-market structure.
Action taken
Goldman Sachs and Citigroup were appointed to prepare an initial public offering.
Aftermath
Maisons du Monde subsequently operated as a listed French public company.
2013
Bain Capital majority acquisitionM&ABackground
Maisons du Monde required a new ownership and financing structure to support its continued store and international expansion.
Action taken
Bain Capital acquired approximately 80% of the group for about €680 million.
Aftermath
The company continued expanding and later prepared for a public offering.
Transaction value. Approximately €680 million for an 80% stake (2013)
Recent events
- 2025
Maisons du Monde reported 2024 sales of approximately €1.002 billion[4]
Other · Pricing
The company reported its 2024 annual results, including €1.002 billion in sales, positive free cash flow of approximately €15 million, 338 stores and a significant net loss driven partly by goodwill impairment and store-closure costs.
- 2025
Maisons du Monde launched the Ma Maison du Monde loyalty program in France[9]
Product launch · Campaign
The first loyalty program in France was introduced under the Inspire Everyday strategy, combining transactional benefits with customer services and relationship-building features.
- 2025
Maisons du Monde's 2030 emissions-reduction targets were validated by SBTi[8]
Regulation · Other
The company stated that its Science Based Targets initiative validation covers a 49.6% reduction in scopes 1 and 2 emissions and a 25% reduction in scope 3 emissions between the 2021 baseline and 2030.
- 2023
Maisons du Monde changed its governance and appointed François-Melchior de Polignac as CEO[11]
Leadership change
The company separated the roles of board chair and chief executive and appointed François-Melchior de Polignac to lead operations after Julie Walbaum's departure.
- 2023
Maisons du Monde ceased online activities in the United Kingdom[1]
Other
The company stopped accepting new online orders in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2023, continuing the broader concentration of resources on continental Europe.
- 2022
Maisons du Monde launched the Good is beautiful brand movement[7]
Campaign · Other
The company formalized a brand and corporate-responsibility movement focused on responsible products, community partnerships, equality of opportunity, circular services and lower environmental impact.
- 2021
Maisons du Monde reduced its stake in Modani and refocused on Europe[6]
M&A
Following a strategic review, the group reduced its interest in Modani from 70% to 15%, explaining that its European omnichannel model offered stronger value-creation opportunities.
- 2020
Maisons du Monde acquired a majority stake in Modani[5]
M&A
Maisons du Monde acquired 70% of Miami-based furniture retailer Modani, adding a US store and e-commerce platform to its international development strategy.
Sources14 sources
- 1Maisons du Mondeen.wikipedia.org
- 2Maisons du Monde corporate governancecorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 3Maisons du Monde about us and strategycorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 4Maisons du Monde annual results 2024ml-eu.globenewswire.com
- 5Maisons du Monde Modani acquisition announcementcorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 6Maisons du Monde 2021 full-year results and Modani divestmentechanges.dila.gouv.fr
- 7Good is beautiful movementcorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 8Good is beautiful environmental commitmentscorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 9Ma Maison du Monde loyalty programcorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 10Investment firms entered the shareholder structurede.wikipedia.org
- 11CEO transition and UK online exitcorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 12Solidarity support during the first Covid-19 lockdowncorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 13Aux Arbres!corporate.maisonsdumonde.com
- 14Let's create my unique and distinctive room decorcorporate.maisonsdumonde.com
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