European Country Style Dining Inspiration inspires with photos of charming and casual Country French, Tuscan, and Scandi dining areas, both outdoors and indoors. You’ll also find European country inspired decorating ideas as well as resources to get the look.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Rustic Elegant European Country Style Dining Ideas
Romantic Outdoor Dining Spaces
Perhaps the easiest way to capture a little of that South of France or European country dining flavor is with rustic pieces outdoors.
Even the simplest of weathered wood tables can be charming with vintage chairs, white cloth napkins, crystal goblets, and china.
Even without a chateau as a backdrop, a wrought iron table covered with a cloth and surrounded by natural woven chairs is suggestive of effortless, unfussy, European country style.
I thought this low table (below) was a great reminder that casual entertaining outdoors need involve a huge dining table.
Bistro sets are also a great idea for a small space when you love that French country or Parisian cafe feel.
French Country Checkered Linens
Vivi et Margot owner Charlotte uses these sweet checked table linens at her farmhouse in Western France, and they will never go out of style.
Country Dining Room Inspiration With European Flavor
What makes a dining room feel more European country inspired than American country?
The color story is often muted, pale, and white.
Of course the food can provide plenty of bold color:
When the palette is neutral, there’s less fuss with decorating through the seasons.
You can easily imagine how this French-flavored dining space on a porch could transform in a festive way for the holidays:
Fresh offerings from the garden feel right at home in a European country style dining space, and no need to spend hours arranging flowers.
European earthenware, vintage urns, rustic stoneware, and simple crocks are right at home on the table.
Fresh blooms are always a good idea too!
European Country Style Dining Table Ideas
With so many options in every price range now and accessibility to fine makers who build them with reclaimed wood, a rustic country table is within reach. (You’ll discover suggestions further down in this post.)
Something special happens when elegant chairs join a dining table with simple lines.
You’ll find a wealth of Euro-country melded with California casual organic flavor here:
Decorating With White
The white and neutral color story of French country, French farmhouse, and Scandinavian dining spaces is easy to love because food looks great with white.
Additionally, white ironstone, white painted everything, soft neutral wall colors, and faded textiles can unify disparate objects and impart calm in a magical way.
My own preference for European inspired dining spaces is dictated by a deep desire for unfussy, uncluttered, and serenity-infused spaces that feel airy.
In the breakfast dining area of one of our prior homes (above), the beautiful forest outside the windows was impossible to miss and wonderful to enjoy. In our next breakfast nook (below), the mood was also unfussy, and I often displayed simple branches from the yard in clear glass containers.
My best entertaining tip for dining rooms is to cover surfaces with little votive candles in clear jars, tumblers, or holders.
French Nordic Dining Room Style
It doesn’t get much more unfussy than a simple vintage grain sack from Germany used as a table runner and an old galvanized bucket of dried hydrangea from the yard. This was my French country dining room when I started this blog.
In our spare European country inspired dining room in Arizona, I kept things simple and unfortunately never found the right rug before we sold the place! A rug would have softened the look and defined the area.
After refinishing my fussy vintage dining room set, I layered on a simple linen panel with unfinished fraying edges and fresh hydrangea.
White roses are always a good idea.
Mixing Patterns & Fabrics for an Unfussy Dining Room
To keep things from feeling too precious or formal, I recovered my sweet dining chairs in beautiful high end linen fabrics in varying patterns.
Such a great way to enjoy a number of pretty patterns.
That Arizona property was a great reminder that we need not to have a farmhouse, European architecture or be located in the country to enjoy this design style. By adopting a more European country relaxed attitude, we can be guided to choose furniture, decor, and art consistent with the look.
I’m especially mindful of this fact right now since our current Georgian style red brick home is nothing like what I would consider my French inspired dream home:
Yet I can still live with the collections and objects I love without them feeling out of place. The key is the thoughtfulness and knowing how to play with the mix.
Inexpensive Farmhouse Dining Room Accents
Not sure about how the rustic elegant French farmhouse look will work in your own home? You can always begin with pieces that won’t break the bank.
I use these industrial style chairs for extra seating, and since they stack, they are easy to store.
Rustic pitchers are often present in a country French or European dining room, and keep in mind they can be pulled into service in a multitude of ways.
So many American country decorating schemes involve pitchers as shelf fillers only.
Only buy what you love and then use those things!
I have heard lots of rumblings about how objects with words are out of style, and it’s a simple fix if you agree: turn it around so the plain side is in front.
Target is a great resource for low-cost options to experiment with rustic style.
Investment Quality Rustic Farmhouse Dining Room Accents
If you have yet to discover Farmhouse Pottery (a Vermont based studio run by a charming couple!), you are in for a treat.
Dining Tables to Set the Tone
Inspiration from Provence
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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