Dining rooms as separate rooms for strictly dining seem to be disappearing left and right. I guess that’s why “dining spaces” feels a bit more fitting. Our formal dining room is used as a music room since we entertain casually in the kitchen. Lots of folks use their dining rooms for work space, study space, and formal occasions, but today’s inspiration is informal. Inspiring European Country Dining Spaces glows with with photos of unfussy, charming Country French, Tuscan, Belgian and Nordic dining areas inside and out. 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.
European Country Dining Spaces
Romantically Rustic Outdoor Dining
I have the perfect courtyard for a European country dining area here at the Georgian so I can’t wait to start that project soon! Perhaps the easiest way to capture a little of that South of France or European country dining flavor is with rustic pieces outdoors.
A simple weathered wood table can be the charming beginning to a scheme that feels nostalgic and romantic.
![Humble country chairs at distressed French farmhouse table. #frenchfarmhouse #dining #outdoordining](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sunstone-winery-creative-workshop-messina-michele-beckwith-3-1.jpg)
Even without the chateau backdrop, a wrought iron table, tablecloth, and wood chairs is suggestive of effortless, unfussy, European country style.
This low table is a reminder that there are plenty of options for casual outdoor entertaining.
![Rustic elegance and French farmhouse style entertaining at Sunstone Winery - photo by Belinda Jean Photography via Wedding Sparrow. #frenchfarmhouse #rusticelegance](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-farmhouse-outdoor-entertaining-patio-sunstone-winery-weddingsparrow-belindajeanphotography.jpg)
Bistro sets work in small spaces when you love a French country or Parisian feel. (Don’t you think my husband should build this in our backyard?)
French Country Checkered Linens
Vivi et Margot owner Charlotte uses these sweet gingham table linens in France, and they will never go out of style.
European Inspired Dining Room Inspiration
What makes a dining room feel more European inspired than American country?
I love the use of pastels and the mix of European country. The color story is often muted, pale, and white.
![Modern French dining room with antique farm table, Swedish apothecary chest, and crystal chandelier by Ochre. #modernfrench #diningrooms](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/jill-egan-dining-room.jpg)
There’s also an effortlessness and a hard to pin down imperfection for which Americans often have less tolerance. Things shouldn’t look perfect and matchy-matchy. Of course the food can provide plenty of bold color:
With a neutral palette, there’s less fuss with decorating through the seasons.
![Fanciful dried floral chandelier above long oval dining table at Heckfield Place in Hampshire England. #hotels #heckfieldplace](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/heckfield-place-dining-room-dried-flora-chandelier.jpg)
You can easily imagine how this French-flavored dining space on a porch could transform in a festive way for the holidays:
![French country decorated sun room in The Club House - HGTV Fixer Upper episode. #fixerupper #theclubhouse #frenchcountrydecor](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sun-room-hgtv-fixer-upper-the-club-house-dining-table-built-in-cabinet-lantern-pendant.jpg)
Foraging from the home garden is a very European country impulse, with no need to fuss for hours arranging flowers.
![Country French table with set for breakfast at Sunstone. #frenchcountry #tablescape](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sunstone-winery-creative-workshop-messina-michele-beckwith-1.jpg)
European earthenware, vintage urns, rustic stoneware, and simple crocks are right at home on the table.
![French country dining room with rustic farm table, wicker chairs, and vintage lantern - Decor de Provence.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/french-farmhouse-dining-room-rustic-wood-ceiling-desiree-ashworth.jpg)
Fresh blooms are always a good idea too!
![Pink garden roses in crystal vase. #frenchcountry #roses #floralarrangement #romanticdecor](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-farmhouse-fresh-blush-pink-roses-in-crystal-vase-michele-beckwith-1.jpg)
Country Dining Tablescapes
With a myriad of options for any price range (I’m lookin’ at YOU, FB Marketplace), a rustic country table is within reach. How would you layer yours?
![Outdoor dining tablescape with organic, earthy, Jenni Kayne style - in PACIFIC NATURAL (Rizzoli, 2019).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pacific-natural-p.-49-jenni-kayne-outdoor-tablescape-rustic-wood-benches-farmhouse-organic.jpg)
![Simple yet elegant Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration with rustic, modern farmhouse, casual chic charm - see more details on Hello Lovely Studio. #tablescapes #thanksgiving #holidaytables #modernfarmhouse #rusticmodern #placesettings](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/thanksgiving-tablescape-barrels-harvest-table-rustic-farmhouse-society-19.jpg)
Something surprising happens when refined chairs join a dining table with simple lines.
![Patina Farm dining room with antique French stone mantel and romantic sconces. #diningrooms #rustic #frenchfarmhouse #limestone #patinafarm #giannettihome](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/patina-living-french-farmhouse-dining-room-giannetti-victoria-pearson.jpg)
You’ll find a wealth of Euro-country melded with California casual organic flavor here:
![Patina Living book cover with African pygmy goats and rustic modern farmhouse styled farm table at Patina Farm - Brooke Giannetti & Steve Giannetti.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/patina-living-book-cover.jpg)
Pale & Lovely Color Stories
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.
![Ashley Gray (Benjamin Moore) in my French country kitchen with Silestone Ivory Coast counters, warm white Thomasville cabinets, and white oak hardwood flooring - Hello Lovely Studio. #bmashleygray #hellolovely #frenchkitchens](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/001-benjamin-moore-white-sand-french-country-kitchen-hello-lovely-studio-breakfast-room.jpg)
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.
![Belgian linen slope arm dining chairs and small round breakfast table in serene kitchen - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcountry #nordicfrench #belgianlinen #breakfastnook #slopearmchairs #serenedecor](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-farmhouse-dining-hello-lovely-studio-belgian-linen.jpg)
And here’s our current breakfast nook below. My best entertaining tip for dining rooms? Cover surfaces with little votive candles in clear jars, tumblers, or holders.
![Breakfast nook with turret and Thomas O'Brien Elizabeth chandelier in gilded iron - Hello Lovely Studio. #modernfrench #breakfastnooks](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/001-hello-lovely-studio-amber-lewis-loloi-zuma-ocean-rug-20.jpg)
French Nordic Dining
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.
![White French Nordic dining room with German antique grainsack and galvanized bucket of hydrangea on table - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchnordic #diningroom #frenchcountry #whitefrench #grainsack #hydrangea #benjaminmoorewhitesand](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-farmhouse-dining-room-white-hello-lovely-studio-grain-sack.jpg)
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.
![Beautiful serene shabby chic dining room with cane back chairs by Hello Lovely Studio. #diningroom #hellolovelystudio #shabbychic #frenchcountry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-country-shabby-chic-white-dining-room-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
After refinishing my fussy vintage dining room set, I layered on a simple linen runner with unfinished fraying edges and fresh hydrangea.
![Beautiful serene shabby chic dining room with cane back chairs by Hello Lovely Studio. #diningroom #hellolovelystudio #shabbychic #frenchcountry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-country-shabby-chic-white-dining-room-hello-lovely-studio-3.jpg)
![Beautiful serene shabby chic dining room with cane back chairs by Hello Lovely Studio. #diningroom #hellolovelystudio #shabbychic #frenchcountry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-country-shabby-chic-white-dining-room-hello-lovely-studio-2.jpg)
White roses are always a good idea.
![Rustic French country cafe dining in the garden with white roses on the table - Hello Lovely Studio. #frenchcafe #frenchcountry #bistroset #cafeset](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG_2035.jpg)
![Black Fermob bistro chair, stripe Turkish towel, and seagrass basket for a charming outdoor French farmhouse vignette - Hello Lovely Studio.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/fermob-bistro-chair-with-turkish-towel-and-seagrass-basket-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Mixing Prints & Patterns for No Fuss Casual Dining
To keep things from feeling too precious or formal, I recovered my sweet dining chairs in beautiful high end linen fabrics in varying patterns.
![Beautiful serene shabby chic dining room with cane back chairs by Hello Lovely Studio. #diningroom #hellolovelystudio #shabbychic #frenchcountry](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/french-country-shabby-chic-white-dining-room-hello-lovely-studio-4-1.jpg)
Such a great way to enjoy a number of pretty patterns.
![Shabby Chic Couture linen fabric covered dining chairs in Hello Lovely Studio's dining room. #rachelashwell #shabbychiccouture #fabric #diningroom](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AeU-xHIdUDc/WZ-KpzUo6-I/AAAAAAAA0Q0/__yTN4eb0GE5B5Nf1G_xsOFzzA_2MADWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/hello-lovely-studio-arizona-dining-room-004.jpg)
That Arizona house was a great reminder that we need not have a farmhouse, European architecture, or even a country locale to enjoy this design style. Adopting a more European country relaxed attitude can guide your choices for furniture, decorations, and art.
I’m especially mindful of this fact right now since our current Georgian style home’s red brick is nothing like what I consider my French dream house:
Yet I can still live with the collections and objects I love. The key is not overthinking, not overdecorating, and learning to mix old and new.
![Hello Lovely Dining Room: Get the Look with these design resources. #diningroomdecor #modernfrench](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/hello-lovely-DINING-room-get-the-look-banner-hellolovelystudio.jpg)
Inexpensive Farmhouse Dining Room Accents
If you aren’t sure about how a rustic elegant European country look will work in your own space, maybe try 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.
![Fixer Upper The Club House Dining Room - Get the Look on Hello Lovely! #diningroomdecor #fixerupper](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fixer-upper-club-house-dining-room-get-the-look-mood-board-banner.jpg)
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.
![Natural Woven Seagrass Baskets with Lid.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0153/0623/products/df0465_1024x1024.jpg?v=1571712286)
A Mix of Dining Tables
![Tiphaine extendable dining table](https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/im/62317754/resize-h800-w800%5Ecompr-r85/1110/111026583/Tiphaine+Extendable+Dining+Table.jpg)
![Kingsley sandblasted white dining table](https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/e69c9a90-1453-47c3-a3ec-8e7315cde0d8/svn/sandblasted-white-home-decorators-collection-kitchen-dining-tables-9690100980-64_1000.jpg)
![Althoff Woods Solid Wood Dining Table](https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/im/81857899/resize-h800-w800%5Ecompr-r85/5046/50462537/Althoff+Woods+Solid+Wood+Dining+Table.jpg)
![Valerie Solid Wood Dining Table](https://secure.img1-ag.wfcdn.com/im/58710273/resize-h800-w800%5Ecompr-r85/2737/27372964/Valerie+Solid+Wood+Dining+Table.jpg)
![Hello Lovely's breakfast nook in a kitchen with modern French style - come shop the look! #modernfrench #frenchkitchen #breakfastnook #hellolovelystudio](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/001-hello-lovely-breakfast-nook-banner.jpg)
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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