Formal dining rooms seem to fall in and out of favor. It seems Millennials are currently fond of them. Yet in many ways, separate rooms for strictly dining seem to be disappearing from new builds. Today we are exploring a few casual dining spaces to inspire. We’ll also consider European country decorating ideas and resources to shop the look.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Casual Dining Spaces & European Country Charm
Romantic Outdoor Casual Dining Spaces
I showed you our French country courtyard the other day which is sort of perfect for casual dining when the weather cooperates!
One of the easiest way to capture a bit of South of France or European country dining flavor is with a romantic rustic moment outside…
even if it’s on an apartment balcony.
A simple weathered wood table can be the charming beginning to a scheme that feels nostalgic and romantic.
Even without the chateau backdrop, a wrought iron table, tablecloth, and wood chairs is suggestive of effortless, unfussy, European country style.
But a stone French farmhouse as your backdrop doesn’t hurt!
Bistro sets work in small spaces when you love a French country or Parisian feel. (Don’t you think we need this guest house built in our backyard?)
Hahahaha.
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 Country Indoor Dining Spaces
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.
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.
You can easily imagine how this French-flavored dining space on a porch could transform in a festive way for the holidays:
Foraging from the home garden is a very European country impulse, with no need to fuss for 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!
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?
Something surprising happens when refined chairs join a dining table with simple lines.
You’ll find a wealth of Euro-country melded with California casual organic flavor here:
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.
In the breakfast dining space at a prior home (above), the beautiful forest outside 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.
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.
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.
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 runner with unfinished fraying edges and fresh hydrangea.
White roses are always a good idea.
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.
Such a great way to enjoy a number of pretty patterns.
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.
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.
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.
A Mix of Dining Tables
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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