How To Make Your Dining Table Feel Like A French Bistro
The French bistro look is the interiors trend we’ve been waiting for. Think of the charming threads that run through some of Paris’ iconic restaurants, from classic checkerboard tiles to vintage-inspired lighting, and pared-back tableware to top-quality linens.
But beyond the aesthetics, this trend is all about intentional design. Where every item serves a purpose while looking effortlessly chic – a bit like the French approach to dressing, no? We’ve been spotting the look in kitchens, dining rooms, and cosy breakfast nooks across the design world. Ready to bring a little Parisian flair into your home? Here’s how to get the look. (Red wine-stained napkins optional.)
Like all great interior trends, lighting is key to bringing the right mood to a room. Few aesthetics do lighting as chic and functional as a classic French bistro. Think of petite sconces with soft linen shades or polished brass finishes that cast a warm glow. Or maybe a fabric pendant light, hung low over the dining table to create a more intimate atmosphere. And don’t forget the pretty little rechargeable lamps that save space for the good stuff on the table – wine, cheese, and bread.
Come dinnertime, the look is all about ambience. Turn the lights low and add some long, tapered dinner candles to your tablescape. Set them in a heavy-bottomed silver holder or a decadent vintage candelabra, preferably with ivory wax dripping down the stems.
And don’t forget the pretty little rechargeable lamps that save space for the good stuff on the table – wine, cheese, and bread.
Speaking of tablescapes, one might feel it’s blasphemous to apply the term to a French bistro setting – and we’re sure the French would wince at the word – but it’s a look that’s surprisingly easy to curate. The key lies in its function and ease, which is no surprise since this trend is plucked from working restaurants.
The look is definitely pared-back, where every item has a purpose and a place. Go for sturdy, relaxed wine glasses with low stems, and simple but high-quality linens. A classic French blue stripe or a ruffled white tablecloth is perfect. Complete the setting with hard-wearing dinnerware, from simple silver salt and pepper shakers to enamel plates trimmed with a scarlet red rim.
To truly invest in this look, choose furniture that feels old and substantial. Opt for an antique oak dining table, laden with the scratches and stories of suppers past, and bistro chairs that look as if they could have been plucked from the pavement outside Chez Georges. The well-worn character of these pieces is what gives them their charm and makes a space feel truly lived-in.
On the walls, it actually pays to be a little obvious here and go very French. Think a Slim Aarons photography print of girls outside a merlot-hued boucherie, or a vintage Joseph Perrier Champagne poster printed oversized and dominating the wall space.
It’s also worth noting that H&M have launched a dedicated French bistro line, making midweek meals feel like a Wes Anderson film. There’s everything from red butter knives to enamel plates, stainless steel ice cream coupes to butter dishes disguised as cloches.
Finally, it’s the quirky, fun details that add a personal touch. Look for pieces that feel both traditional and modern, like Musae Studios’ red-rimmed plates that cheekily say “Send nudes euros”. Or, for a touch of practical charm, a handy match striker from the brand Bonnecaze is perfect for lighting your candles – or a Superslim Vogue, if you really want to get into character.
High street brand H&M have launched a French bistro line, making midweek meals feel like a Wes Anderson film.
Shop the French bistro edit …
Make the look a little more homely – but still decidedly French – with playful linens and vintage art work.
East London Cloth are the brand that bring Left Bank cool to London windows.
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