How To Set A Simple French Country Summer Table

I love French country style, especially on a simply set table for an outdoor summer dinner. I’ve found that with just a couple of elements it’s easy to create a French country look in any setting…even the woods of Montana.

Today I’m joining some incredibly talented bloggers and we are all bringing you beautiful table settings, featuring summer centerpieces that are sure to inspire. You will find links to all of their posts at the end of this story.

1. Start With A Floral Table Runner or Cloth

To me, French country means colorful and bright often with a mix of floral prints and patterns. The easiest way to get that French provincial look is to lay the foundation with a French or french-inspired cloth or table runner.

This table runner is from Couleur Nature

There are so many sources for beautiful floral tablecloths and napkins that evoke that French country feel and they are available in a wide range of colors. Whether you prefer a table runner or a full cloth, this will be the base for your table setting.

I chose a colorful red and gray cloth and mixed it with a vintage paisley napkin for the table on the porch of our little cabin in the woods. We were having a simple dinner for four and the vintage wedding table and chairs were the perfect size for our get together.

Below are affiliate links for some of my favorite French country table linens

2. Choose An Eclectic Array of Plates, Flatware, and Glasses

I consider French country to be a casual and approachable style, so an eclectic array of dishware works perfectly. Layering plates of different colors and patterns is one way to achieve this.

I used a blue plate as my base and then layered a simple, white dot plate with a sweet cutwork bread plate on top.

I used my favorite new Laguiole flatware with these beautiful wood handles. It’s French so it fits right in, right?!

For the glassware, I chose a footed goblet with a thin gold rim that would work for any beverage.

Below are affiliate links for some of my favorite dishware.

3. Add a Garden Flower Centerpiece

In keeping with the French country style, I love the look of a colorful garden centerpiece. This doesn’t mean that all of the flowers have to literally come from your garden, but using some foraged greenery and flowers adds a casual touch that looks great.

For this centerpiece, I placed some greenery from the yard in a vintage pitcher. I always start with a greenery base to help support the flowers.

I am lucky enough to have a neighbor with beautiful red peonies in her garden, so I used a couple of hers and then added in the pink blooms from my garden. To break up the larger flowers, I put a few small white and yellow blooms in between.

Peony centerpiece with French country table setting

My favorite thing about this tablescape is that it is a completely eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and styles and yet it all comes together as a cohesive look. There was not a lot of planning that went into this design, but the French country style still shines through.

The vintage wine barrel that sits on the porch worked well as an extra table since our eating table was rather petite.

Wedding table with French Country Table runner

We sat on the porch well into the evening, enjoying the sunset (and a lovely bottle of wine). We could have been in the French countryside or in any beautiful outdoor setting; it really didn’t matter. What was most important was that we were connecting with one another and enjoying nature.

Rustic Porch with French country table setting

I hope this gives you some ideas about how you can set a simple French country table this summer or in any season. Have fun with the design. Mix colors and patterns and most importantly, enjoy your guests!