French Café Everyday

The bistros and cafés of France dot every corner and neighborhood with good reason. People are in love with not only the food, but the atmosphere as well. A place to relax and recharge before going on with your busy day. A French bistro style dining room has distinct features that create a casual and cozy space to share a meal or a cocktail with family and friends.

To recreate the look in your own home, start with a small café table perfect for the size of a breakfast nook. There should be enough room under the table to cross your legs comfortably without banging your knees. As seen in the choices below, wood, scrolled iron or traditional rattan are good material choices.

French Café style chairs are distinctive with their relaxed backs with wood or metal frames and are often times seen with woven cane seats. Consider the color of the chairs with the overall look of the kitchen or dining space. Maintain the color throughout and keep the counter or barstools in the same style and scheme. 

 

 

Wine racks and French Country open shelf buffets are a nice addition to your bistro style dining room. In many French bistros, buffets and sideboards are used to display pastries, breads, fruits, baskets, dishes and more. With the right buffet table, it can be easy to recreate this look.

Possibly the most important feature of a French style café dining room is the lighting. Pendant lighting or small chandeliers are the best choice for an intimate space.  Soft ambient light is better, so having these light fixtures on a dimmer is a great way to achieve the glow.

 

 

Finally, French vintage style artwork and decor will make the space feel complete. Any artwork with a French flair will work. Large oversized mirrors and clocks can be surrounded by French country additions such as serving trays and iconic wood carved roosters.