Elegant Rustic French Country Table Setting Ideas
Elegant rustic French country table setting ideas to inspire you for your Thanksgiving dinner, and the concept is switchable for any occasion!
This is my impromptu table setting and although my style may look expensive I assure you that it’s budget friendly. My style is decidedly leaning over to the French countryside of design, with a rustic touch alongside some elegance in the dining room. So let me break down what I did and hopefully that will get you thinking about your fall entertaining and bring it up a couple of notches.
Elegant Rustic French Country Table Setting Ideas
It started with the beautiful velvet pumpkins on my sideboard in shades of blue, grey and taupe. I’ve been incorporating more grey into our home and toning down the white.
I’m in love with blue year round and click for this – BLUE BUTTON TUFTED SETTEE – at under $450 … GORGEOUS!
Everyone is always asking about my mirror. This is a piece that was a splurge, but one that makes such a dramatic accent! Mine is the 5′ size and if you can swing it…oh la la!! I WILL LINK IT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST, along with a few other pieces!
The very first thing that I did was to grab my garden clippers and head outside. It was time to trim the silver buttonwood hedges out in front of our home. They make for a beautiful table garland with the velvety leaves, similar to lambs ear. Velvet pumpkins, velvety leaves…and free for the clipping. I also clipped some heather that has smaller leaves that are a soft sage green. If you have access to a variety of clippings, look for textures that are softly muted for a French rustic theme.
Since the clippings were free I overloaded them on the table to drape down on the two ends. Real or faux, I love the look and you’ll often see this in weddings. My vintage crock has more of the same for that elegant rustic french country look.
On either side of the buffet that was a thrift store makeover (see that post HERE) I placed a small table. These really come in handy for Thanksgiving or parties for extra plates and barware! For this tablescape rehearsal dinner they have the free garden clippings and fill in negative space in the room nicely without overwhelming.
Gold is my choice of metallic accent and by carrying this through the room softly it creates movement and shine. Recently I decided to touch up some of the faded gilding on the light fixtures in the dining room with THIS PRODUCT. I used the European Gold…no surprise there;-) To me…gold and blue and just perfect together.
Champagne pumpkins with real stems have had my heart for several years now and are placed throughout the garland along with votives. *HINT* If you are using votive candleholders in a tablescape, use tealights instead of the larger votive candles for safety. They should last you all through the evening of your dinner party with no worries!
Vintage gold flatware surrounds the triple layers of plates. I set out one large white charger first, then two layers of smaller plates that will be removed with with different courses. Gilded wine glasses and blue ACRYLIC stems, just in case we take the party outdoors later on. Do you see the flow of color and texture in this setting? Back away when you think you are finished setting your table and look at it like a painting. Does anything need to be moved or perhaps removed?
A mix of vintage French, linen and lace, new, old, metallics, velvet and FREE FOLIAGE from the garden makes it all come together.
TAP ANY IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP THE LOOK
MONDAY’s posts:
Life on Virginia Street | Cedar Hill Farmhouse | Taryn Whiteaker
So Much Better With Age | Town and Country Living
TUESDAY’s posts:
Designthusiasm | On Sutton Place | Shabbyfufu
French Country Cottage | Julie Blanner | Craftberry Bush
WEDNESDAY’s posts:
CitrineLiving | StoneGable | Maison de Cinq
Maison de Pax | Setting for Four | My Soulful Home
THURSDAY’s posts:
Happy Housie | Ella Claire | Sand & Sisal
Zevy Joy | Styled with Lace | Dimples & Tangles
Absolutely stunning. I love the soft muted colors and using the greenery down the center of the table is such a beautiful idea. Gorgeous tablesetting. I especially love the vintage napkins.
Thank you Marty for visiting and I love using what I have without spending anything extra!
I love how you always have a different color as the main theme! This time the blue is so beautiful!
Maria
Thanks so much Maria…happy fall day to you!
The tablescape is so beautiful. Janet I never thought the pairing of country and gold could look so good!
Thanks for stopping by Mary!
You have a beautiful table. You always set a wonderful table. One thing I don’t have access to is live greens in our yard.
Lots of boxwoods but I don’t want to disturb the bushes. Maybe I should I think that would be pretty as it drys. Thoughts?
Love your dishes
Enjoy your day
Cindy
Thank you Cindy…but I would say YES to clipping boxwoods! Maybe try clipping on the backside?
Absolutely gorgeous, Janet! Of course, I’m partial towards the velvet pumpkins, and the blue/gray are SO pretty! The lace napkins add the perfect finishing touch to your amazing tablescape! Pinned (to two boards) and shared!
Thank you Julie…and you did a great job on your velvets!
Your style is beautiful any time of year, for these Fall table settings are just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing so much inspiration.
Thanks so much Richella! xo
Your dining room is stunning! If I came over for dinner, you’d have to drag me out of there! Pinning!
Come on over any time…thank you!
Oh I am so jealous of your fresh greens…from your yard! Clearly I need to plant something else because I have nothing like that. Beautiful as always. 🙂
Things grow wild here and I always have a bounty of clippings. Flowers not so much though…they just get burned up by our hot sun.
Everything is so lovely. Those velvet pumpkins are gorgeous.
Marilyn
Thank you so much Marilyn…enjoy your fall season!
Janet, your greenery is stunning! I can’t believe you have that right outside your house! And of course you know I love all the French bits. This gorgeous table is speaking my language!!
We have an overload of greenery and trim back garbage cans full every weekend! Shall I send you some? LOL
Beautiful as usual, Janet. Love those blue glasses!
Thanks so much Angie…enjoy your day!
Gorgeous as always Janet! I’m loving the greys and blues you’re using for fall. They are so soft and pretty, and unique! And can I just say, I’m still in love with those blue transferware salad plates! I spied them on your blog years ago and I am definitely still smitten:)
Lovely to be “hopping” with you again my friend:)
Sheila
xo
Thanks for stopping by Sheila and I’ll catch up with everyone this weekend. Those blue French plates are a treasure! xo
So simple but so elegant!
Thanks Julie!
I have never heard of silver buttonwood, but you can bet I’m going to look into it! I thought your table garland was seeded eucalyptus. It is absolutely stunning. Thanks for all the tablescape eye candy in this post!
It’s pretty carefree, which is a plus!
You have the most elegant pictures! I love what you do. I just drool all over myself everytime I look at your photos.
🙂 gwingal
What a lovely thing to say Nikki…thank you!
Stunning as always, Janet!
Hugs, Jamie
Such inspiration at times I feel overwhelmed while tripping over myself looking at these photos.
Thank you for always being so clear with the directions for your DIY’s and fun style of writing.
A-type personalities, huh? You and your husband must be firstborns as there are 3 (our first born child) in our family and boy do we all clash at times that even the dogs run and hide! LOL (lovingly of course) 😉
I hope that I make things clear in DIYs because sometimes taking photos while creating simply slips my mind!
Actually both my husband and I are second borns, lol! His whole family are type A and my family…all over the place in terms of personalities!
What a terrific curated collection today. I don’t need a new settee – but, wow!, for $450 that is hard to pass up 🤣.
I’m really crazy about the champagne and blue velvet pumpkins … they are stunning together. I never started collecting them because I know once I started I would have BOXES of different colors. I might end up divorced. 🥴 But this color combination has me thinking it might be worth the sacrifice. 🤔
Your table setting is certainly the perfect overture to a splendid feast with guests! The flatware is lovely – and the center ‘island’ of decor is so lavish and festive and elegant.
Thanks for sharing!💐
You’re the best…I always enjoy reading your comments Tristan, even if I don’t always answer 🥰 I have a fun post coming tomorrow for fall and will be working on an unexpected twist to my fall decor for this year that I think you’ll appreciate! xo