How to Set a Table Like the French for a Dinner Party

How to set a table like the French for a dinner party, but as always, more casual than formal. Something you would see in the French countryside. I’m going to stay away from the idea of a “French-themed dinner party,” as it is more of a lifestyle we embrace all the time. Casual but slightly elegant, as French people seem to master! The setting of a beautiful table is one of the significant elements of the French meal. – and my favorite part!  

Be careful not to overstyle the table! 

When setting a French table, it’s a good idea to remember not to overdo it! Simple is best. Simple, fresh flowers that are not overly styled or arranged are preferred. A floral arrangement can be a little stuffy when you only need a few seasonal stems in old bottles. A small vase, pitcher, jar, or drinking glass of a few garden flowers is preferred over a formal floral arrangement.

If using a tablecloth, choose linen or one that is not too pressed. Rumpled is fine. For some people, that’s hard to embrace, but I promise you will never return to pressed linens once you do. I will discuss how I care for my linens later in the post.

A bare table is fine, too. I prefer a bare table indoors and a linen tablecloth to set up an outdoor table. It’s the opposite, in a way. A rustic touch with bare wood indoors, and outdoors in nature, there’s plenty of rustic, so I like to add an unfussy tablecloth for a touch of elegance. 

The elements of a French-style table setting.

Of course, this could mean many different things and have many lovely versions, but when I think of setting a table the French way, I think of a few small details. The French dinner table’s essential elements are dishes, glassware, cutlery, and candles. It’s very much in style to mix and match. So even if you are hosting a formal dinner, you don’t have to restrict yourself to using only fine china. Mix a vintage floral salad on a white porcelain dinner plate. 

Start with dinner plates, top with a salad plate, and then add a small bread plate on the left side above the fork. You can rest a butter knife on each plate. Mix up the glassware, too. It’s tradition to place the glassware in the top right-hand corner of the plate, starting with the smallest to the tallest glass. Although I must admit, I do not always follow this rule! I like to use casual glassware and mix in some vintage glassware.

Dishes and plates for a beautiful table setting for a French dinner party.

Let’s start with the dishes. I love mixing my porcelain white Apilco dishes with vintage pieces for a collected look. White plates look good with everything, and delicious food looks its best on white. 

Glassware & Flatware

I prefer to use a mix of glassware on any table: vintage crystal glasses, Duralex tumblers, or these traditional French wine glasses. I think these are excellent choices for red or white wine. 

There are a few brands of flatware made in France. Both have several color options. I also like to mix in some vintage French knives from my shop when I have them. A vintage dessert spoon is also a nice touch.

Place cards & menus

I always think place cards are optional. They are sometimes fun and add to the decor, but it is a matter of personal preference. I sometimes like to create place cards using watercolor paper and paints. The same goes for creating a French dinner party menu card. It can be easily made in Canva to add something to the table, but it is not necessary for French dinner parties of any kind. Plus, you must know precisely what you are serving well beforehand, if you need to have them printed. 

The French dining table

A long farmhouse table will always be my top choice for a dinner party. A simple French country table with a mix of chairs indoors or outdoors on the grass. Casual flowers are in the center of the table, or cups or bottles are lined up down the center with a single stem. Plenty of tea lights and votives. I use these to hold tea lights mixed in with votives. You can never have too much candlelight for French dinners. 

How to care for table linens

I wash all my table linens, from tablecloths and tea towels to linen napkins, in one load each week. I use a mild, unscented detergent and never dry my linens. After I remove them from the wash, I shake each napkin, towel, and tablecloth. As I shake it, I wait to hear a snap. I know the wrinkles are released a bit when I hear that snap! Then I hang to dry, preferably outdoors. I  use a drying rack and hand-fold each tea towel into thirds. I do the same with linen napkins, but only folded in half. Later, when dry, I will fold the napkins into squares. The linens are a little stiff, but they will fold nicely. 

A diagram of a French place setting

A French place setting includes a dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, water glass, red wine glass, white wine glass, dinner fork, salad fork, butter knife, knife, spoon, cake, dessert spoon/fork, and a napkin.

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