How to Create a French Style Dining Room

A French style dining room comes from soft colours, gentle curves, one decorative light and layered fabrics, not from piling on ornament. Aim for elegant but relaxed. A handful of well-chosen pieces looks more convincing than a room dressed head to toe in gilt.

Start with a soft, chalky palette

Creamy whites, warm greys, pale blue-grey, sage and blush pink suit the look. Many UK dining rooms get flat, cool light, especially north-facing ones, so lean towards warm whites rather than stark ones.

Add depth in small doses: inky blue, soft red or muted gold on chair seats, cushions or a mirror frame.

Choose furniture with curves

Round or oval dining tables soften a room, and legs with a gentle curve bring the French feel without heavy carving. If you're still deciding on shape, our guide to round vs rectangular dining tables covers seating and space.

For seating, curved backs and button-back upholstery both nod to the style. Browse French-influenced chair designs to see how a single curve changes a room. The Nasa Style Curved Back Dining Chair is a good example of the shape.

Mixing is fine. Carver-style chairs at each end with simpler chairs along the sides look deliberate, provided seat heights and proportions stay consistent. Leave at least 90cm between the table edge and the wall so chairs pull out and people can pass.

Add a sideboard or dresser

A sideboard or dresser is the second anchor of a French dining room after the table. Look for shaped aprons, curved or cabriole legs, and a painted or limed finish.

Use it for storage and display, not clutter. A pair of lamps, one large mirror above, and a bowl or vase is enough. Glazed display cabinets suit the look too, especially for showing off china or glassware. Browse our sideboards for shapes that sit well against pale walls.

Add architectural detail

Panelling, picture rails and ceiling roses are already there in many Victorian and Edwardian homes, so work with them. In a newer house, painted wall mouldings or panelled lower walls give the same effect.

A large mirror, hung opposite a window or above a sideboard, bounces light and adds depth.

Layer light, fabric and upholstery

A chandelier is the classic focal point. French designs favour curved arms, aged brass or painted metal, and candle-style bulbs. Centre it over the table, hang the bottom roughly 75–90cm above the tabletop, and fit a dimmer if you can. For sizing and fixing, read how a chandelier transforms your dining room.

One overhead light is never enough on its own. Our guide to floor lamps versus table lamps explains how to layer lamps for softer evening light.

Then layer fabrics: linen curtains, a velvet seat, a cotton tablecloth and a rug that reaches at least 60cm beyond the table on every side, so chair legs stay on it when pulled out.

Fabric is where a French scheme is won or lost. Our bespoke upholstery service can cover new chairs or reupholster ones you already own, using fabrics from Sanderson, Clarke & Clarke, Designers Guild, Osborne & Little, Wemyss and J Brown. Small florals, toiles and soft stripes suit French country. Plain velvets and damasks suit a formal look.

Pick a lane: country or formal

French country leans on scrubbed or painted wood, linen, faded blues and greens, and copper. Our Davenport Painted Dining Furniture range is a natural starting point for this look.

A formal French look uses velvet, marble, mouldings and gold detail. Blending both tends to muddle the room, so choose one direction. If you're drawn to deeper timber tones, read why dark wood is back and how it sits against pale walls.

French style at a glance

Making it work in a small UK dining room

Go round with the table, keep the walls pale, hang one large mirror and choose a modest light fitting. A slim sideboard frees up floor space, and a dining sofa or bench against one wall seats more people than chairs in a tight room.

The look is about proportion, so scale everything to the room you actually have.

The verdict: where to begin

• Small or box room: start with a pale palette, a round table and a big mirror.

• Period home: keep the existing mouldings, then add chairs, lighting and fabrics.

• Newer build: add panelling or wall mouldings first, then a decorative light.

• Existing chairs you like: reupholster them in a French-style fabric before buying new.

• Still unsure: repaint, rehang the light and add one mirror before changing any furniture.

A French style dining room works best when one idea leads and the rest supports it.

Want to see the look in person? Visit our Long Eaton showroom to try dining chairs, compare fabric samples and see our lighting before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What colours suit a French style dining room? 

Creamy whites, pale blue-grey, sage and blush pink work well, with gold or deeper blue accents. Warm whites suit cooler UK light better than stark white.

What is the difference between a French country and formal French style? 

French country uses scrubbed or painted wood, linen and faded blues or greens. Formal French style leans on velvet, marble, mouldings and gold detail. Choose one direction to keep the room coherent.

Can I create a French style dining room in a small space? 

Yes. A round table, pale walls, a large mirror and one modest light fitting give the look without crowding. Keep at least 90cm of clearance around the table.

Which dining table shape suits French style best?

Round and oval tables suit it best because their softer lines echo curved chair backs. Rectangular tables work too, especially with curved legs or a painted finish. 

Can I give my existing dining chairs a French look? 

Yes. Reupholstering in a toile, soft floral or plain velvet changes the feel of a chair without replacing it. 

How do I stop a French style dining room looking too fussy?

Limit decoration to three or four pieces, repeat one or two colours and keep surfaces clear. Let one statement piece, such as a mirror or light, lead.