The dining room is a gathering place for your family to share a good meal. Dining rooms are where many memories are built, and there are hundreds of styles to select from. When it comes to informal food, good times, and good liquor, the French Bistro dining room is a must-visit. A bistro may be identified from a mile away due to its distinctive design.
The French bistro dining room will provide a sense of class, simplicity, and elegance to your dining room at the same time.
There’s a reason why the French bistro style has become so popular in France and around the world. So, let’s have a look at these dining room ideas for a French restaurant.
In France, what is a bistro?
A bistro, a café, or a troquet is a casual French restaurant that serves traditional French cuisine at a reasonable price. The meals and menu are frequently simple yet elegant homestyle cooking or baking, with a twist on classic cuisine. Bistros in Paris were originally small, unpretentious cafés run by “bougnats,” immigrants from Auvergne who fled their impoverished homelands during the Industrial Revolution and came to Paris to start a small business.
Bistros are different from restaurants in that they are more casual; they frequently have a café-like ambience, are more relaxed, and occasionally even serve themselves. In most situations, Monsieur cooks while Madame manages the dining room and keeps an eye on the cash register, however the opposite is sometimes the case. They’re dubbed “bistronomiques” (a combination of “bistrot” and “gastronomique”) since some of them can be gastronomic and Michelin-worthy.
10 Decorating Ideas For A French Bistro In Your Kitchen
You may not be able to relocate your favourite Parisian café, but you can bring a piece of its spiritual home with you. The 10 kitchen décors for a typical French bistro-style kitchen are listed below.
- The lighting is intimate
The best bistros are warm and inviting, especially in the evening when gentle, low light fills the room. The warm ambience is ruined by glaring lights or bulbs with a harsh tint. To generate a diffused glow, layer low-hanging chandeliers, sconces, pendants, and floor or table lamps.
- The floors are made of tiles
Penny tile or hexagonal tile is the signature flooring of a typical cafe and is both beautiful and easy to clean. A little pattern or a black border can be sprinkled across a white field tile. Alternatively, go for a large black and white checkerboard tile.
- Bistro tables and chairs
Low-slung rattan chairs are examples of the right combination of comfort, style, and longevity. Authentic rattan and cane versions can be costly, so look for knockoffs constructed of plastic and aluminium instead. To add a little visual interest, vary the colours, as shown above.
This Cesca Arm Chair is a fantastic rattan chair for your Bistro kitchen. Our premium Cesca Armchair line is the embodiment of groundbreaking, pioneering high-end seating, and is based on the classic Cesca design from 1928.
- French bistro tables
Consider adding a bistro table to your dining area to really get into the French bistro mood. Pottery Barn’s round marble pedestal bistro dining table has me completely smitten. Traditional French bistro tables are small, circular, or square, with no lip, allowing individuals to cross their legs comfortably beneath the tables. Decorative iron scrolled or pedestal bases are commonly used. Wood, marble, or scrolled iron tabletops are available.
Bistro tables from France can be utilized in a variety of situations. They can be used as kitchen dining tables, occasional tables, or even desks. They also make great front hallway tables, where you may put your keys, mail, or just a vase of gorgeous flowers.
- Posters for advertisements
Colorful wall hangings promoting champagne, travel destinations, and Gallic items assist to define a bistro’s personality. Make a statement with just one large poster as the focal point by grouping several of them together.
- A high-end range and hood
We’re not talking about sleek and sporty here; think of traditional French brands like La Cornue and Lacanche, which are known for their intricate, distinctive craftsmanship. What’s the catch? The cost: These ranges can cost up to $20,000 each. If you don’t have that type of money, look for smaller stoves from European manufacturers online or at local kitchen stores, which will give your kitchen a continental feel.
- Posters for advertisements
Colourful wall hangings promoting champagne, travel destinations, and Gallic items assist to define a bistro’s personality. Make a statement with just one large poster as the focal point by grouping several of them together.
- Bistro-style tableware
A classic white porcelain dinnerware set is the simplest way to add some French bistro-style to your table. The tableware doesn’t have to be the same colour or design, but it should have a comparable style. Original French tumblers are an excellent choice for glassware. Also, rather than mugs, prefer to use cups and saucers. Mugs, in my opinion, are not particularly “café.”
The incorporation of metal detailing is a crucial element to bear in mind. Anything made of copper, brass, or even chrome may make a room feel cosier. Copper candlesticks, for example, can be added to your table.
- Countertops made of zinc
A zinc bar top is such an integral feature of a French bistro that the word “zinc” has become a slang term for these establishments. While you certainly don’t have a bar next to your breakfast table, zinc countertops, which are becoming increasingly fashionable, can give you a similar aesthetic (and thus more widely available).
- Cookware that is on display
Pots, pans, and dishes must be close at hand in a restaurant kitchen. Simple brasserie-style dishware (basic white or with a colourful rim) should be displayed on an open shelf, and cookware should be stored on a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack (bonus points if your pans are well-worn copper and steel).
What is it about bistro style that appeals to you? Let us know what you think in the comments! Please do share this article too if you find it helpful!