Your French Bistro: A Delightful Dining Room Transformation

If you are dining chez nous and are one of the many people who love both the food and the atmosphere of a French bistro, then why not consider creating that special ambience in your own home?

The definition of a bistro is an unpretentious establishment that is a perfect place for friends to gather in order to enjoy good food and wine together with good conversation, in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Here is a look at how you can set about creating that informal atmosphere by transforming your dining room into a classic French bistro and enjoy some very relaxing evenings surrounded by good company and some of your favourite recipes and wines.

Creating the bistro feel

The secret to a success makeover like this is to find a way to not just create the look that you want but in doing so, also managing to generate that special bistro ambience and feel as well.

If your dining room is perhaps a little dull and uninviting at the moment then that is not exactly conducive to you wanting to spend time entertaining in there and will not exactly help to create an atmosphere of relaxed fun and enjoyment.

Try to envision a rustic bistro in your mind and then decide what you will need to actually create this setting in your dining room. The right furniture will obviously be a great help and you might want to consider a series of bistro tables around the room rather than one large dining table.

You can also help to create the right feel to the room by trying to source suitable brasserie chairs that look the part and are comfortable enough to encourage guests to stay a while and feel relaxed and ready for a great evening.

Colour scheme

Your choice of colour scheme will be very important in helping to achieve the right look and feel for your bistro setting

Blue is actually considered to be the colour of excellence in French cuisine and is symbolised by the French culinary school known as Le Cordon Bleu. Yellow is a warm and energising colour that can contrast nicely with the blue when trying to replicate the bistro look, so consider painting the walls in a suitable blue up to about a third of the height and then using a moulding to create separation, paint the rest of the wall up to the ceiling in the yellow.

Saffron yellow and an intense blue would work well and do also remember that patterns and fabrics are often seen in French country house design, so you could work in a bit of extra warm and charm into your bistro environment by using some appropriate patterns and fabrics.

Images of France

If you are trying to evoke memories of France to reinforce the bistro feeling, then look around for some paintings that depict scenes of French country life or maybe an example of a Paris street scene or perhaps you might like to use an impressionist painting as the focal point on the wall.

Work on transforming your dining room into a classic French bistro and your home will soon be filled with the sound of constant chatter and enjoyment as people instantly relax in such pleasant and informal surroundings.

Josh Burke has deep enthusiasm for practical and beautiful home spaces. After years of experience as an interior designer revitalizing kitchens, basements, and bedrooms, he greatly enjoys blogging about his inspirations and tips he’s learned for today’s homes.

Images via Jae Redlin (Pinterest), Mellifluous Moments (Tumblr), Chateau Chic (Pinterest) and Konstantin Razumov.