Create a Stunning French Country Fall Tablescape in 5 Easy Steps

As autumn colors arrive here in the Charente in southwest France, the event designer in me can’t wait to create some fall-inspired table settings. I love the rustic look and feel of French country decor, and so much of it can be foraged from the house or garden to create something quite beautiful. Nature gives us some amazing color palettes to work with, especially in autumn.

The key to this style is to give it the air of not having been styled. Choose one or two elements to be the stars of the show and focus on them. Decide on your main and accent colors, and then let your imagination run wild and simply play.

How to Create a Beautiful French Country Fall Tablescape

The weather here in the Charente in September is still lovely, and my favorite time of day is at dusk when the sun is starting to set. The surrounding woodland and countryside are ethereal and have a magical look and feel. So, this was the chosen setting for my table.

However, I couldn’t decide on the final look and feel, so I created two different looks. Both looks used only elements I already had in my home, and the decor came either from my garden or from collecting things on my morning walk with Lottie, my border collie.

The idea behind this rustic French country look is to keep it simple and at one with nature. When I design my tables, I’m never set on exactly what the finished look should be. Like I said, I like to play. I bring everything I think I might need outside to mix and match items as I see the table come to life.

This French Country Fall Tablescape Hack Will Elevate Your Décor Game!

When I was learning event design, a wise woman told me that when you’re designing a table, it should tell a story. Its job is to invite the person standing before it to sit down and become part of the story. I’ve never forgotten her advice and bear it in mind every time I style my tables, even though it is now for fun and not for paying clients.

Deciding On the Table Basics

With the French vintage style, never worry about everything matching; it’s not necessary. In fact, it looks better when things don’t match. That being the case, you’ll see the wooden chairs I’ve used, although rustic and completely in keeping, don’t match and are slightly different styles.

I also played around with the table’s base. In some shots, I used a slightly faded, green, and white, old chequered tablecloth; in others, I went with the bare wooden table. 

It all depends on the look you’re after, and I often let the time of day dictate. An evening meal often calls for a bare table, while I’d be more likely to use a tablecloth for lunch or brunch.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way of doing this. Design and decor are personal, so they should speak to you. If you don’t love it, don’t use it.

Selecting Your Decor Elements

This is the fun part. I have a ridiculous amount of flatware and tableware, all collected from my days as an event designer. One of my barns is full of chairs, from bistro-style cafe chairs to the beautiful Chiavari chairs you find in a ballroom. I realize not everyone will have this type of collection, so use what you have. 

The great thing is that flatware, or cutlery, is now relatively cheap. Many home decor stores have lovely options, from matt black to vintage gold. Unusual cutlery can really lift a table and give it a point of difference.

Place settings should be intimate while being part of the overall story. Remember, someone will be sitting there for the duration of the meal, so it should feel personal to them. This is where layering comes in. 

A charger plate comes in handy here, as it isn’t used for food but to underpin the look of the place setting. From there, I like to layer on the main plate, side plate, and even bowls on top. It adds depth to the design and creates interest.

Again, not all your plates have to match; often, mine don’t. I do try to keep a somewhat cohesive feel to the colors used, though, as I don’t want anything to stand out like a sore thumb. Anything vintage or floral tends to work quite well with this style.

And don’t forget your glassware. Even if you know some of your guests won’t drink wine, place glasses in their setting. I might not need everything to match, but I do like a certain amount of symmetry in my design. Glasses add height to the overall look and feel.

The Centerpiece

I love creating centerpieces as they tend to be the star of the table. You can get creative here, and really, anything goes. I often think of my tables as movies, with my stars, supporting roles, and extras. After all, every movie needs a leading lady or man and a whole cast to make the movie work.

Runner-style centerpieces work well here as they stretch the length of the table and don’t need to be perfect. Alternatively, a more styled showstopper adds a wow factor to the table.

Top Centerpiece Tip: Keep your centerpieces low enough to see over. There is nothing worse than not being able to see the person opposite when trying to hold a conversation. Save your tall centerpieces for the ballroom. 

Accent Pieces

Sticking with our movie analogy, our accent pieces are the rest of the cast and extras. They are just as important as the other elements but don’t necessarily have the same impact. I like to create different small vignettes of interest that give depth and tie in with the table.

In this case, as we were outside, I used a couple of old barrels, originally cognac barrels, and use them to create a vignette. I kept it simple and used a couple of pumpkins and a lovely rustic lantern filled with fairy lights along with some foliage. It set the barrels off beautifully.

I also used some lanterns and candles placed ad hoc around the table with no particular pattern, just where it felt right. 

Of course, no French dinner is complete without bread and cheese, so a space was also created for them.

The Ambiance

The final piece of the puzzle is to create a warm and inviting ambiance. This can be achieved using candles, lanterns, lights strung from trees, or anything that gives the space a warm glow. Remember to consider your background for added ambiance. I arranged a few pumpkins and tucked small lanterns into the foliage on the cognac barrels behind the table, giving it an extra touch of whimsical charm.