Creating a French-Inspired Table Setting with Thrifted Treasures

Welcome to the blog today, Friends.

Yesterday’s thrifting adventure took me to a local shop with a mission close to my heart—it supports women who have experienced abuse, providing them with a safe and supportive place to rebuild their lives. Part of their incredible work is funded through this thoughtfully curated thrift store. It’s always a joy to visit. The store is beautifully organized, and the items are in such good condition—it truly feels like a little treasure trove.

On this visit, I was thrilled to discover a set of six Mikasa “French Countryside” water glasses. These lovely glasses were designed to accompany the timeless china pattern of the same name and have been around for years. The set I found was in perfect condition—substantial in weight, with a graceful, fluted top that lends a classic French charm. They’re so elegant on the table.

I’d love to show you how I used them—paired with a few other thrifted treasures—to create a pretty little French-inspired table setting for one.

For this setting, I leaned into the colors often found in traditional French country decor—sunny yellows and soft, welcoming blues—woven together with plenty of flowers and fruits. The salad/dessert plate features vibrant fruits that echo the colors in the dinner plate, creating a lovely harmony across the setting. Both plates rest on a sturdy wooden charger, the kind of simple, rustic piece you might expect to see on a farmhouse table in the French countryside. All three—the plates and the charger—were thrifted finds, and I’m happy to say I have six of each plate and four of the chargers. It’s always a little thrill when a set begins to come together!

At each place setting, I used two crystal glasses. The water glass is one of the newly found Mikasa “French Countryside” pieces, and the wine glass—cobalt blue and deeply rich in color—was discovered months ago. Though their styles differ, they share a similar visual weight, which helps them pair beautifully. Together, they bring a bit of sparkle and elegance to the table.

For the flatware, I chose my favorite “Napoleon” Bee pattern by Wallace. It’s a charming set with a touch of whimsy, and it complements the garden-inspired theme of the plates so well. The little bees on the handles feel especially fitting today—just outside my window, real bees are busy at work, flitting from bloom to bloom and helping to pollinate the vegetable garden. It’s a lovely reminder of the harmony between the table and the garden.

To complete the setting, I added a striped napkin in the same sunny yellow, accented with touches of blue, green, and orange—colors that echo the hues found in both plates. The mix of stripes with the floral and fruit motifs adds a playful layer of visual interest. The entire color palette feels joyful and full of life, making this a table that invites you to linger. It will be such a pleasure to sit down and enjoy a meal here, surrounded by color, texture, and the charm of thoughtfully collected pieces.

A quick trip out to the garden provided just the right finishing touch—a simple centerpiece of yarrow, cheerful daylilies, and fragrant mint. There’s something so special about gathering flowers from your own yard and bringing them indoors. It adds a personal, seasonal touch and fills the table with freshness and life. I love when the beauty outside can be enjoyed just as much inside.

Here’s an overhead view of the setting—cheerful, bright, and full of personality. The napkin, placemat, and napkin ring were all thrifted finds, and don’t they coordinate beautifully? It’s such fun to build a tablescape around a single inspiring piece—like the lovely Mikasa glass I found on this trip. Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope your next thrifting adventure brings you something wonderful and unexpected!