Shabby Chic decorating is a rather interesting style to me. At first look we have this contradiction of terms, how can something be shabby and chic at the same time. But then teenagers wears new jeans with holes in them. So we need to look at this style with a new approach.

The principle behind shabby chic decorating is rather simple: to furnish light colored homes with old furniture, or new furniture made old on purpose, in order to recreate the stature of the beautiful old houses of our grand-parents.

Based on the success of flea markets, and second hand stores as well as the increasing restoration business, we can clearly see that people are looking for re-creating homes that are comfortable and elegant, as well as authentic without breaking the bank.
Shabby chic decorating is not new but it continues to endure and even increase in popularity. I have written the history of the shabby chic style in a previous post and you can refer to it.

What is so great about this style is that many of us are using it without even knowing that we do. How often have we “inherited” mom’s old table because she did not need it and we had no money to buy a new one. That can be the first step to a very elegant and charming decor.

Key to a successful shabby chic decor.

If you have some odd furniture that family members kept in the attic or the basement it will certainly serve you well. Clean it up, sand it and age it in any way you want. Work paint in conjunction with sandpaper. Sand the edges, accentuate scratches. Even fairly new furniture will create the illusion with this kind of treatment.

Once your furniture is properly aged, you have to find the shabby chic decorating accessories that will fit. Always opt for light colors, white, ivory, beige, pink. The rest is just a question of taste. In the US shabby chic is really feminine and romantic with a lot of pink, little flowers and lace. Nordic countries have a preference for bluish tints.

Regardless how you do it shabby chic decorating is made for small budgets. Rather than buying something new you will be more inclined to reuse, refinish and repair the old. You will find affordable objects even without looking very hard which makes things a little easier. The furniture is eclectic and the old is next to the new, once it has been whitened out, sanded, and aged, you won’t be able to tell the difference. If you had moved a piece of furniture to the attic because it was badly scratched it’s time to bring out again. It is the same scratches that will now confer charm. Complement the whole decor with trinkets and objects found in garage sales and flea markets. Shabby chic decorating does not have to be hard just fun.

Here are some images of shabby chic decor to inspire you to look around at simple things you can do.

Do you like old things, furniture with the character of age, wood that has acquired patina over the years? Do you like to search for treasures in attics or flea markets, do you get a sense of accomplishment or just pleasure when you find an object with a story to tell? Then you might be a follower of the shabby chic trend and shabby chic furniture is right for you.

Definition of shabby chic by Wikipedia is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.

The word was first coined by the magazine The World Of Interiors in the 1980's and was revived a few year later by a British Designer Rachel Ashwell, who established her company in California. Her first interior design shop was a mix of hand made restored pieces and an eclectic collection of styles, but she was extremely successful and a new style shabby chic was born to stay. Today the chain of Shabby Chic stores is well known around the world and many books have been written on this style.

It is synonymous with flea markets, and remembering the past but first and foremost... with style ! Shabby chic is an elegant style that is authentic, it is simple and retro, it is a lot of fun.

The dominant colors are light, and white is the queen, frequently accompanied by her suitors in pale blues, pinks and grays, all adorned with flowers . Shabby Chic furniture is old or made to look that way, taking us back to a time when elegance was essential. The style feeds the aspiration to find authenticity, comfort and grace without spending a fortune. Imperfections and wear are not only welcome they are coveted. However, the function of the pieces you find does not have to be respected. You can turn an outdoor bench into a coffee table, use old chairs to make planters.

You can buy new furniture in Shabby Chic style in stores or on line, but it is by definition a recycling style, the use of old furniture painted white or one of the pastel colors, sanded at the corners to let bare wood show, old and use is good and if it is not used enough you can make it so. Rachel Ashwell said it herself "be creative".

So for some shabby chic furniture is just "pastelised" old stuff with a leaning towards bad taste, but for others it is elegant vintage, affordable comfort, carefully selected furniture with character, that is given another chance to shine before finishing its days on the pile.

Shabby chic colors

White is the most used color, to that you can add natural colors like sand, beige, off white, ivory or gray, all to create a warm, sophisticated atmosphere. To shake things a little you will add here and there small amounts of pink, coral, peach or salmon, complemented with soft green.

Flowers

Fresh or dried flowers are everywhere, on the print of curtains, pillows, throws, and lamp shades. They can decorate woodwork or walls, they can be on the tiles either on the walls or the floors. They figure on paintings, or photos and sometimes on the frames that hold the paintings.

Accessories

On low furniture, coffee tables or dressers, ordinary objects like grandma's dishes make the room look more personal. Trays and tea sets from years gone by (buy an inexpensive reproduction if you cannot afford the original) provide nostalgia and romanticism. A few mirrors and vases with floral decorations, lamps with crystal, a few porcelain pieces and lace round up all you need to make a romantic shabby chic nest. You might also consider changing your door knobs and cabinet door pulls, crystal door knobs and vintage glass door knobs will make a great finish to your room. It is in the small details that the greatest looks are accomplished.