Assembling the pieces of a shabby chic interior
If you like this design style, there are simple ways to build the look in your home. Start by collecting a few signature pieces. Add to them over time as you figure out what your version looks like and where you discover unique treasures. In the final section of our guide, we provide tips on how to create the shabby chick look in your home.
Timeless furnishings create a lived-in look
Shabby chic furniture is typically distressed with several painted layers. This gives it a touch of rustic and coastal style. Don’t be afraid to mix and match salvaged materials such as painted or stained wood, wicker and wrought iron. Combine a salvaged farmhouse table, a faded natural fiber rug and a wrought iron chandelier in your shabby chic kitchen. This helps to create a perfect mix of textures. Chairs are also often mismatched to create textural differences. When combining chairs, however, make sure they share one common characteristic, whether that’s color or shape.
Comfort is another element that’s important to keep in mind when searching for this style of furniture. Create a cozy feel using plush chairs with matching ottomans and couches adorned with plenty of soft, decorative pillows. Even Ashwell features a few cushy beanbag chairs in her Shabby Chic Couture line. Maintain the retro, vintage aesthetic embodied by this style. It’s important to select pieces in good shape but seem to have a little wear and tear. Pair a distressed vintage wood table with a white lace tablecloth. It’s a sweet and romantic look with an old and weathered appearance.
Vintage lighting adds rustic elegance
A shabby chic chandelier is a must in this aesthetic, especially vintage ones. They add an antique charm to a room. They can be installed in virtually any room from a kitchen to a bathroom. Other light sources should also have a flea market feel to them. Opt for fixtures with materials such as wrought iron or glass. White and cream-colored candles can add a cozy glow to a room grouped on a table or fireplace mantel. Consider flanking the seating in your living room with distressed wooden end tables topped with antique shabby chic lamps.
Natural fabrics provide a relaxed feel
Overall, fabrics should give off a pleasant, comfortable and welcoming aesthetic. The classic look of cotton, muslin and linen make them three of the most commonly used textiles. Use any of these materials for curtains, drapes, bedding, pillows, and slipcovers – defining elements of the style. Soften the look of a room with slipcovers on lounge and dining seating. They often feature a delicate pattern like flowers or stripes. Flowing skirts and pintucks are details that frequently adorn fabric pieces.
Curios & accents complete the room
Add character to your home with flea market finds, trinkets, vases filled with freshly cut flowers and antique kitchen tools. Many homeowners opt for glass-paneled kitchen cabinets so they can show off vintage plates, cups and bowls. Of course, open shelving is another functional way of displaying any of your accessories. Include plenty of antique accents like old clocks, candlesticks, picture frames and baskets to round out the style. You can also repurpose items you may already have and use them for decorating. Transform an old garden gate or wooden door into a headboard. Or, stack crates to form a nightstand or side table.
Shabby chic wallpaper frequently features pastel floral patterns on neutral backgrounds. The soft palette and delicate designs reinforce the feminine essence while natural elements freshen feel of the room.
Creating shabby chic DIY
Sometimes, it’s hard to find just the right genuinely old chair or candlestick to make your decor vision come true. Or maybe you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on every piece. Fortunately, there are many do-it-yourself videos to help you create a vintage setting that is truly unique.
How to distress wooden furniture for an antique look
How to weather metals shabby chic style
How to make vintage fabric flowers
Quick tips for a rustic farmhouse look
A rustic farmhouse in the countryside exudes simplicity, beauty and charm. It’s no wonder so many homeowners are after this style. Here’s how to master this laid-back interior design:
- Start with all-white – You can never go wrong with an all-white palette – this color scheme is far from boring. A room filled with creamy whites can really make a space feel fresh and relaxed. The key to decorating with all white is using various textures and finishes. Combine eggshell walls with distressed white wood cabinets and sleek marble kitchen island. Feel free to add subtle hints of color here and there using items like curtains, rugs and wall decor.
- Add in rustic finishes – When it comes to your faucets and other home appliances, turn to materials that fit with a cottage-type design. Choose copper, brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze instead of stainless steel, which is associated with modern homes, .
- Install weathered lighting – Light fixtures can instantly help to create a mood within a home. For a farmhouse-style interior, you want to look for shabby chic kitchen lighting. Hang worn metal lanterns or rustic-looking pendants over the kitchen island.
- Swap out a door – Choose one door in your home, whether it’s the door to the bathroom or the one leading into the basement and trade it in for a sliding barn door. It could be all white and blend in with the color of the walls, or you could go with an exposed wood door to warm up the room.
- Focus on natural materials – If you’re trying to decide what type of flooring, cabinetry or shelving to use throughout your home, opt for natural materials. Weathered woods such as oak, pine and maple are among some of the most common choices.
The future of this rustic & refined interior design aesthetic
Rachel Ashwell sets the standard for shabby chic. Interior designers take her lead when determining the direction for this motif. In a Houzz interview, Ashwell revealed she’s simplifying the style by eliminating elements that distract from its true beauty.
The designer is “Making sure that the ‘noise’ doesn’t take over the magic,” she told Houzz. While Ashwell speaks to the overall theme and look, shabby chic is changing in more ways than this. The style is encroaching upon other venues than the home, expanding its role in design.
Shabby chic is becoming especially popular for wedding themes and decor. Brides and grooms can incorporate charming pastel colors into bridal party garb. Additionally, vintage accent pieces can be converted into centerpieces and twinkling lights into dance floor decor. Shabby chic weddings may have items such as chalkboard signs, mason jars and wildflowers – items that kindle the down-home spirit.
Final thoughts on shabby chic
Shabby chic is a charming design that fits into virtually any venue from an elegant home to a humble cottage. The aesthetic combines the rich, opulent decor of Baroque style with the pure, raw beauty of rustic form. Upscale accents on the weather-worn materials add enough sophistication to strike a perfect balance that exudes nostalgia, comfort and refinement. Though the style has changed subtly through the decades, its overall air is timeless and will forever fit your home.
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