Decorating
What Really Is 'Shabby Chic' and How You Can Get the Look?
Discover the fundamentals of the shabby chic style and how to embrace them inside your home
Shabby chic emerged as a popular style trend in the 1980s, when British bohemians and artists began to upcycle old furniture into works of art, added charm with fabrics, and repurposed treasures for display. They were, in effect, making use of both their creativity and their limited funds to develop a look all their own. The trend soon spread to the US and beyond, and it is now seen as a timeless style aligned with our growing focus on eco-sustainability in building and design. Shabby chic embraces old, worn and nostalgic pieces – a perfect fit for the current trend of recycling, upcycling and repurposing. The style is also comfortable, relaxed, warm and charming, and adaptable to most homes. The term shabby chic is often used in reference to variants French country, cottage chic, Gustavian, and beach cottage chic and is as popular with those making the most of roadside finds as it is with those who simply choose the style for its warmth and character. Discover the key elements of shabby chic, and how you can display preloved items in a classic and elegant way in your home.
Scour the markets
Trawl markets and second-hand stores as you can often pick up a bargain. Look for quality pieces, and consider whether they can be sanded, repainted, re-covered or repaired.
More: Second Best: 5 Reasons to Scour the Op Shops
Trawl markets and second-hand stores as you can often pick up a bargain. Look for quality pieces, and consider whether they can be sanded, repainted, re-covered or repaired.
More: Second Best: 5 Reasons to Scour the Op Shops
Learn to love white
White is the key colour for a shabby chic interior. You can combine many different whites from warm to cool, off-whites and creams. The more white you use, the stronger the statement will be.
White is the key colour for a shabby chic interior. You can combine many different whites from warm to cool, off-whites and creams. The more white you use, the stronger the statement will be.
Pick pastels
Stick to pale pastel colours when not using white. Anything from duck-egg blue to watery greens, pale pinks, lemon yellow and cool grey.
Stick to pale pastel colours when not using white. Anything from duck-egg blue to watery greens, pale pinks, lemon yellow and cool grey.
…and blues and greens
Blues and greens suit shabby chic style, too, and look wonderful when teamed with white like here in this room. Look for pale greens and blues and then mix them with just a small splash of a bolder shade such as teal.
Blues and greens suit shabby chic style, too, and look wonderful when teamed with white like here in this room. Look for pale greens and blues and then mix them with just a small splash of a bolder shade such as teal.
Celebrate florals
Shabby chic is often very feminine and romantic, incorporating floral cushions and curtains, antique rugs, decorative pieces and soft pretty colours. The floral curtains in this room are a focal point.
Find out how to make floral work in any room
Shabby chic is often very feminine and romantic, incorporating floral cushions and curtains, antique rugs, decorative pieces and soft pretty colours. The floral curtains in this room are a focal point.
Find out how to make floral work in any room
Opt for distressed wood
Furniture in natural materials, such as wood, wicker and metal, is key to this look. Wood can be left in its natural state, or painted (usually in white) then sanded back for a distressed look.
Furniture in natural materials, such as wood, wicker and metal, is key to this look. Wood can be left in its natural state, or painted (usually in white) then sanded back for a distressed look.
Hand paint cabinetry
Rather than buying new polyurethane cabinetry, look to revamp existing cupboards, particularly if they are solid wood. Hand painting cupboard doors in white, grey, green or blue will stay true to shabby chic style. If installing new cabinetry, keep to simple painted wood with exposed hinges, like seen in this kitchen.
Rather than buying new polyurethane cabinetry, look to revamp existing cupboards, particularly if they are solid wood. Hand painting cupboard doors in white, grey, green or blue will stay true to shabby chic style. If installing new cabinetry, keep to simple painted wood with exposed hinges, like seen in this kitchen.
…and choose freestanding dressers
These are a warm, welcoming addition to this kitchen and add visual interest when used in conjunction with standard kitchen cupboards and drawers. Look for old pie safes and jelly cupboards, and use them to display everyday items or decorative vintage pieces.
These are a warm, welcoming addition to this kitchen and add visual interest when used in conjunction with standard kitchen cupboards and drawers. Look for old pie safes and jelly cupboards, and use them to display everyday items or decorative vintage pieces.
Love wrought-iron furniture
Decorative wrought-iron furniture has been around for a long time and particularly suits shabby chic schemes. Scour antique stores for beds, chairs, railings and lamps.
Decorative wrought-iron furniture has been around for a long time and particularly suits shabby chic schemes. Scour antique stores for beds, chairs, railings and lamps.
…and mirrors
Use old, antique mirrors in unusual places such as the bathroom. This makes the space feel more homely, and more like a room than a clinical bathroom. Choose decorative mirrors in wood, painted wood or gilded finishes.
Use old, antique mirrors in unusual places such as the bathroom. This makes the space feel more homely, and more like a room than a clinical bathroom. Choose decorative mirrors in wood, painted wood or gilded finishes.
Add interest with creative artworks
Art doesn’t need to be expensive. Old artworks can easily be reframed, or even consider framing vintage tea towels or wrapping paper. Grouping artwork together, like seen here, makes a big impact.
Art doesn’t need to be expensive. Old artworks can easily be reframed, or even consider framing vintage tea towels or wrapping paper. Grouping artwork together, like seen here, makes a big impact.
…and wire lighting
You can find wire pendant lights, similar to these, easily in stores nowadays, or make your own. They look especially good when clustered together like here.
You can find wire pendant lights, similar to these, easily in stores nowadays, or make your own. They look especially good when clustered together like here.
…or vintage chandeliers
Chandeliers are a beautiful addition to a shabby chic bedroom and can lift the scheme to one with more refinement, elegance and sophistication.
Take a look at more antique lighting
Chandeliers are a beautiful addition to a shabby chic bedroom and can lift the scheme to one with more refinement, elegance and sophistication.
Take a look at more antique lighting
Choose vintage bed linen
Think vintage when buying bed linen. Look for French linen, cotton, lace, calico and designs such as florals, birds, trees and village scenes.
Think vintage when buying bed linen. Look for French linen, cotton, lace, calico and designs such as florals, birds, trees and village scenes.
Consider a freestanding bath
Don’t forget the bathroom when planning a shabby chic scheme. Use an original claw-foot bath or a more modern freestanding version such as this one. Combine with traditional tiling and antique chairs and mirrors to complete the look.
Don’t forget the bathroom when planning a shabby chic scheme. Use an original claw-foot bath or a more modern freestanding version such as this one. Combine with traditional tiling and antique chairs and mirrors to complete the look.
Upcycle old luggage
Look in antique shops or your grandmother’s attic for items that can be refreshed and repurposed. Second-hand luggage is perfect for use as a table or extra storage and can be brought back to life with a coat of paint, as seen here.
Look in antique shops or your grandmother’s attic for items that can be refreshed and repurposed. Second-hand luggage is perfect for use as a table or extra storage and can be brought back to life with a coat of paint, as seen here.
Create vignettes
Incorporate pretty vignettes within your shabby chic interior. Here a ladder is repurposed to become a side table displaying flowers, a little bird and a vintage teacup. Adorable!
HAVE YOUR SAY
Are you a shabby chic fan? Let us know what you love or loathe about the style in the comments section.
MORE
Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11-One-of-a-Kind Ideas
Incorporate pretty vignettes within your shabby chic interior. Here a ladder is repurposed to become a side table displaying flowers, a little bird and a vintage teacup. Adorable!
HAVE YOUR SAY
Are you a shabby chic fan? Let us know what you love or loathe about the style in the comments section.
MORE
Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Nifty Thrifting: 19 Inventive Repurposing Ideas
Bedside Tables With a Difference: 11-One-of-a-Kind Ideas
Shabby chic is a collection of the old, the faded and the second-hand. The look is vintage, bohemian and very lived-in. Key features include the use of whites and soft colours, distressed wood, vintage mirrors, chandeliers and glassware.