How to Decorate Shabby Chic

A rising trend in the decorating world that combines all of the elements of cottage decorating with romantic pastels, is the “shabby chic” style. This decorating style gets its name from the juxtaposed combination of shabby (old) and chic (new and fresh). If you like romantic pastels, whimsical, antique porcelin dishes and soft linens and bedding, consider decorating in the shabby chic style with these simple tips.

Decorating Shabby Chic Style Tip # 1: Florals

Use floral patterns. Anything with flowers fits nicely in the shabby chic decorating style. Any furniture, bedding, linens, porcelin, or antiques that have a floral pattern, is sought after in shabby chic decorating. The key to making your home look shabby chic is mixing and matching patterns. There is no set pattern when decorating your home in the shabby chic style. If it is floral and romantic, new or old, it is shabby chic. Shabby chic decorating also calls for fresh flowers, as well, but not pricey, over-the-top arrangements. Snip a rose or hydrangea from your garden and showcase it solo in a vase. Fresh, simple flowers are a must when decorating in the shabby chic style.

Decorating Shabby Chic Style Tip # 2: Colors

The shabby chic decorating style uses soft pastel colors. Romantic, spring colors are a must in shabby chic decorating, and include pastel pinks, lavendar, blues, greens, soft yellows, and most importantly, white. The color white is a staple in the shabby chic style. Dark, warm furniture does not have a place within the shabby chic decorating style. A lot of the furniture used in the shabby chic decorating style is distressed, meaning a lighter color, like white, pastel blue, green, or pink, are painted over the darker piece of furniture. To give it an antique look, after the piece is painted and has dried, rub the corners and edges- places that would show the normal wear and tear of furniture- with sand paper to reveal the dark color beneath the light paint. You can distress just about anything wood. Dressers, tables, cabinets and candlestick holders are all good candidates for shabby chic distressing.

Decorating Shabby Chic Tip # 3: Old & New

This decorating concept of mixing the old with the new is where the decorating style, shabby chic, got its name from. Buy some antique floral linens and porcelin dishes from your local flea market and antique shop and mix it with your new crystal vases and furniture. If the couch is new, use old, antique, floral throw pillows. If the bedding is a new, floral print, make the head board look old by distressing it. Use new silver candleabras with an antique floral table cloth for your kitchen table. Top the table off with a cut flower from the garden and you are dining shabby chic style.

If you are tired of your current style and are looking for a fresh, new decorating style, try shabby chic. It’s romantic, cottage charm looks great no matter which room you incorporate it into.