Shabby Chic – The early `90s decor trend is making a huge comeback.
This is a collaborative post: This ultra-feminine style of decorating has been pushed aside for a while favouring a more contemporary look with crisp lines and a masculine influence, but guess who`s back?
Embracing a worn and lived-in look, the Shabby-Chic interior design style is a clear example that what`s old can be new again.
What is Shabby Chic?
Shabby Chic is a style of interior design known for whitewashed furniture and faded floral prints, where furniture is chosen for its appearance of age and signs of wear.
Something is comforting yet beautifully curated about shabby Chic, as it captures elegance and comfort to create a relaxed and casual look.
Shabby Chic doesn`t strictly adhere to a strict set of rules and is certainly not for everyone, but if you want to create a cosy setting and that lived-in feminine look is for you, here are the main elements you should include:
Pastel Colours for a Delicate Style
Shabby Chic decorating colours include all shades of soft and creamy white, pale pink and purple, pastel blue and green.
Light grey colour tones with a touch of brown are also encouraged to create a soft and dreamy style.
For maximum effect, stick to a palette of off-whites and creams, but mix these minimal colours with full details.
For instance, complement a classic country palette of cream and beige with upholstery and cushions in ticking stripe linen or floral prints in muted red.
When we talk about bedroom decor, white is the preferred choice in most shabby chic bedrooms, as it sets a relaxing backdrop that lets your vintage finds and antique accessories shine through.
A Mix of Vintage and New Decor
The spirit of this style is all about comfort, eco-conscious decor choices, and a blend of vintage and antique finds with modern touches.
This look thrives on vintage finds, so buy vintage-looking fabrics and collect pieces from flea markets and garage sales.
Some of the furnishings are genuine antiques in this style, revealing layers of paint as the outer coats begin to peel.
Unique glazes and finishes can also create a piece with a sense of history.
In your bedroom, the perfect mix would stay in a new shaker style bed or a metal bed combined with vintage bedside tables to create a classic Shabby-Chic Decor.
Feminine Accents
Feminine, floral patterns are often showcased in the Shabby-Chic Decor.
Slipcovers and lace tablecloths are also keys to this style and think of them in dreamy soft floral fabrics against light-painted furniture.
Combine stripes, checks, and floral fabrics to achieve a warm and inviting look and add a wonderful glow with and delicious fragrance with scented candles.
Distressed Furniture
Furniture-wise, a shabby chic bedroom is based on using furniture pieces that are time-worn and comfortable.
Shabby chic items are often heavily painted through the years, with many layers showing through obviously time-worn areas.
Almost any piece of wooden furniture will fit into a shabby chic interior is painted in white.
When we talk about your bedroom, a vintage bed frame in wrought iron or a classic bed with European flair seems the way to go in most shabby-chic decors. A Victorian Style white-painted metal bed would also work wonders in this style.
Julian Bowen Florence 4FT 6 Double Metal Bed Frame – Available from Bedstar
Combine this with upcycled or antique furniture, and a picture begins to emerge.
Layer Accessories and Patterns
To avoid this look becoming too flat, layer accessories with plenty of details and texture, such as crochet, linen, and lace fabrics.
Suppose you`re after a bedroom that`s a cosy retreat, layer plenty of comfy pillows along with crocheted or knitted blankets. Add cushions in subtle stripes and elegant toile prints and balance it with a cotton throw.
Embrace natural elements such as a chunky sisal carpet and soften up the decor with a textured rug in neutral shades.
For your soft furnishings, mix and match striped and floral fabrics with plains for seat covers or cushions.
Finish off the look by adding some fresh floral decor for extra elegance.
The Shabby-Chic Style is reminding us of the simplicity of the antique decor. It has a charming and soothing appeal, so if you want to bring a touch of authenticity to your bedroom decor, we encourage you to give it a try.
Bio
Daniela Ganea is a passionate Interior Designer and Content Writer for the Home Furnishing Industry. With a PR background, she combines her higher education with her passion for interiors by helping people with Interior Design and Styling tips for a happier home.