The Shabby chic furniture style started in UK and evokes the type of decoration
found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old sofas and
curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste on wood metal articles. The
end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed
to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian classic look . Recycling old furniture
and fabrics is an important aspect of the look and was especially popular with
modern Bohemians and artisans that made up a sidelined counter-culture movement
during the 1980s when expensive quality decor became very fashionable with the
upper middle classes. The original shabby chic interiors were usually
considered in themselves works of art.
The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the
style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decoration. These range
from 18th century Swedish painted
decoration, the French Chateau as
well as the American Shakers where
simplicity and plainness was essential.
Shabby Chic Decorating Ideas became popular several years ago, and now it’s only
getting more and more popular because it has special charm and chic. Besides,
it’s budget-friendly because thanks to – you can restore some of your grandma’s
things or flea market finds and use them again. You can even distress some
cheap new furniture the appearance of an antique furniture isn’t that hard.
Shabby chic is a quite soft style which fits
perfectly for cottages but can be used at many other homes too. It easily can add
a feminine touch to any interior and make it quite unique. Usually, in such
interiors, you can find one or several furniture pieces that are heavily
painted through the years and are showing through time-worn areas.
DIY
Shabby Chic Furniture
The
simplest way to imitate aged and distressed look on your furniture is by using
faux painting techniques with glaze or by simply painting your furniture piece
and sanding this paint away from some of its parts. If you want some of your lamps to look shabby chic then
you need to use vintage fabric, making ruffles and cover these lamps with them.
You can even make different metal objects like clocks or buckets to look aged
so they fit your shabby chic interior nicely. Just use the right metal aging technique for that.
Shabby chic items are often heavily painted through the
years, with many layers showing through obviously time-worn areas. The style is
imitated in faus and glaze painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat
to show the wood or base coats, known as "distressing" the finish of
the furniture.
Furniture pieces
that are not genuine antiques are usually selected for their resemblance to
older furniture styles, and may be reproduction furniture with a distressed
finish. Elaborate furniture appliqués depicting
flower swags and garlands cherubs, and other motifs may
be added.
Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being
particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Pure whites, as well as ecrus and worn or bleached out pastel colors are favourites.
Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached
and faded are terms often applied to the style. Vintage floral patterns with
pastel colors, cotton ticking patterns,
or linen in earth tones, are all typical of shabby chic style.
The shabby chic aesthetic also expands to the garden, with
the same design principles of using timeworn garden furniture and feminine
accessories. Rose gardens are popular with the shabby chic style of decor.
Other popular decor items are pillows made of vintage
barkcloth fabric, vintage linens
chenille, bedspreads, vintage
chandeliers, and anything with roses in the design. It is a soft, relaxed,
feminine, romantic style of decorating that looks comfortable and inviting.]
Variants of shabby chic style include:
·
Cottage chic
·
Beach cottage chic
·
French country
·
Gustavian (Swedish)
Shabby
Chic Living Room Furniture
Are you an aficionado of the shabby chic style and all its
lovely features? If so, browse below and discover the stunning collection of
shabby chic living-room furniture. Its stylish lines, rugged finishes and an
appeal which can hardly go unnoticed will surely speak to your inner interior
designer. Take a look below and get inspired.
Shabby
Chic is a decor style that uses aged furniture and other items to create a
vintage look within the home. Worn around the edges or gently broken in, Shabby
Chic is the perfect balance between luxury and lived-in. Frills and ruffles
lend to a comfortable and soft space. Distressed furniture and vintage home
decor bring intimacy to luxurious spaces, cozy up a large room, and utilize the
nooks and crannies in your home.
For
the decor enthusiast who strives to use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do
without, Shabby Chic is your cup of tea. Whether you prefer a terraced house in
a misty London borough or a whitewashed cottage tucked into a rural hillside,
this type of decor is beloved for celebrating the beauty of aging objects that
transform a house into a well-loved home. It's all about a collection of the
things you love in a space you adore.
