Shabby Chic Home Decor

If you have older furnishings that show signs of wear and tear or new items that have been distressed to achieve an antique appearance, then you are well on your way to having a room styled as Shabby Chic.

The Shabby chic style started in Great Britain in the early 1980s and became largely popular in the US by the 90s. When you think of Shabby Chic, consider large country houses with heavily painted furniture and furnishings in white and pastel. In terms of fabrics, cotton and linen are the most popular. These fabrics are often bleached and faded or stained with tea leaves to stay within the Shabby Chic style.

The best part about Shabby Chic Home Decor is that you can pick up a great deal of the items second hand. Why buy something new and make it distressed when you can already buy a used piece of furniture and reupholster or repaint the item to bring out the Shabby Chic quality in it.

The goal of Shabby Chic Interior Design is to bring an overall elegant effect to a room while maintaining a cozy lived-in feel.

Shabby Chic Home Decor is closely associated with Country Cottage Home Decor and French Country Home Decor.

Popular Shabby Chic Colors:

The most popular colors for Shabby Chic Home Decor are pastels and whites or off-whites. Combining the pastel color pallet with a nice white really brings the essence of Shabby Chic to a room.

Popular Shabby Chic Home Decor Items:

• Vintage and/or distressed linens
• Vintage chandeliers and/or crystal items to help bring in and reflect light.
• Large French Clocks or smaller ornate mantel clock
• Patterned or pastel pillows with floral print or stripes.
• Recycled, heavily painted and distressed furniture and picture frames.
• Natural wood or ceramic tile floors.