Shabby chic in the interior: characteristics of the style, palette, decoration, furniture and decorative elements.

Distinctive features

Shabby chic originated in the late 1980s, when an English designer had the idea of giving old things a new life. Things from flea markets were restored, while leaving a trace of antiquity.

• A characteristic feature of shabby chic is scuffs and the effect of aging in the interior;
• The color palette is filled with light pastel shades: blue, peach, pink, cream and white;
• The style and shape of the furniture do not matter, the main condition is that it must bear a trace of history;
• Flower patterns are often used in shabby chic interiors;
• Shabby chic does not accept strict geometric shapes in drawings;
• The use of vintage and antique furniture is welcomed in the interior;
• Furniture models corresponding to the shabby chic direction are rarely presented in stores, often the decoration is done by hand;
• A lot of fabric and decorative elements are used in shabby chic interiors.

The photo shows a dresser and a table with aged effect.

Color scheme of the style

Shabby chic interior is filled with details with a touch of vintage, but does not look vulgar and tasteless. The color scheme contains a gentle and calm palette. The color of dusty rose, sky blue and calm greenery can simultaneously echo in the interior of one room. Shabby chic does not accept flashy and dark colors.

Room design in an apartment

Bedroom

The perfect place to decorate an interior in the shabby chic style. A romantic, gentle and cozy bedroom will give only positive emotions. Light finishing allows you to use the style to decorate the interior of a bedroom of any size. In a small room, an abundance of decorative details can be replaced with wallpaper with floral patterns or focus on the furniture.

Shabby chic can be used to its full potential in a spacious room. Various vases with flowers, figurines of angels, bedside rugs, lace and tulle on the windows will be harmoniously combined together.

Flowers in the interior are one of the distinctive features of the style. In the photo in the bedroom, they are present in a vase on the bedside table, in a frame, in a picture on the wall and in the bed linen.

Living room

The interior of the living room can be filled with stylized furniture. The sofa and armchairs, covered with a fabric cover, can be plain or with an image of small flowers. Another option for decorating furniture is to have noticeable abrasions, which looks especially impressive on a white background.

An aged wooden floor will be decorated with a simple rug with raw edges. Accessories play a significant role in the design of the shabby chic interior, they can be present in the form of figurines, vases, paintings or wall decorations.

Kitchen

The shabby chic style in the kitchen interior will be associated with a rustic cozy house. The ideal option would be a kitchen set made of wood. The color scheme does not necessarily have to be white, any shade that matches the style is acceptable.

Accessories and tableware made of ceramics or porcelain can have decorative abrasions and images of flowers, and lace tablecloths and chair cushions will complete the look.

Children’s room

A delicate interior is more suitable for decorating a girl’s room. Flowers, a soft palette, a combination of fabrics of different colors and textures will remind you of a dollhouse or a princess’s room. Dolls and toys will blend in with the overall style and look like a single whole.

The photo shows a gentle interior of a children’s room with a dressing table for a princess.

Bathroom

Shabby chic bathroom, reminiscent of the atmosphere of romantic Provence. A bathtub on elegant legs, a sink with smooth shapes and forged towel racks will support a unified style. Using wooden items in the bathroom is impractical due to their reaction to a humid environment; the best option would be decorated metal items.

Hallway

The main focus of the hallway can be a wardrobe for outerwear, a good option would be a large vintage wardrobe with intricate patterns. Several small paintings will decorate the walls. For finishing the floor, it is more practical to use tiles or laminate with imitation wood.

Features of finishing

The style came to us from the time when natural materials were mainly used. Therefore, the use of wood or stone is welcomed in finishing.

Walls

The classic shabby chic wall design is considered to be imperfect painting in light tones or uneven sanding. Wallpaper with images of flowers looks harmonious, most often these are peonies or tea roses.

Another finishing option is wooden boards, which are also given an aged effect, or simply painted in a light shade. Also often the walls are decorated with stucco.

In the photo on the right, the accent wall in the bedroom interior is decorated with aged boards.

Floor

Natural wood or its imitation, such as parquet or laminate. Plain tiles or tiles with a light pattern also look harmonious. In the living room, bedroom and children’s room, the floor can be covered with a woven rug or a small vintage carpet.

Ceiling

A shabby chic ceiling can be painted in a single light color or complemented with ceiling beams. A beautiful interior solution would be to decorate the ceiling with boards or stucco.

Choosing furniture

The main condition for decorating a room in shabby chic furniture is the aging effect, the design goes into the background.

• A modern wardrobe or chest of drawers can become a real work of art if it is painted using the craquelure method and complemented with floral patterns, or a simple cabinet of a delicate color is decorated with plaster stucco.
• A sideboard with glass doors filled with a service is suitable for the dining room.
• The sofa is covered with a light-colored fabric cover and complemented with small pillows. Another option could be a sofa with a wooden base and upholstery with floral patterns.
• A good option for the living room would be a combination of a single-color sofa and a pair of armchairs of a different color, the composition would be united by pillows or bedspreads.
• A wrought-iron bed painted white or light turquoise with metal gaps looks especially elegant in the bedroom. The advantage of this choice is space saving, the frame looks impressive, but it is not bulky.
• The choice in favor of wood remains unchanged, it fills the interior with warmth.

The photo on the right shows a bed and bedside tables decorated with plaster stucco.

Textiles

Textiles play an important role in the shabby chic interior. They are present in the decor, furniture and window trim.

• The cut of the curtains can be classic floor-length or unusual, for example, with lambrequins;
• The color of the fabrics in the interior is either monochromatic with decorative elements, or with floral patterns;
• A hand-woven rug will match the style;
• Old vintage carpets with worn parts look harmonious in the living room and bedroom, and a small rug in the kitchen;
• Lace bedspreads are suitable for decorating the bedroom;
• A variety of pillows of different colors and sizes will decorate the sofa, armchair and bed.

Shabby Chic Decor

Shabby chic is characterized by the abundant use of decorative items. Various DIY decorating ideas make things exclusive and unique.

• Lace frames for photos, paintings and mirrors;
• Vases and decorative bottles decorated using decoupage technique;
• Oil paintings;
• Boxes, angel figurines and vases with flowers;
• Round-shaped clocks can also be given an antique look;
• Massive wooden candlesticks;
• Photo frames can be made from ceiling plinth;
• Flowers in clay pots;
• A chest decorated using craquelure technique.

The photo shows shabby chic decor with with rose patterns.

The photo on the right shows a chest of drawers decorated using decoupage technique.

Lighting

Chandeliers with lampshades are suitable for decorating a shabby chic interior; in spacious halls, the chandelier can be in the form of a candelabrum. Bedside lamps can be decorated with fringe or a lampshade made of light fabric. For the living room and children’s room, you can use tall floor lamps, while reading and relaxation areas are accompanied by wall lamps with frosted glass or in the form of a candlestick.