Shabby chic style in the interior: romantic-graceful glamor with a vintage line

Shabby chic style in the interior of the room creates a romantic, luxurious, glamorous and graceful atmosphere. A warm and cozy atmosphere reigns here, which fosters respect for family traditions, teaches us to appreciate the history of a family. Despite the similarities with other trends, “shabby chic” has blurred boundaries that allow balancing luxury and antiquity, which is clearly implemented within the various spaces discussed in the article.

Shabby chic style fills the space with romance, grace and comfort

Shabby chic style: what it is and how it was born

Shabby chic is a young stylistic trend that emerged in the late 80s of the twentieth century. The name "shabby chic" literally translates as "shabby chic", which clearly reflects its entire essence.

The stylistic direction of shabby chic emerged in the 80s of the last century

The author of this trend is the American Rachel Asheville, who was fond of buying up elements of antique furniture. She recreated their original appearance with her own hands or gave the effect of artificial aging. To do this, I removed the old coating from the surface and painted it white. Using a certain technique, she recreated the effect of aging.

At first, these were pieces of furniture for their own home. Later, this hobby grew into the main profession. Rachel Asheville acquired antique furniture and various decorative accessories and restored them for sale.

The Internet has brought great popularity to the author. She posted her work on numerous sites. In addition, Rachel gave free recommendations to help transform a similar object on her own, taught the intricacies of interior design shabby chic. She later wrote a series of books on this subject.

Shabby chic interior furniture should have an aged look

A light palette of shades was used to decorate the products. The dominant role was played by the snow-white color. Thus acquiring a second life, unusual and original products fit into any interior of the room, bringing warmth, tranquility and romance into it.

The main features of the stylistic direction shabby chic

Shabby chic is often confused with Provence, country or Baroque. At first glance, all these styles have common features, but each of them has its own characteristics.

In the interior of the shabby chic style (the photos clearly demonstrate this), old and expensive rare things are harmoniously combined. The atmosphere in the room should not be pretentious, but homely, warm, and inspire romantic notes. Time-imposed imperfections on pieces of furniture are intended not to spoil their appearance, but to make it refined and noble.

The shabby chic room is a harmonious blend of vintage and new elements

Antique furnishings in Provence and Shabby Chic style are restored in a certain way using decoupage, leaf, gilding and decopatch techniques. Preference is given to options with curved legs, flowing lines and many decorative elements, which is associated with palace luxury. Vintage items in the form of lamps, chandeliers, figurines, candlesticks, photo frames will look appropriate.

Useful advice! Modern furniture can be decorated in antique style using modern techniques.

When decorating the interior of the room, a light pastel color scheme is used. Snow-white surfaces can be complemented by cream, beige, milky, pale pink, mint and sky blue shades. The presence of natural brown furniture elements is allowed.

The atmosphere in a shabby chic interior should be warm and homely

Particular attention in the interior of shabby chic is paid to the decoration of the room, which creates the effect of wealth and luxury. Old vases, sets, caskets, candlesticks and paintings will look harmonious. Lace and ornaments on textiles will fill the room with romance. The main condition for creating shabby chic (the photo clearly confirms this) is the presence of pink patterns in the interior. Such a pattern can be present on room walls, curtains and upholstery. Fresh flowers in ceramic vases will add a special flavor.

This direction will appeal to a kind of creative natures who have their own vision of reality. This category includes musicians, poets, painters, photographers, architects.

Color palette of shabby chic directions in the interior

The color scheme of the shabby chic style is different from other directions. All pastel shades used should have hints of white, which creates the effect of a surface faded from time to time. If natural dark wood is used, abrasions and patina are applied to it.

White and its shades is the main color of the shabby chic direction.

Photos of shabby chic interiors clearly demonstrate the use of light shades in decoration, textile design and furniture. The main role is assigned to white, which in a single design will make the room austere and sterile. Yellowish notes in the form of milky, creamy, creamy, ivory will help to give it softness, thanks to which you can vary the mood in the room, adding liveliness and dynamics to it. Such a palette will fill the room with light, giving it nobility and purity.

Pastel green and blue colors, which are often used in Provence style, will help to bring a rustic mood to the interior. Their faded appearance will give a feeling of wear and tear, evoking nostalgia and fond memories of the past.

The presence of a delicate mint shade will give liveliness and energy to the old interior. A gray color with a pearl or ashy bloom will look especially noble and restrained. Another interesting option for decorating a room in the shabby chic style is a dark purple tone, as if covered with gray hair, giving the room a mystery.A common color in this direction is a dull pink, which makes the interior both gentle and romantic.

Indoors shabby chic, it is appropriate to use blue, yellow, pink and green colors.

The shabby chic interior is characterized by the use of natural shades of wood, which are embodied in furniture elements. Forged products in their original colors, such as copper and brass, will be appropriate.

When choosing a characteristic shade, you should adhere to the rule of creating a harmonious composition. The room can be monochromatic (where openwork details, embossed ornaments and forged elements are used to give it volume) or with a combined finish - using no more than three colors.

Features of finishing the elements of the room in the style of shabby chic

To transform a room into a new style, it is not necessary to remove the old covering, especially if it is represented by wallpaper. Walls can be painted with water-based paint with added pigment. Surface irregularities can be easily emphasized with rough strokes.

An old, slightly worn wooden floor is the best solution for a shabby chic interior

Useful advice! It is desirable to paint the wall in a dark tone. After drying, the surface is covered with white paint, and then rubbed with sandpaper - the result is a stunning antiquity effect.

It is also possible to paint the surfaces cleaned from the old finish. They are often decorated with stucco molding, which emphasizes the classic side of the style direction. Shabby chic wallpapers should have a solid color pattern that is not striking. Products with a pronounced texture look appropriate. You can use options with the image of roses. However, the flowers should not be large and bright.

It will be possible to emphasize the color of the direction with the help of textured plaster, followed by its staining, imitating the effect of antiquity. Decorative stone and aged wood will fit optimally into the interior. Whitewashed brickwork will look organic on one of the walls. Surfaces can be painted with a biblical plot, rustic landscapes or old narrow streets.

High-quality natural materials are selected as the flooring for the apartments in the shabby chic style. Preference is given to wood that can be artificially aged. A suitable option for a shabby chic interior would be stone tiles with faded ornaments and used or aged parquet. You can decorate such a floor with a small carpet with a short or long pile, which has a detailed, slightly worn pattern.

The walls in the interior of shabby chic can be pasted over with wallpaper, painted or covered with plaster

Useful advice! In a room in the style of romantic shabby chic, aged boards containing annual wood circles with a clear outline will look most organically as a flooring.

An even white ceiling looks organic. The desired result will help to achieve the stucco molding, made around the perimeter of the room or in the central part of the ceiling, where a beautiful openwork chandelier is located. A suitable solution is artificially aged wooden beams. A stretch glossy ceiling will look inappropriate, but the matte version will organically fit into the interior.

Choosing the right shabby chic furniture items

In the process of furnishing a room in the shabby chic style, it is recommended to visit antique shops or flea markets in order to acquire interesting antique pieces of furniture. You can order unusual specimens in the shabby chic style on specialized sites, pictures of which will help you make your choice. It is not difficult to restore existing wooden pieces of furniture. On the surface, it is advisable to make roughness, abrasions or scratches.

Shabby chic furnishings can be purchased at an antique store or a flea market.

There is a versatile option for creating furniture with an antique look. To do this, use sandpaper to clean the old coating. Next, a layer of paint is applied, which is taken as a basis. After it dries, a contrasting layer should be applied, which can be white, gold or pastel. It is necessary to leave the surface to dry for 30 minutes, after which it is necessary to process it with sandpaper.

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This trend prefers furniture without sharp corners and sharply defined edges. It should not have a clear geometric shape. Chests, “grandmother's” dressers, sideboards with many drawers will organically fit into the interior. A good solution would be forged and carved specimens, as well as wicker elements of an old form with ornate details.

Important! In a shabby chic interior, furniture should be done in light colors - the use of dark shades is not encouraged.

You can give the furniture the correct aged look with your own hands.

Upholstered furniture should have curly armrests and backs. The upholstery is selected taking into account the requirements of the style - in light colors, with floral motifs. For its execution, they purchase an expensive fabric in the form of velor, velvet, satin, brocade or leather.

The front of the cabinet in the style of shabby chic can be decorated with milling, moldings, baseboards, carvings, cornices, mosaics, stained glass windows or using decoupage techniques. Furniture legs should be curved. The fittings are used copper, bronze or brass interspersed with greenery and patina. The benches will look organic in the dining area (instead of chairs). Furniture with fixed candlesticks looks original: an old dressing table, a desk, a solid bureau or a piano.

Shabby chic decor, textiles and lighting

There should be a lot of light in the room. The centerpiece is a large multi-tiered crystal chandelier. It can be made in the style of the Renaissance or in accordance with the direction of the Baroque. Copies with patina look good. As additional lighting elements, old sconces on forged legs with glass or crystal shades and floor lamps with fabric lampshades that have burnt out over time. Several candles in silver candlesticks will enhance the romantic atmosphere.

Figurines, antique clocks, vases with flowers, jewelry boxes are suitable for decor.

Important! In a shabby chic interior, spot lighting and LED lighting will be inappropriate.

Shabby chic textiles should be purchased from natural fabrics. Products can be monochromatic or decorated with gilded embroidery, classic patterns in the form of a strip or a large design with plant motifs. Textiles are selected exclusively in a light pastel palette. The ornament is made in a contrasting color, as if faded from time.

"Shabby shine" plays on contrasts: peeling plaster on the walls and poorly painted logs of the window opening side by side with well-preserved heavy velvet curtains in the shabby chic style. Light curtains made of chiffon or organza will also look organic. Items with abundant drapery, rich finishes and many details are welcome. Compositions of curtains and lambrequins look appropriate.

A large chandelier is placed in the shabby chic room, as well as additional lamps and sconces

Wall or grandfather clocks, large bronze candlesticks, busts of great people, caskets, carved photo frames, an antique gramophone or telephone, a mirror in a three-dimensional frame, vases of various sizes with fresh flowers are suitable as a decor in the shabby chic style.

Shabby chic bedroom design recommendations

This room is ideal for arranging a romantic interior in the shabby chic style - the photos of the bedrooms clearly display interesting design solutions. In a bright, warm and cozy room, the central place is occupied by a large bed with legs. The headboard can be made of wood or forged, in the old-fashioned openwork and aged. The soft back is upholstered with natural light fabric in the form of cozy velor or velvet, which is in harmony with the decoration of the walls of the room. It may have embroidery or a discreet ornament.

A good solution would be drapery around the bed, represented by a light curtain or canopy. Such textiles can be used as curtains. The bed is covered with beautiful bedclothes in white or beige, a bedspread in soft light colors, decorated with cotton lace. Decorative pillows in the shabby chic style will look elegant on the sleeping bed. Old worn suitcases, wicker baskets or boxes with openwork upholstery can be placed under the bed.

In the shabby chic bedroom, bedside tables must be placed on both sides.

It is recommended to equip a mini-relaxation area near the window by installing a hanging or wicker chair. This area can be separated from the sleeping area by a partition with drapery or a light screen made of bamboo or openwork fabric. The relevant element would be dressing table with large mirror in a massive decorative frame, on which statuettes, a mini-fountain and other stylistic accessories can be placed.

Bedside tables with legs should be placed on both sides of the bed, on which ornate bedside lamps with glass or crystal shades are installed.

The subtleties of arranging a kitchen in the style of shabby chic

The kitchen is rarely designed in the shabby chic style, since the interior elements must be constantly looked after in order to preserve the pristine light and clean finish.

In shabby chic kitchens, household appliances are hidden behind the facades of a headset

To decorate a kitchen in the shabby chic style (photos of the interiors clearly show various options), ceramic tiles are mainly used, which are resistant to high temperature and humidity. Grease stains can be easily removed from the smooth moisture-resistant surface. It is better to choose furniture with a varnish coating. It is appropriate to use a stylized wooden headset of a light shade with worn surfaces. It may consist of individual antiques. A set of furniture in the Baroque or Provence style is also suitable.

The interior of the kitchen in the style of shabby chic will organically fit an old sideboard or sideboard, where a beautiful service, expensive cutlery, vintage dishes are located, which gives the room a special atmosphere. Individual items can be on walls or on open shelves.

Important! Household appliances should be hidden behind the facades of the headset, since they do not fit into the concept of the direction.

For the interior of a shabby chic kitchen, a white wooden set with scuffs is ideal

In the dining area of ​​the kitchen in the shabby chic style (the photo is a clear confirmation of this) there is a wooden table with patina, which is covered with a light linen tablecloth with embroidery, decorated with lace ruffles and tassels. Window curtains are selected in the same color scheme. The table is surrounded by worn wooden chairs or stools with soft seats. Wicker products of a natural shade or painted white will look harmonious.

An ornate ceiling chandelier with glass shades is used for central lighting. Forged lamps with patina, located on the walls, can become a highlight of the room.

Shabby chic style in the interior of children's bedrooms

A shabby chic nursery will be a real joy for a girl. The boy will not like such excessive luxury in decoration, textile and decorative design and delicate motives of the interior. However, in this case, you can apply a cold restrained palette, monochromatic surfaces and geometric patterns when arranging a room, which is also permissible within this direction.

Gentle romantic style of shabby chic will appeal to little princesses

Depending on the age of the child, the number of elements of textiles and decor is regulated. The little girl's bed can be decorated with an openwork canopy. An old chest of drawers with scuffed and patinated fittings should be placed next to it. It may contain antique figurines and a small bedside lamp with a fabric shade.

A teenage girl will be given real pleasure by a shabby chic bedroom interior. Such an environment will help the hostess to become feminine, teach to value and respect family traditions, to put family and loved ones in the foreground.

An abundance of openwork details, worn surfaces, antique decor and textiles will help a young girl distinguish between the beautiful and the tasteless, thanks to which she will be able to adequately perceive and appreciate the world around her. The color palette may not be as romantic and delicate as is customary. A room decorated in light gray tones with pink accents will look stylish and fashionable.

Living room in the style of shabby chic: photo of the interiors of the room

The living room is a place for evening relaxation, family gatherings, and receiving guests. The walls are finished with textured plaster, plain light wallpaper. The surface can be whitewashed or painted white. Brickwork is visible through this finish. It is recommended to whitewash the ceiling. The flooring is made of wooden planks or worn parquet, on top of which a light carpet is laid.

An antique soft sofa with a lot of decorative pillows will become the main decoration of the shabby chic living room

The centerpiece of this space is an antique upholstered sofa adorned with a variety of shabby chic pillows. Near one of the walls or in the corner, a working or stylized fireplace will look original, which is complemented by forged elements, vases, statues and clocks. You can disguise a TV over it. All modern technology should be hidden in niches behind ancient facades.

A luxurious crystal chandelier decorates the living room in the shabby chic style. Near a sofa or armchairs, you can place floor lamp with a fabric shade, made to match the upholstery. Candles in antique candlesticks placed throughout the room will help to add warmth and comfort to the room.

It is advisable to establish an antique bureau to store documents and various little things. Retro-style dishes can be placed in the "grandmother's sideboard". If the living room space allows, it is recommended to complement the room with a coffee table, a dressing table and small poufs made in the shabby chic style.

It is necessary to pay attention to textiles, which are represented by a bedspread on a sofa, tablecloths, napkins, draped elements with embroidery in the shabby chic style. Such elements are used to decorate not only windows, but also walls.

You can use antique candlesticks and fresh flowers to decorate the living room in the style of shabby chic

Important! To facilitate cleaning, textiles are selected from fabrics that are well cleaned and initially impregnated with dust-repellent agents.

A large mirror in a massive wooden frame looks harmoniously as a decorative element in a living room in the shabby chic style.The shape of the frame can be repeated in the stucco molding on the ceiling, which will give the room a characteristic originality. Painted plates on the walls of the room will look original. These can be collectible items or handmade items.

Shabby chic bathroom design principles

It is very difficult to implement interior design in the shabby chic style in the bathroom, since in this room it is impractical to place furniture made of shabby wood, use a lot of decorative and textile elements. However, if the room has solid dimensions, it will be possible to bring to life the romantic old design.

The room is finished with ceramic tiles, which are moisture-resistant materials that are resistant to high temperatures. The originality of the bathroom in the shabby chic style will be given by mirror or glass mosaics, in some places replacing tiles.

The bathtub should be of an unusual shape or with curly metal legs

The plumbing is selected modern, which can be gilded to create a characteristic mood. Indoors, there is a classic white shabby chic bathtub on curly metal legs with smoothly streamlined lines. Sometimes in such a room you can find a shower stall, which must be closed with glass doors. Plastic fencing is unacceptable in this case.

Above a snow-white round or oval washbasin on metal stands, hang a large mirror in an elegant decorative frame that emphasizes the luxury of style. You shouldn't use a lot of pictorial details for this room. Due to the high humidity, condensation will settle on them, which will cause mold formation. Cleaning such parts will turn into a grueling job.

The stylistic direction of shabby chic is very specific. For its implementation, it is necessary to use the elements of antiquity that not many will like. The abundance of textiles and decorative accessories requires frequent and laborious cleaning. However, having given preference to this direction, you can create a cozy, original and romantic atmosphere in a shabby chic house. The abundance of snow-white and other light tones will give the feeling of a sunlit room that seems to envelop you with warmth and comfort.