In this post we’re sharing a guide of how to add the cozy style of shabby chic to your home. Keep reading to learn more!
The shabby chic style is definitely not a new trend – it has been around for many years before people started calling it by the name of “shabby chic.” The style has come in and out of popularity over the years, but to us remains a classic!
What is Shabby Chic?
Distilling any one style is hard, but if we had to describe the shabby chic style in a few words, they would be: feminine, cozy, lived-in, antique, imperfect, and romantic. Similar styles that have significant overlap with shabby chic are cottagecore and french country.
Shabby chic design became very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, especially once the designer Rachel Ashwell opened a store that really helped the style take off. This style has seen a strong recent reemergence (although it never went away) likely due to a lot of the attitudes and preferences that came about from the pandemic and people spending more time at home. The shabby chic style gives people a lot of that sense of warmth and comfort that we all need!
Why should you include elements of the Shabby Chic style in your home?
We think that any style where imperfections are embraced while still having a sense of elegance and romance is a style that we can get on board with.
This is especially a nice style if you want warmth and elegance in your home, but have some kids or animals around where nothing that you own can be too precious. If a shabby chic table gets scratched up by your kid doing art projects, that’s even better because it just adds more character and history to your pieces and space.
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Breaking Down the Main Elements in Shabby Chic Style
Lived-In Feel
One of the key elements of the shabby chic style is a comfortable, lived-in feeling. Nothing is overly precious and that comes through in a lot of the elements that we’ll talk about.
Soft Colors
You typically don’t see any bold, in your face colors in this style. Opt for more whites, beiges, and other neutral, softer tones and mix in some colors through things like pillows, paintings, window coverings, wallpapers, and more.
Distressed Furniture
Key to the lived-in feeling is the presence of distressed furniture with chipped paint and a lack of perfection. There are wonderful aspects of embracing the imperfections, such as not worrying if something get scratched up (it just adds more character!) and also being able to save money by repurposing old pieces.
This element fits perfectly with the activity of buying old furniture from a thrift store and making it pretty again with some chalk paint and distressing. If this is something that you’re interested in, check out Annie Sloan for inspiration and lots of how-tos!
Slipcovered Furniture
Slipcovers are functional and provide the lack of structure that is key to the shabby chic style. Some of the great things about slipcovers are that they are usually easily washable and can be changed out for new colors and fabrics when you’re ready for something new!
Side note: We have an entire post on slipcovered sofas including why they’re great for every home and some of our other top picks for your home. Check it out here: The Best Slipcover Sofas!
Ornate Furniture
Another aspect of shabby chic style is feminine, ornate furniture with curves and detailed designs. A lot of classic french furniture would fit this category like bergere chairs. Queen Anne furniture is another category that fits perfectly with shabby chic style.
Vintage Pieces
Adding vintage pieces to almost any space looks great. It adds life and history to a design.
In the shabby chic style, it also adds to the character and lack of perfection that is key to this style.
Fancy Chandeliers
The shabby chic style combines the distressed elements with elegant pieces like fancy chandeliers. Here are a couple that we love!
Flowers
Is there any style where flowers don’t belong? While we’d say no, flowers are especially prominent in this style. You could really do about any flower with this style.
And don’t worry if you aren’t in a place to have fresh flowers in your house all of the time – there are great options for artificial and dried flowers that will look like the real thing!
Floral Prints
Because you can’t have enough flowers, add in the floral prints! But really, floral prints are very common in shabby chic when used in linens like bedding, table runners, and curtains.
Candles
Similar to flowers, we think candles belong in every space. They add ambiance and warmth and can have decorative interest with the right candleholders. Here is a great option!
Ruffles
Contributing to the feminine touches in the shabby chic style is the element of ruffles. Ruffles can be used in many ways to add texture. Some examples are bedding, curtains, shower curtains, and table runners.
If you liked this post, you may enjoy these other posts from Decor Curator:
French Country Home Office Desks
Essential French Country Items
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