Shabby Chic Décor
The experience awaiting you when you trace back the course of history is similar to unearthing a precious book in your ancestral house containing the memoir of your great, great grandmother. The interesting family characters and astonishing revelations are found alongside the familiar scenes and events that recur in your lifetime. The wealth that history offers is encapsulated in the knowledge of the past such as the origins of creation, the fascinating figures who pioneered inventions in art, literature, science and music, and the relevance of these grand ideas in the present generation.
The opportune conception of art in the form of interior design goes a long way back in history. The idea sprung out of the desire of humans to enhance their lives through convenience and improved ways of thinking and living. As they traveled to the future, they brought with them the essence of their fundamental functions and their aesthetic values. Some are successful in doing so, others have faded through time. The esteemed ones that triumphed with the evolution of art, function and style are the timeless ones with undeniable beauty that were not undermined by advanced civilization. French interior design was one of them. The style was sought after by the affluent and the commoners alike. The outstanding elements that endured were passed on from generation to generation and were enhanced along the way until such time when they gave birth to new and splendid styles that more suitably adapted to the present. Thus the incredible lineage of the unique eclecticism of shabby chic decor is brought to light.
Emergence of Shabby Chic Style
The distinct ways of the Europeans continue to awe and inspire the people of the world. The world took notice of the magnificent French chateaus that the likes of King Louis the XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette called their homes. The exquisite detailing found in their interiors were sights to behold. The quaint cottage houses situated in the countryside of Great Britain exuded a charm that people easily gravitated to. The fancy lace curtains and the rich floral fabrics of their settees juxtaposed with their uber feminine furniture pieces captivate women who dream of having pretty and whimsical things in their possession. These images were the inspirations for the creation of the shabby chic style of interior design. This style was first recognized by the World of Interiors Magazine in the 1980s. It is an adaptation of the French interior design elements in the interiors of modern homes. The style is a response to the question of how to recreate the classic tradition to suit the new culture.
The characteristics of shabby chic décor precisely represent a feminine approach to beauty and elegance. It is unique in the sense that it pays homage to the old and the worn out and considers them beautiful. Old furniture pieces with peeled off and damaged paint finish are common sites in this type of style. Shaker furniture with shaped wood legs, light structured frames and carved slats with femme contours are usually used so the interiors remain light and appealing. The fabrics that adorn the interior elements have laces, embroidery, weavings and frills that basically sum up everything that a dreamy girl wants to create and be surrounded with. This style is truly the epitome of femininity and understated class. The winding and curvy lines of the chandeliers, the thrift shop goodies such as cherub sculptures, sunburst wall décor, carved oval and circular framed mirrors, candelabras, fancy china, the delicate colors of white and pastels and personalized decors such as scrapbooks and creative handcrafted labels are the elements that complement this almost too-fairytale like interior style.
Redecorate with Shabby Chic Decor
In the fashion world, to be called shabby is not at all favorable but to be considered shabby chic that is something to be flattered about. Just as there are opportunities for old dresses to look glamorous, there are also opportunities for worn out furniture to be transformed into classy masterpieces.
- Recreate shabby chic cottage décors by scavenging through vintage stores and flea markets for fancy interior accessories such as embroidered throw pillows, floral patterned curtains and duvet covers, lacy slipcovers for chairs, precious figurines, china and glassware, antique wall clocks, frames and musical instruments, etc.
- Source for shaker furniture pieces in showrooms and stores that offer antique and traditional designs. Try your luck with secondhand and vintage stores. The perfect shabby chic dining set consists of unfinished wooden table with shaker chairs that have either horizontal or vertical slats.
- If you can’t find old shaker chairs, carved wooden cabinets, buffet tables and side tables then you can buy unfinished furniture pieces in similar style and create the worn-out look by using the distressed finish. The first thing you need to do is to paint the furniture white as a top coat then peel off the paint in some areas of the furniture especially the corners by sanding them or by deliberately chipping of parts of the wood surface with a small knife or carving tool.
- The dominant colors in a shabby chic interior are white and pastels such as light yellow, pale blue and pink and washed out apple green and purple. Use white paint or white wallpaper with accents of silver or gold and curvy and flowing patterns on the walls. The furniture fabric upholstery can take on the pastel colors with floral and arabesque designs.
- Window treatment should be equally frilly and detailed as the accessories. Curtains with laces, overlapping swags and soft drop jabots are an indulgence that you could get away with in this type of setting. The curtain accessories such as the valance should also take on feminine forms, padded with beautiful floral fabrics and the rods should have quirky and pretty ends and finials. Add chrome or silver colored tie-back holders with sunflower, rose, and circle motif as pretty details to perfectly stylish curtains to complete the look.
- The lighting fixture is another element that should be given fair attention. It should be dazzling with beads and crystal drops. The design should be as elaborate as possible. The floor lamps and table lamps should also look pretty with paper and fabric shades that have subdued stripes or floral designs.
- Classic paintings of portraits of English countryside landscapes can add glamour to an empty wall as well as carved framed black and white photographs.
- The handcrafted labels are just divine in a shabby chic interior. You can make them using any scrap book material that you can find such as shells, beads, dried petals and leaves, beans, colorful wrapping paper, etc. They add a touch of modernity but still in a fashionable and genuinely feminine sense.