It’s a fashion no more: dressing shabby chic. This look is not just about the way your closet looks, but also about how you carry yourself and the effect that you project. This “look” was born in the 1920s, when working class women would decorate their homes with shabby chic French furniture and decorative items, because it was cheaper than most contemporary styles at the time.
The shabby chic style has since spread to Hollywood and is now seen in many homes around the world. It’s the feminine, country look with soft furnishings and minimalism. Shabby chic can be used in a modern home as well as a traditional one – think romantic country kitchen, but with shabby chic French touches. French doors and shutters are popular, as are the fleur-de-lis tiling. Tossed pillows and throw blankets in pastel colors add to the charm. For the walls, choose soft floral prints in pastel shades, such as lisianthus, or opt for the classic French style with white and black elements.
Your shabby chic home decor should reflect the mood of the people who live in it. If your decor is filled with teenage girls, then it needs to be bright and airy, with lots of color and lots of movement. A bright pink corset can be great for this look, or a pink corset with all-white polka dots can work well too. You could even choose to go for a polka-dot bed skirt and throw blanket.
For shabby chic decor, you really don’t need to have a lot of accessories. Instead, just use things which are affected by the style. Look for knick-knacks with a French twist, such as little books and figurines, old glass objects, lace, and distressed woods. If you want to add shabby chic bedroom furniture to your bathroom, choose pieces that have subtle influences from France, or which are still in their original box, rather than the boxes themselves. A vintage basket on a shelf is a great addition to the bathroom for creating a shabby chic look, or if you have a beautiful wood China collection, you could hang it above a vintage towel rack.
Another tip for dressing shabby chic home decor is to ensure that the lighting in the room matches the look you’re going for. Remember that shabby chic looks best when there’s little or no light at all. With a small bedroom, keep the curtains open and add dimmer switches for a more romantic and charming feel.
Another way to dress your shabby chic home decor is to buy pieces that are handmade. Many of these are items that only come from a limited edition, so they aren’t as common as other discontinued items. A great shabby chic piece to start with is a hand painted milk glass shower screen. It can go just about anywhere in your bathroom: on the wall, behind the sink, above the mirror, etc. You can even place one as the back door display in front of the mirror. Painted glass mirrors also add an air of older elegance to the room, which is another key feature of shabby chic home decor.
Shopping online also offers many benefits when it comes to shopping for shabby chic furniture. Online retailers tend to carry a much wider selection of products, which is ideal if you’re looking for a specific item, but don’t want to get the risk of travelling to the store. It is also possible to shop from the comfort of your own home, so long as you have internet access. Online shopping is especially useful if you don’t have time to go shopping in person, as it eliminates the hassle of driving all over town.
When you are ready to make that purchase, you should definitely keep the Shabby Chic inspiration in mind. Remember to choose pieces that fit in with the decor of the entire bathroom, including your flooring and the wallpaper. Also, look for pieces that can be restored or reupholstered, which makes them timeless and useful. By using shabby chic decor in your bathroom, you will end up with a charming, comfortable retreat where you can feel calm and cozy.