Designers often call shabby chic interior style shabby splendor. Its main features are elegance and tenderness. The popularity of this style is easy to explain: suitable accessories and furniture can be found in the attic or flea market, and therefore everyone can afford shabby without serious expenses. We offer to talk about the appearance of the style, its features. Consider the differences in interiors made in the styles of shabby chic and provence, because they are often confused by novice designers.
Story
Shebby chic in the interior appeared in England. It happened at the end of the last century. The author of the style is designer Rachel Ashwell. She was born in 1959 in a family that determined her future profession: father Rachel was a second-hand book dealer, and his mother was engaged in the restoration of antique toys. Together with her parents, the girl visited antique shops and flea markets - in search of things that would become a real work of art. And in the evenings, little Rachel watched how broken and unnecessary things find a second life in the capable hands of her mother. When the girl was 12 years old, she easily navigated in the world of antiquity, selling ready-made decor items. And at the age of 16, Rachel Ashwell dropped out of school, seriously taking up style, design and photography. A few years later, the girl moved to California, where she tried herself as an artist-decorator. This work did not last long - Rachel got married, children appeared in the family, and therefore almost all of her time absorbed household chores.
Realizing that she was literally mired in everyday problems, Rachel began to craft cute and practical things. Among the first inventions are elegant covers for furniture, so necessary in families where there are children and pets. Gradually, the work of the young designer moved to the homes of her friends. After the marriage broke up, Rachel borrowed money from her ex-husband and opened her first store, called Shabby Chic.
General impression
All the interior decor in the style of shabby chic looks worn out. Here, pastel colors are combined with antique furniture, and lace is adjacent to floral prints. The whole room is filled with lightness and romance. We can say that shabby combines the features of such styles as retro, baroque, provence and victorian style. It is not necessary to use antique pieces of furniture - new ones will do. True, they will need to be painted in light pastel colors, in some places it is necessary to wipe. Shabby chic is characterized by the presence of textiles - airy and delicate: it is impossible to imagine without lace napkins, bedspreads and tablecloths made of natural fabrics, covers on chairs and chairs.
Let us consider in more detail all the details of a romantic shabby!
Ceiling
For a shabby ceiling, designers recommend choosing calm tones. It is better to refuse glossy surfaces, but matte ones will harmoniously fit into the interior of shabby chic. The best color is faded white. If the ceiling seems too simple or boring, it can be decorated with beams or stucco. However, this option is only suitable for homes with high ceilings.
Walls
Wall decoration should be as simple as possible: the best option is ordinary whitewashing or painting surfaces. Looks good and aged wallpaper in gentle tones. They can be both smooth and textured. Designers advise to pay attention to wallpaper with imitation of murals. It is impossible to imagine shabby chic in the interior without drawings on the surfaces. Faded wallpapers with flowers and cherubs look perfect. Geometric patterns and unusual ornaments are also appropriate. We'll talk about the color scheme later.
Floor
Scuffs and small cracks in this style are appropriate even on the floor. Shabby gloss will decorate the laminate covered with craquelure varnish. Looks good in the interior of the shabby chic tile - certainly light. By the way, it is often aged right at the installation stage - the tiles are broken and then folded, leaving small gaps between the parts. Cute homespun carpets will decorate the floor.
Doors and windows
The main feature characteristic of this style is the presence of vintage objects. Therefore, brand new doors for such a house are completely unsuitable. It is better to take the elegant old doors, restore them and paint them in white, not forgetting to cover them with craquelure varnish. Another interesting option is the use of decoupage technology: this way you can turn an ordinary door into a real work of art. The same approach applies to windows. As a decor, you can use airy snow-white curtains. However, you can refuse them, because the house, flooded with bright sunlight, looks much more comfortable!
Color spectrum
If you have already been fascinated by the idea of reconstructing the interior of shabby chic in your home, you should consider that the use of pastel shades - light and gentle, is typical for this style. They should be present both in decoration and in furniture and decor elements. Choose tones such as blue, cream, pink, ivory and milky.
Authenticity
Another feature of the Shabby interior is authenticity. Furniture plays a special role, while there are no specific indications regarding the stylistic orientation and form. The only thing that matters is that all pieces of furniture must certainly be old and yet strong enough to last at least one decade for the owner.
Please note: it is extremely rare for modern furniture stores to offer you the items you need to create a true shabby interior. We recommend using only chairs, tables, chests of drawers and beds that have survived more than a dozen years - only they will become an organic complement to the interior.
How to decorate furniture so that it fits into the interior? For example, you can cover it with several layers of light paint, and after drying it, apply a patina or varnish, creating a fine network of cracks on the surface. Decoupage is appropriate here.
Romance in patterns and motifs
Shebby chic in the interior of the house can not be imagined without various patterns: they are present on the walls, upholstery, interesting decorative gizmos. Most often, roses, complemented by pale stripes or a cage. Other flowers look good, the main thing is that they are not too bright. Images of angels associated with the rococo style look great.
Textile
Creating shabby chic in the interior with your own hands, special attention should be paid to textiles. What to choose? Quality natural materials, such as linen, satin and silk. Be sure to have plenty of folds, ruffles, bows, lace and pearls. The colors of the fabric are white or pale pink. Fabrics should create an atmosphere of elegance, lightness and solemnity in the room.
One of the details used in the shabby house is covers made of natural fabrics. Firstly, it is very practical, and secondly, it gives the room a special charm. For removable "cases" for furniture, cotton in cream or beige shades is perfect.
Vintage shabby
All elements of decor and furniture are simply obliged to amaze with their curved lines, an abundance of decorations and intricate patterns. Elegant carved legs, magnificent backs, gramophones, wrought-iron chandeliers with crystal pendants, candlesticks, chests of drawers, bronze frames for mirrors and paintings - all with a touch of unique delicate taste, elegance and luxury. Be sure to dilute the interior with retro cabinets, tables, frames and vases. By the way, they do not have to be light - dark colors are also allowed.
A large number of hand-made
Any interior (with the exception, perhaps, of minimalism) cannot be imagined without interesting trinkets. They decorated shelves, tables, countertops. In the interior of shabby chic (in the bathroom, bedroom, living room), items created by your own hands look especially bright and stylish. Caskets, trays, home-made flowerpots for fresh flowers, bedspreads made in the patchwork patchwork technique, home-made curtain hooks. All this will decorate the interior and create a special cosiness.
Furniture
The most suitable furniture for shabby - the one that belonged to grandparents, was inherited. Only it needs to be updated a bit, to give her a mood. Chips of paint, scuffs and roughness - all this will make pieces of furniture unique. In such an interior, an old sideboard with utensils, a carved dressing table, a fireplace, the lining of which is made of white painted brick, wicker chairs will be appropriate.
Decor and accessories
An abundance of living and artificial flowers is characteristic of a shabby house. Garden roses, peonies, tulips are ideal. In spring, the premises should be decorated with sprigs of lilac, willow and mimosa. In winter, artificial flowers cannot be dispensed with, and they must be very similar to real ones! Photos, dolls and lace doilies complement the interior.
Experienced designers say: it is imperative to maintain balance and not clutter up the room. Each decorative element must necessarily carry a meaning.
Shabby kitchen
In such a kitchen, only natural materials should be used: wood and metal, ceramics and glass. This interior is characterized by complexity of forms and layering of materials.
Depending on your preferences and, of course, budget, you can use the following materials for decoration:
- Wallpaper. It is good if they are dense and washable. It is better to refuse prints, only plant patterns are allowed.
- Paint. Matte or semi-matt - it does not matter. The main thing is that it must be resistant to moisture. As a decoration, stucco molding is perfect, you can use decorative moldings.
- Panels. For the style of shabby chic in the interior of the kitchen, both plastic panels and more expensive models made of wood are suitable. Color, of course, is worth choosing light.
The floor in this style is not an important decorative element, and therefore you can use anything you like: laminate, ceramic tiles (it is also appropriate in the interior of the Shebby chic bathroom), linoleum.
A win-win option for such a kitchen is a white suite. You can choose the facades of gray or beige. If it seems to you that the kitchen will turn out too pale, get a set with pale pink or blue facades. A wooden dining table decorated with delightful carvings will look spectacular. If you have a table that does not fit into the overall picture, just cover it with a long tablecloth. In addition, you can update it by decorating with decoupage. There are many options for chairs - these can be models made of wood or plastic, upholstered in leather. Graceful carved benches also look good.
Lighting in the kitchen in the interior of shabby chic should not be bright, a great option is diffuse lighting. It should resemble the warm and soft flickering of candles. The following elements will also create a stunning effect:
- flower arrangements - from real or artificial flowers;
- a herbarium of dried plants placed under glass;
- yellowed black and white photographs from time to time;
- porcelain plates;
- cute tablecloths and napkins decorated with delicate floral prints and lace.
Shabby bedroom
Shabby chic looks incredibly gentle and touching in the bedroom interior. What items are typical for such a room? Firstly, a white bed made of wood (of course, with scuffs) or metal (with curls), the old chest of drawers is also white. Responsibly should approach the choice of bed linen: floral patterns, frills and lace are best suited.
Fur wraps and covers, paintings and luxurious chandeliers add chic. Decorate the room with bouquets of dried and fresh flowers, table lamps with lampshades, old postcards and books, mirrors in massive frames. But the most important detail is an elegant dressing table! Painted in white or pink, blue or pale yellow paint, it fits even in the smallest bedroom.
Living room: interior shabby chic. Photo and description
The Shabby living room is distinguished by the absence of clear lines and sharp corners. The main detail of the interior is a sofa with rounded soft armrests. In addition to him, the room should have armchairs and chairs. Their upholstery should be monophonic, for example an unobtrusive floral print or barely noticeable stripes. Images of birds are also allowed.
Covers for furniture, decorated with embroidery or applique, will create a cozy atmosphere. A great addition - various dressers, coffee tables, sideboards and bookcases, wicker furniture. It is impossible to imagine a true shabby without a fireplace, which must certainly have a chair with a soft plaid. By the way, if it is not possible to install a real fireplace, try to make a decorative design of drywall with your own hands. Inside you should place thick and large candles, the fire of which will imitate the flame.
Shabby bath
What could be more beautiful than a bathroom in this gentle and incredibly cozy style? Just imagine: a massive bathtub in an old style, an air canopy above it, an abundance of mirrors and a cute chest of drawers for all bathing accessories. You can order tiles from special collections for the interior of shabby chic. But what if the bathroom is small, and there is no way to change the finish? Use what is, create the mood with little things! So, the white tiles in the interior of the Shabby Chic bathroom will be decorated with original rugs with floral motifs. A mirror may be one, but the frame for it should be elegant, snow-white. Do not forget about the details: angels, hearts and, of course, flowers will decorate the bathroom! A glass for toothbrushes can be replaced with a small jug, enameled and painted with flowers.
Provence and shabby chic: what is the difference?
It would seem that the interiors of Provence and Shabby Chic are incredibly similar: they are united by the presence of pastel colors, colors, an abundance of fabrics. But the difference between them is huge! First things first:
- Provence originated in the XIX century, it was formed in a natural way, absorbing the features of the local way of life. And shabby is the result of the work of the designer.
- Furniture is also different - rough and simple forms are typical for Provence, while shabby is a realm of grace, tenderness and airiness.
- There are differences in color. Shabby provides an abundance of ivory, combined with delicate shades of blue and pink. The Provence palette is more extensive - there is lilac, mint, aquamarine, lavender.
- Both styles are united by a craving for faded fabrics. The most common ornament is flowers. Please note - on shabby fabrics you will never see lavender and roosters, because these are bright features of Provence. Shebby is distinguished by an abundance of roses and cherubs.
- If the main fabrics used in the style of shabby are lace tulle, expensive silk and cotton, then Provence prefers linen and satin.
What else is the "chip" of shabby chic? Chandeliers covered with bronze or gilding, airy fabrics, sculptures, bouquets of roses. In the Provence style, the main emphasis is on lavender bouquets - dry and fresh, stucco molding in the form of vines, birdcages.