Shabby chic: what is it? Everything you need to know
What is
shabby chic style and how can it shine in your home? Shabby chic is a style of
furniture that embraces a
worn and worn look .
The
shabby chic style has something
reassuring and at the same time very nice . If you add to this soft colors, a mix of vintage and new furnishings and feminine accents, the picture begins to take shape.
Maybe you grew up in a shabby chic style home and are now decorating your current home with furniture and decor that fit this aesthetic. The
shabby chic look has been a longtime favorite, having become popular in the late 1980s. We talked to some interior designers who illustrated the history of this style and its main characteristics. They also provided us with many useful tips for decorating your home in a shabby chic style.
The shabby chic style
The
term shabby chic originated in the 1980s. In design, this was a time when opulence and decadence took center stage. From sleek penthouses to corporate lobbies filled with gleaming marble and brass, sleek style was easy to find. It makes sense that an alternative look emerged, filled with history-rich pieces that featured chipped paint, as well as vintage artifacts boasting a feminine style.
There are several elements that contribute to characterize the shabby chic style. For starters,
worn furniture creates an antique look. Some furnishings are genuine antiques, revealing layers of paint as the outer layers begin to peel off. In other cases, the furniture has been subjected to a distressed process, which involves sanding and other techniques that give the furniture an aged look. Special glazes and finishes can also create a piece with a sense of history.
Comfortable fabrics are very popular when it comes to style, with cotton and linen being the main choices.
Floral and feminine motifs are often in evidence, and vintage fabrics can serve as gorgeous accents.
In shabby chic interiors,
muted shades reign. Bright white and beige are always in vogue, as are pastel colors like pink, lavender and light blue. But bright shades such as turquoise can also be found, especially when it comes to painted furniture.
Don't forget the role of
vintage accessories in shabby chic spaces! Whether it's real vintage and antique items (chandeliers, porcelain,
interior door handles , etc.) or new items that look vintage (napkins, glass tumblers and more), the overall effect is
charming yet accessible ...
The origins of the shabby style
As we said before, the shabby chic style became very popular in the eighties and nineties. It experienced a surge in popularity after designer
Rachel Ashwell opened a store of the same name and began partnering with large retailers such as Target to make shabby chic style products easily available to the public.
Though other aesthetics emerged in the years following Ashwell's rise, designer
Carrie Leskowitz knew it was only a matter of time before shabby chic became mainstream again.
"Welcome back Rachel Ashwell, we missed you with your shabby chic aesthetic," says Leskowitz.
“It doesn't surprise me that the shabby chic look, which was so popular in the 90s, is now seeing a resurgence. it was a tired trend, now it looks tried and true, with a few tweaks. "
Leskowitz attributes the return to shabby chic style to the increase in time spent at home in recent years.
"People were looking for the homeliness, warmth and comfort of their home when the pandemic took hold," explains Leskowitz.
"The profound awareness that our home is more than an address has become particularly widespread" .
The style explanation given by designer
Amy Leferink confirms this point.
"Shabby chic is a style that is based on lived-in comfort and antique charm" , says the designer.
"It creates an immediate feeling of familiarity and warmth, and can make a space welcoming without putting too much effort into it."
Main features shabby chic style
Designer
Lauren DeBello describes the shabby chic style as
"a classic and romantic alternative to more opulent styles, such as art deco" . He adds:
"The first things that come to my mind when I think of shabby-chic are cleanliness, white linen and antique furniture" .
Aged furniture, often covered in pinstripe paint, floral patterns, muted hues, and ruffles are other key features of the shabby chic style. Adds Leskowitz:
"The shabby chic look is defined by its vintage or relaxed look. It has a romantic and authentic feel." Plus, the more a piece of furniture is worn over time, the better it fits into a shabby chic space.
"The appearance holds up even under heavy use and the inevitable scratches and nicks that a well-maintained piece of furniture suffers only adds to its charm," explains Leskowitz.
Tips for decorating
Note that the shabby chic look that is in fashion today is different from the aesthetics of decades past. "
The nail heads, tufts and clogs may remain, but the unnecessary embellishments, wreaths, rolled armrests and heavy sashes that defined the shabby chic look of yesteryear are gone," explains Leskowitz.
Designer
Miriam Silver Verga agrees that shabby chic has changed over time.
"The new shabby chic has more depth than the shabby chic of 15 years ago," says the designer. "The colors are more inspired by the English style which has become popular thanks to British shows like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey ." Wall moldings, floral wallpapers, and vintage accessories are must-haves, she adds, as are organic materials like jute. "Maintaining the link with the outside is essential, whether it is the combination of colors, materials or art".
The "chic" component of the expression "shabby chic" is achieved by incorporating pieces like French bregeré chairs and crystal chandeliers, which according to Leskowitz "lend a regal air to the look".
Designer
Kim Armstrong also shared tips for creating a more elegant shabby chic setup.
"A few beautiful pieces of wood and custom upholstery help to achieve a more refined and refined shabby chic look, rather than a flea market" , comments the designer.
"The use of beautiful fabrics and the design of sofa covers with small custom accents, such as flat flange details, contrast fabrics or ruffled skirts, make the upholstery pieces look shabby but chic too!" .
Designer
Mimi Meacham notes that the best way to source shabby chic furniture and furnishings is to visit an antique shop or flea market: items found in these places
"will add a lot of history and depth to your space."
Leferink offers advice for purchases.
"There's no need to include too many heterogeneous elements, because they could create visual clutter and look very disjointed," he says.
"Stick to your color palette, find items that fit that overall palette, and make sure they have a lived-in feel to let the shabby vibe shine through."
When juxtaposing furniture in a shabby chic space, it's good to
"mix and match pieces and styles that may not be the obvious pair," suggests
Meacham .
"This kind of messy and intentional look will add a lot of character to the space and make it feel welcoming and homely."
Also, the shabby chic style can be easily modified to incorporate elements from other styles and appear more neutral in tones.
"Generally it can be feminine, but not necessarily," Meacham notes.
"I like the idea of injecting some tension into the typical shabby chic look, adding an industrial touch with galvanized and worn metal in items like bar stools or furniture items."
Shabby chic handles for a retro flavor of the home
The
shabby chic handles are able to impart a nostalgia with a retro flavor to the rooms of the house in which they are placed. This is the right furniture style to give guests a sense of security and an informal atmosphere.
Some of the
vintage handles that you find for sale online on Windowo are elegant, lived-in, inspired by the style of ancient English country houses. The retro handles are able to give off the typical warmth of objects that have a story to tell. For example, I suggest you take a look at the
Tosca Ottone Aged model by Linea Calì .
I conclude by wishing you a good decoration. There is nothing quite like exploring a popular design style that has experienced a renaissance in recent years. One thing is clear: shabby chic has truly lasting power.
