It is a general term which can be used to refer to a person or maybe an article which is stylish rather than fashionable and where the style reflects quality as opposed to newness.
You will hear a lot about this type of furniture etc nowadays and it is first and foremost a fairly casual style of decorating mainly created in pastels and sometimes using antique accessories.
It conjures of the idea of old lace tablecloths, light white painted furniture and soft comfortable sofas.
Shabby chic is really no particular style, but it balances out beautiful pieces with both old and new combined. If you prefer bold, bright colours then this is not for you. Often soft whites, muted grey and pale pinks, blues and greens are popular shades to use.
People buy new old fashioned looking fabrics and sometimes stain them to give the appearance of age and this they often do by using tea! The overall effect is then a pattern that looks a soft creamy white instead of stark white, that would not look right.
Very often the use of floral, striped and checked fabrics are combined to achieve a warm and inviting look. It is best to keep the basic colour background the same, for instance white or cream. Then try to select one colour to repeat in every pattern fabric to get the correct effect.
Almost any piece of white wooden furniture will suit a shabby chic interior design. Sometimes you may have a piece which can either be sprayed or painted white then sanded at the corners and roughed up to give the appearance of age.Painting furniture white, changes it from dark and heavy to light, fresh and summery.
What completes the look of shabby chic is the appearance of large “sink in” sofas and chairs that are warm and welcoming and make you feel right at home.
