Shabby chic interior style is often called shabby splendor by designers. 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 a shabby without serious expenses. We offer to talk about the emergence of style, its features. Consider the differences between interiors made in shabby chic and provence styles, because they are often confused by novice designers.
History
Shabby 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 into a family that determined her future speci alty: Rachel's father was a second-hand book dealer, and her 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 take on a second life in the capable hands of her mother. When the girl was 12 years old, she easilyshe was guided in the world of antiquity, she sold ready-made decor items. And at the age of 16, Rachel Ashwell left school, seriously taking up style, design and photography. A few years later, the girl moved to California, where she tried herself as a decorative artist. This work did not last long - Rachel got married, children appeared in the family, and therefore household chores absorbed almost all of her time.
Realizing that she was literally mired in everyday problems, Rachel began to make cute and practical things. Among the first inventions are elegant covers for furniture, so necessary in families with children and pets. Gradually, the works of the young designer moved to the homes of her friends. After the marriage fell apart, Rachel borrowed money from her ex-husband and opened her first store, which was called Shabby Chic.
Overall impression
The whole shabby chic decor 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 old pieces of furniture - new ones will do. True, they will need to be painted in light pastel colors, in some places they must be wiped. The shabby chic style is characterized by the presence of textiles - airy and delicate: it is impossible to imagine it without openwork napkins, bedspreads and tablecloths made of natural fabrics, chair covers andchairs.
Let's take a closer look at 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 shabby chic interior. 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 surface painting. Aged wallpaper in gentle tones also looks good. They can be either smooth or textured. Designers are advised to pay attention to wallpaper with imitation painting. It is impossible to imagine shabby chic in the interior without drawings on the surfaces. Faded wallpapers with the image of flowers and cherubs look perfect. Geometric patterns, unusual ornaments are also appropriate. We'll talk about colors later.
Gender
Scuffs and small cracks in this style are appropriate even on the floor. A shabby gloss will decorate a laminate covered with craquelure varnish. Shabby chic tiles look good in the interior - 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. Lovely homespun carpets will decorate the floor.
Doors and windows
The main feature of this style is the presence of vintage items. Therefore, brand new doors for such a house are absolutely notfit. It is better to take graceful old doors, restore them and paint them white, not forgetting to cover them with craquelure varnish. Another interesting option is the use of decoupage technique: 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!
Colours
If you are already fascinated by the idea of recreating a shabby chic interior in your home, you should consider that this style is characterized by the use of pastel shades - light and delicate. They should be present both in decoration and in furniture and decor elements. Choose from blues, creams, pinks, ivory and milky tones.
Authenticity
Another feature of the shabby interior is authenticity. Furniture plays a special role, while there are no specific guidelines regarding stylistic direction and form. The only important thing is that all pieces of furniture must certainly be old and at the same time strong enough to serve the owner for at least one decade.
Please note: modern furniture stores rarely can 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 addition to the interior.
Howdecorate furniture so that it blends into the interior? For example, you can cover it with several layers of light paint, and after it dries, apply a patina or varnish that creates a fine grid of cracks on the surface. Decoupage is also appropriate here.
Romance in patterns and motifs
Shabby chic in the interior of the house can not be imagined without various patterns: they are present on the walls, furniture upholstery, interesting decorative gizmos. Most often there are roses, complemented by pale stripes or a cage. Other flowers also look good, as long as they are not too bright. Images of angels associated with the Rococo style look great.
Textiles
Creating shabby chic in the interior with your own hands, special attention should be paid to textiles. What to choose? High-quality natural materials, for example, linen, satin and silk. Be sure to have an abundance of folds, ruffles, bows, lace and pearls. Fabric colors 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 from natural fabrics. Firstly, it is very practical, and secondly, it gives the room a special charm. For removable "cases" for furniture, cream or beige cotton is perfect.
Vintage shabby
All decorative elements and furniture are simply obliged to amaze with their curved lines, an abundance of decorations and intricate patterns. Graceful carved legs, magnificent backs, gramophones, forged chandeliers with crystal pendants,candlesticks, chests of drawers, bronze frames for mirrors and pictures - all with a touch of unique fine 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 tones are also allowed.
A lot of hand-made
It is impossible to imagine any interior (with the possible exception of minimalism) without interesting trinkets. They decorate shelves, cabinets, countertops. In the interior of shabby chic (in the bathroom, bedroom, living room), hand-made items look especially bright and stylish. Caskets, trays, home-made planters for fresh flowers, bedspreads made in patchwork technique, home-made curtain ties. All this will decorate the interior and create a special comfort.
Furniture
The most suitable furniture for shabby - the one that belonged to grandparents, was inherited. It just needs to be updated a little, to give it a mood. Paint chips, scuffs and roughness - all this will make pieces of furniture unique and unrepeatable. In such an interior, an old sideboard with dishes, a carved dressing table, a fireplace lined with white-painted brick, wicker chairs would be appropriate.
Decor and accessories
The shabby house is characterized by an abundance of live and artificial flowers. Ideal garden roses, peonies, tulips. In spring, rooms should be decorated with sprigs of lilac, willow and mimosa. In winter, you can not do without artificial flowers, while they shouldbe very similar to the real ones! Photos, dolls and lace doilies complete the interior.
Experienced designers say: it is extremely important to maintain a balance and not litter the rooms. Each decorative element must necessarily carry a meaning.
Shabby cuisine
Only natural materials should be used in such a kitchen: wood and metal, ceramics and glass. This interior is characterized by the complexity of forms and the layering of materials.
Depending on your preferences and, of course, the budget, you can use the following materials for decoration:
- Wallpaper. Well, if they are dense and washable. It is better to refuse prints, only floral patterns are allowed.
- Paint. Matte or semi-matte - it doesn't matter. The main thing is that it must be resistant to moisture. Stucco molding is perfect as a decoration, you can use decorative moldings.
- Panels. For the shabby chic style in the interior of the kitchen, both plastic panels and more expensive models made of wood are suitable. The color, of course, should be light.
The floor in this style is not an important decorative element, and therefore anything can be used here: laminate, ceramic tiles (it is also appropriate in the interior of a shabby chic bathroom), linoleum.
A win-win option for such a kitchen is a white set. 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 delightfulcarving. 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 a shabby chic interior should not be bright, a great option is diffused lighting. It should resemble the warm and soft flickering of candles. The following elements will also create a stunning effect:
- floral arrangements - real or artificial flowers;
- herbarium of dried plants placed under glass;
- black and white photographs yellowed from time to time;
- porcelain plates;
- cute tablecloths and napkins decorated with delicate floral prints and lace.
Shabby bedroom
Incredibly gentle and touching looks shabby chic in the interior of the bedroom. What items are typical for such a room? Firstly, a white bed made of wood (of course, with scuffs) or metal (with curlicues), the old chest of drawers is also white. Bed linen should be chosen responsibly: floral patterns, frills and lace are best.
Chic will add fur capes and covers, paintings and luxurious chandeliers. Bouquets of dry and fresh flowers, table lamps with lampshades, old postcards and books, mirrors in massive frames will decorate the room. But the most important detail is an elegant dressing table! Painted white or pink, blue orwith soft yellow paint, it will fit even in the smallest bedroom.
Living room: shabby chic interior. Photo and description
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 contain armchairs and chairs. Their upholstery should be plain, for example, an unobtrusive floral print or barely noticeable stripes. Bird images are also allowed.
Furniture covers decorated with embroidery or appliqué will create a cozy atmosphere. A great addition - various chests of drawers, coffee tables, sideboards and whatnots, wicker furniture. It is impossible to imagine a true shabby without a fireplace, which must have an armchair with a soft blanket. By the way, if there is no way to install a real fireplace, try to make a decorative plasterboard structure with your own hands. Thick and large candles should be placed inside, the fire of which will imitate a flame.
Shabby bathroom
What could be more beautiful than a bathroom in this gentle and incredibly cozy style? Just imagine: a massive old-style bathtub, an air canopy above it, an abundance of mirrors and a cute chest of drawers for all bathing accessories. You can order shabby chic tiles from special collections for the interior. But what if the bathroom is small and there is no way to change the finish? Use what you have, create a mood with little things! So, white tiles in the interior of a shabby chic bathroom will be decorated with original rugs withfloral motifs. The mirror can be one, but the frame for it should be elegant, snow-white. Don't forget about the details: the bathroom will be decorated with angels, hearts and, of course, flowers! The glass for toothbrushes can be replaced by a small jar covered with enamel and painted with flowers.
Provence and shabby chic: what's 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, and an abundance of fabrics. But the difference between them is simply huge! First things first:
- Provence originated in the 19th century, it was formed naturally, absorbing the peculiarities of the local way of life. And the shabby is the result of the designer's work.
- Furniture is also different - Provence is characterized by rough and simple forms, while shabby is the realm of grace, tenderness and airiness.
- There are also differences in colors. Chebbi provides an abundance of ivory, combined with delicate shades of blue and pink. The palette of Provence 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. Pay attention - you will never see lavender and roosters on shabby fabrics, because these are the bright features of Provence. Shabby is distinguished by an abundance of roses and cherubs.
- If the main fabrics used in the shabby style are lace tulle, expensive silk and cotton, then Provence prefers linen and satin.
What else is"chip" shabby chic? Chandeliers covered with bronze or gilding, airy fabrics, sculptures, bouquets of roses. In the Provence style, the main emphasis is on bouquets of lavender - dry and fresh, stucco molding in the form of vines, birdcages.
