Shabby chic is a popular kitchen decor style that oozes rustic charm mixed with a bit of eclectic style. When decorating a kitchen in a shabby chic style, the most important aspect is to maintain a well-loved, lived-in feel that emphasizes natural materials and colors.
Flooring – Laminate or distressed hardwood floors are the best option when creating a shabby chic kitchen. For an even more vintage look, use reclaimed hardwood boards.
Walls – Off-white, beige, seafoam green and other muted colors create an ideal backdrop for a shabby chic kitchen. If you’d like to add some texture, wallpaper with a matte finish can be painted over; try a floral or chevron print for a more eclectic look.
Cabinets/Furniture – Cabinets, as well as furniture pieces, should have a worn-in, rustic look and should be painted in light colors with a slightly distressed finish. Consider using salvaged cabinets, or building some from reclaimed wood.
Accessory & Appliance Design – To finish off the look, add vintage-style accessories like open shelving units, an apron-front sink, and iron and glass light fixtures. For appliances, use a simple refrigerator without all of the bells and whistles; traditional, white kitchen appliances look great in a shabby chic kitchen.
What are the elements of shabby chic style?
Shabby chic style is a popular interior design trend, combining elements of handmade and vintage items as well as distressed and worn out pieces to create a cozy, lived-in look. It is both stylish and timeless, with a hint of nostalgia and romance.
Central elements of shabby chic style include:
1. Vintage Accessories – Mixing old with new is the key to achieving a shabby chic look. A combination of modern and vintage accessories can be seen throughout a shabby chic home. Unique pieces like an antique mirror or a vintage chair add personality and a touch of history to the space.
2. Soft, Neutral Colors – Soft shades like whites, creams, tans, and grays are a must-have when creating a shabby chic space. These colors evoke a feeling of tranquility and balance that is perfect for creating a relaxing environment.
Colors like blush pink and pale blue can also be incorporated as an accent color.
3. Textures – Textures like cotton, linen, burlap, and canvas all play an important role in the shabby chic style. Layering materials with different textures adds visual interest and dimension to a room.
4. Slipcovers – Slipcovers are a great way to give old furniture and pieces with shabby chic style a new lease on life. They’re not only comfortable and cozy, but they also help give your room a vintage-inspired feel.
5. Floral Patterns – Floral prints and patterns are a great way to bring a touch of femininity and romance to a room. Floral upholsteries, curtains, and rugs are perfect for adding a bit of color and texture to a room.
6. Distressed Furniture – Distressed furniture pieces are a must-have when creating a shabby chic interior. This can include vintage furniture pieces that have been painted and sanded down to give them a unique and worn out feel.
The distressed furniture pieces mixed with modern and vintage accessories help to create a unique and eclectic look that is perfect for a shabby chic home.
What does a country chic kitchen look like?
A country chic kitchen is one that takes inspiration from the rustic charm of a rural farmhouse. It typically features decor that is calming, earthy, and layered with both vintage finds and modern pieces that come together to create a unique and inviting space.
Typical country chic kitchens will feature light fixtures like pendant lights, wooden or distressed accents such as shiplap or salvaged wood, and vintage furniture pieces such as an armoire or apothecary cabinet.
You might find distressed cabinets with shaker styling and furniture with a french linen or burlap finish to add a touch of farmhouse flair. Other features that are often part of a country chic kitchen are a farmhouse sink, white countertops, and open shelving.
Accents like painting accents, a decorative piece of pottery, or a vintage clock could also be found in a country chic kitchen.
How can I make my kitchen look rustic?
Making your kitchen look rustic can be done in a number of ways. First, you can use distressed woods for the cabinets and countertops, as well as furniture in the room. For the walls, you can use a combination of earth tones, such as sandy beige, aged gray, and deep mustard.
You can also add in statement pieces such as antique trays and bowls, a bold clock that has a distressed frame, and rustic accents like old mason jars, jute rugs or hemp baskets. To create a complete rustic look, make sure to use distressed woods for any light fixtures, such as a wood chandelier or wood pendant lamps.
Then, you can use vintage-inspired items, such as distressed metal pendant lights and beach-inspired items like driftwood lamps. Finally, fill your kitchen with rustic dishes, like farmhouse plates, mugs, and utensils.
What is a rustic kitchen?
A rustic kitchen is a style that combines the natural elements of the outdoors with a cozy, cozy, homey feel. This type of kitchen is typically made up of natural elements like wood, stone, iron, and copper.
The décor usually sticks to a classic, country vibe with the use of antiques or vintage pieces of furniture and accessories. A rustic kitchen incorporates the use of eco-friendly materials and sometimes embraces the idea of repurposing and reuse.
Common characteristics of a rustic kitchen are open shelving, natural stone walls, exposed beams, hardwood floors, and worn surfaces. The overall look of the kitchen is inviting and warm, very down-to-earth with a classic feel.
Can you shabby chic kitchen cabinets?
Yes, you can shabby chic kitchen cabinets! Shabby chic is a popular style of decorating that features vintage, distressed and repurposed furniture and decor items. To give your kitchen cabinets a shabby chic look, start by sanding down the cabinet door and drawer fronts, then apply one coat of semi-gloss paint in a light color such as white, cream, or light gray.
Use distressing techniques such as dry brushing, wet distressing, using sandpaper and steel wool, or using a crackle medium on the painted cabinets. Finally, seal the cabinet doors and drawer fronts with a flat top coat or a paste wax that you can buff to a shine.
When looking for hardware and accessories, opt for vintage-style or antiqued pieces to complete the look.
What is shabby chic decorating style?
Shabby Chic decorating style is a design aesthetic that embraces a relaxed, worn-in look that often incorporates vintage and antique finds. This style often celebrates the beauty of aging, embracing timeworn furniture, textiles, and accessories that have a certain faded charm or look like their well-loved.
Paired with other elements like delicate florals, old-world elements, and feminine touches, the result is a romantic, vintage-inspired style that looks as if it took a lifetime to assemble. Shabby chic is characterized by a lived-in and cozy yet somehow polished atmosphere with plenty of natural elements like wicker, reclaimed wood and other rustic furnishings.
Colors tend to be muted and whites and pastel shades are the most popular, giving the space an airy, inviting feel. Popular accents are textiles like floral, toile, and lacy patterns set against painted wood furniture, white iron beds, distressed paint and furniture, crystal chandeliers and worn accessories.
With the right touches, this timeless style, is both romantic and comfortable.
What colors are shabby chic?
Shabby chic is a style that is characterized by a soft, vintage look. The style typically features muted “worn” pastel colors such as light blues, beiges, pinks, lavenders, aquas and whites. Additionally, shabby chic often includes a light layer of distressed finishes, giving the piece a vintage, timeworn look.
Neutral tones are also incorporated as part of the shabby chic aesthetic, such as grays and browns. Textures and layers are also an important part of the style; fabrics are often layered, with lace and voile used to enhance the feel of shabby chic design.
Additionally, soft floral prints and other muted designs often feature in these styles. The goal of shabby chic is to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, inviting relaxation with its laid-back vibe.
What’s the difference between farmhouse and shabby chic?
The main difference between farmhouse and shabby chic styles is the intended vibe and finished look. Farmhouse style is more modern, usually featuring clean lines, natural materials, and neutral colors.
It is casual and cozy, and evokes a subtle, rustic charm. Shabby chic, on the other hand, is often more vintage-inspired and ornate, featuring distressed furniture, pastel colors, and antique accents.
Think light, airy, and feminine. Both styles may incorporate similar elements like white slipcovered furniture, vintage fabrics, and distressed woods, but the overall feel is very different. Farmhouse has a lived-in, organic vibe, while shabby chic is a bit more decorative and glamorous.
Both styles can be used to create warm and inviting spaces, but depending on your design preference, one may be a better fit than the other.
Is shabby chic still a thing?
Yes, shabby chic is still a thing! It’s a style of interior design and decorating that combines elements of vintage and rustic furniture and decor with a feminine, romantic touch. It’s been around since the 1980s and has a cult following of devotees who maintain its timelessness.
In fact, shabby chic is having a bit of a resurgence as more and more people crave comfort, natural materials, and a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. It’s a popular choice for people who want a cozy, orderly home with a touch of romance.
This style has been spotted in a variety of settings – from beach houses to apartments and suburban homes. You can find shabby chic in furniture, accessories, wall art, fabrics and much more, so it’s easy to mix and match and add a little bit of shabby chic to almost any space.
Can you mix shabby chic with farmhouse?
Yes, you absolutely can mix shabby chic and farmhouse decor! This style of decor is known as shabby farmhouse, and it blends the two aesthetics in beautiful and rustic ways. Shabby chic typically has a soft and vintage look which can be surrounded with wood and galvanized metal accents that are popular in farmhouse décor.
Aim to bring in vintage looking furniture pieces, such as a dresser with sweetly scrolled handles or chairs with a distressed paint finish, that compliment the natural wood and metal items found in the farmhouse style.
Wallpaper is a great way to mix both styles because you can find prints that have a gray-washed background with a beautiful floral print, giving a fresh, rustic and shabby look. To further incorporate both styles, opt for plaid and buffalo check curtains, vintage milk cans, quilts, glass canisters, and unique, aged furniture pieces.
With the addition of just a few accents, you can easily and stylishly create a cozy and inviting shabby farmhouse look.
When was shabby chic popular?
Shabby chic first emerged as a popular design trend in the 1980s and has since become a mainstay of modern home decor. This style often involves mixing elements of traditional and modern styles through the use of painted furniture and fabrics, pastel colors, distressed finishes, and flea-market finds.
Shabby chic was particularly popular in the early 2000s, when its combination of romantic femininity, vintage charm, and upcycling on a budget made it an instant hit with DIY home decorators. As the trend has matured, shabby chic has become more sophisticated and versatile, with less focus on distressed finishes and more attention paid to subtlety and balance.
As such, it continues to be a beloved style in the present day, as people seek out its timeless elegance and charm.
What are the elements of French country design?
The elements of French Country design include a muted, but neutral palette; distressed and weathered furniture, distressed wall finishes and textiles; natural materials like wood, iron, stone and ceramic; airy, open floor plans and rooms; and extensive use of antiques, interesting antiques and reproductions.
The design also incorporates fabrics and draperies with monochromatic patterns or stripes, as well as upholstery and linens in natural textiles and soft, muted colors. French Country style often pairs well with rustic, vintage and antique pieces, as well as newer pieces with a casually worn feel.
Finishing touches may include intricately patterned tile floors, trompe l’oeil architectural elements, distressed painted pieces with floral or fruit motifs, and items such as vases and pitchers crafted in unusual shapes with intricate detailing.
