The shabby chic trend has been one of the most enduring interior fashions of recent decades. In fact, people are probably more interested than ever in recycling or upcycling furniture and furnishings, choosing to repaint a chest of drawers rather than buying something new.
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Creating the shabby chic look should be approached with a little caution. Although is meant to look slightly unpolished and eclectic, you don’t want to end up with “unfinished and chaotic”. Nevertheless, if you plan on doing a bit of the work yourself with existing furniture, the look can be achieved without costing a fortune.
Have a plan
All redecoration projects need to be planned, and a budget must be set. Have a look at some of the home décor sites to get an idea of different colour schemes and wall and floor finishes. From walls and floors to fabric and furniture, the traditional shabby chic look uses whites, creams, pale pastels and natural woods, with French-style furniture. Howeber, any painted wood fits the bill as long as the texture of the wood is allowed to come through.
Flooring
Wood or wood finishes are the most authentic choices for flooring, especially with a light finish. This can be achieved either by using a pale wood or by using a white, pale grey or cream paint or wax. If you already have floorboards, you can whitewash or wax them after sanding and filling any gaps. If you are replacing flooring, there are plenty of options as retailers like have fantastic a range, whether your preference is for solid or engineered wood, laminates, vinyls or tiles. Not all flooring is designed to be used alongside under-floor heating, so take advice from the online flooring company or retail outlet and plumbers about what to use if you have or plan to have this type of heating.
Available from the online flooring retailer and the high street, DIY store or specialist retailer, these ready-made options are pretty much foolproof as there’s no worry about getting the right amount of paint in your whitewash or the effort of repeated waxing.
Once the floor is down, you might want to add a few rugs for extra warmth. Not only will these add softness, texture and colour, but they also fit in perfectly with the shabby chic style.