How to Decorate in an Updated Shabby Chic Style

What is Shabby Chic?
First, you must understand more about the Shabby Chic style.

The Shabby Chic style is characterized by its worn, distressed aesthetic and pastel color palette.

Shabby Chic celebrates vintage and antique imperfections and embraces the beauty of age.

It is known to embrace weathered wood, faded fabrics, distressed furniture, and delicate florals—each element contributing to the overall charm and allure.

If you are a perfectionist, then Shabby Chic style is NOT the style for you since it celebrates imperfections.

An iconic Shabby Chic home can be imagined as a gorgeous old country estate that is owned by a family who was once very wealthy however no longer has the money to maintain the gorgeous interior furnishings purchased decades ago, so they are falling into disarray.

Key Elements of Shabby Chic Decor
Here are some of the main components of Shabby Chic decor.

• Distressed Furniture: Use whitewashed dressers, chipped farmhouse tables, and vintage-inspired chairs in your Shabby Chic home. Distressed furniture add character and history to your home, adding a sense of nostalgia and warmth.  Chalk painted furniture is very popular.  French style furniture is very prevalent.  Ruffled bed skirts and skirted sofas are often preferred to furniture with legs showing (unless the legs are curvy and have intricate carvings).  Vintage and antique furniture pieces that have been naturally distressed over time are preferred to purposely distressed newer pieces attempting to look old.

• Soft Pastel Colors: Decorate your home with soft pastel colors, such as pale pink, baby blue, soft yellow, light sage green, and muted lavender. Don't forget the white, which is an essential element in the Shabby Chic style.  Avoid decorating with the color black, or just use a tiny drop of black if necessary.  Also avoid overly bold colors that are not appropriate in the Shabby Chic style.

• Vintage Accents: Decorate your Shabby Chic space with vintage accents, including antique mirrors, ornate picture frames, mismatched delicate china teacups, and lace curtains.

• Floral Prints: Add vintage-inspired florals to your upholstery fabrics, throw pillows, accent chairs, and other place. Let Laura Ashley floral fabrics be your muse.

• Mismatched Patterns: Mismatched patterns and textures create a casual feel for the Shabby Chic style.  You can mix and match different florals, stripes, and gingham for a cozy, lived-in feel. Don't be afraid to experiment—after all, Shabby Chic is all about embracing individuality and self-expression.  Ruffles, lace, and ribbons are valued in Shabby Chic design.

• Chic Elements: Don't forget the chic elements of the Shabby Chic style.  This includes glamorous items, such as a crystal chandelier, fancy vases, and silver platters.

How to Decorate in an Updated Shabby Chic Way
Follow these steps to create an updated Shabby Chic haven that reflects your unique style and personality.

• Curate Your Furnishings: The old Shabby Chic from the 1990's was so popular that it trickled down to the lower quality retailers, which is the style that many of us remember.  The updated Shabby Chic  style focuses on quality, just as the very first adopters did.  Carefully select your furniture pieces, using items with distressed finishes, feminine curves, and intricate details. Don't be afraid to mix and match different styles for an eclectic look.  Search estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, flea markets, your grandmother's attic, Craigslist, garage sales, thrift stores, and other places that sell second hand goods that are naturally distresssed.  Look at the bones of the furniture - can it be reupholstered or repainted to complement your color scheme and aesthetic?  For an updated look - avoid painting furniture in a distressed style that can often look fake.  Instead, opt for furniture that is already distressed over new furniture.  The old Shabby Chic style had mostly painted furniture.  The new Shabby Chic style has some stained wood pieces to add warmth to the room in addition to painted pieces.

• More Than Just White:  The old Shabby Chic style used mostly stark white colors, which can sometimes look a bit boring and sterile.  The updated Shabby Chic style uses other neutrals in addition to white, such as cream, beige, taupe, and maybe a little gray. 

• Layer on the Textiles: Add layers of soft, tactile textiles to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Think plush area rugs, fluffy throw blankets, and billowy curtains that gently diffuse natural light.

• Accessorize Thoughtfully: Add the finishing touches with thoughtfully curated accessories, such as vintage books, weathered candlesticks, and delicate porcelain figurines. These small details infuse your space with personality and charm.  Opt for items with a lot of texture, such as wicker baskets, textural throw blankets, rough brick, and needlepoint fabrics.  The updated Shabby Chic style uses actual old items over store bought items that are artificially distressed to look old.  Original art, even if it is not the highest quality, is preferred to prints.

• Not Too Shabby: Many people do not care for the old Shabby Chic style because it is often portrayed more shabby than chic.  Be thoughtful about the items you put in your updated Shabby Chic room.  Sometimes items are a bit too shabby and should be retired.  Ideally, use only high quality items with a little bit of wear that could look brand new if refinished over worn lower quality items that are beyond repair.

• Don't Forget the Walls: Paint your walls in soft, neutral tones like white, ivory, cream, or pale gray. Soft pastels are another option if you want a bit of color.  If you prefer a bolder aesthetic, then opt for a floral wallpaper, however avoid bold colors that are not appropriate for the Shabby Chic style.

• Bring the Outdoors In: Don't forget to add natural elements (like fresh flowers, potted plants, and woven baskets) to add a touch of rustic charm to your Shabby Chic space. Ferns in a natural terracotta pot are also a favorite.

Maintaining Your Shabby Chic Oasis
In order to keep your Shabby Chic home looking its best, consider these maintenance tips.

• Embrace Imperfections: Embrace the imperfections of your Shabby Chic decor. Damage is when something injures something all at once (like a stressed out dog chewing on the leg of the dining table), but distressing is minor imperfections happening over a long period of time.  Repair damage, but embrace distressing, which adds character and history to your decor.

• Regular Cleaning and Care: Shabby Chic styled homes show a bit of wear and tear, but that does not include dust and dirt.  Make sure to keep your home very clean so guests understand your style and don't think you live in an abandoned house.  You might want to put some of your smaller treasures inside a display cabinet to keep them from getting dusty and reduce the time it takes to clean your room.

• Rotate and Refresh: Rotate the items in your home periodically to keep your space feeling fresh and up to date. Experiment with different decor items in different locations.  Swap in and out your newly discovered items that appeal to you and that you find attractive.

• Stay True to Your Style: Above all, the updated Shabby Chic style is personalized to your own taste and preferences, not mass produced stuff that you buy just to fill the space. Let your creativity and imagination guide you as you continue to refine and enhance your Shabby Chic home.  If you like it, then use it.  If you don't like it, then sell it to someone else.  Make your room your happy place that brings you joy every time you enter.