Shabby Chic: a 5-point decorating guide

At first, shabby chic may sound like a bit of an oxymoron. But interiors can look stylish and elegant and a little worn at the same time, as proven by the country houses of Great Britain that inspire this look.

The key characteristics of shabby chic are pastel colours, florals, and restoring old furniture – find out how to add a touch of it to your home with these five styling ideas:

Romantic colours

Pastels feature most prominently in the shabby colour palette. From pale pink to mint green, lavender to sky blue. The key is to set a romantic tone with the play of soft colours and textures such as linen, lace and crochet.

Restored pieces

Another tried and tested route to a shabby chic look is to pick up some vintage furniture with a bit of wear. You can find fabulous pieces in second-hand stores or by collecting hand-me-downs. You can also give furniture a worn, aged finish using a whole range of techniques, from chalk paint or distressing to decoupage.

All white

Elegant white is a favourite base shade in shabby chic décor. You’ll achieve a light and airy atmosphere and when you bring in some pastel tones, a romantic and expansive mood, too.

Liberty prints

Floral prints are a must if you want to add the shabby chic look to your home. Flowers are a key decorative element that your furniture and décor shouldn’t be without. Add flowery upholstery to your armchairs as well as curtains, wallpaper and bedlinen in floral prints. Just remember to go for small flowers to achieve this look and always in romantic, feminine colours.

Iron and wood

Forged iron and wood in distressed form are the two most-used materials in the shabby chic look. In the bedroom, iron is key for the headboard and wood is used primarily for wardrobes, chests of drawers, tables and chairs.