Shabby Chic Decorating Made Easy
What is shabby chic decorating? In a nutshell, it is a comfortable, casual decorating style. It became known as shabby chic in the 1980’s but has been around for many years.
How can you get the shabby chic look in your home? Begin by mixing the old with the new in accessories and furniture. For example, use vintage accessories with new accessories that look old. Old pieces of jewelry look fabulous displayed in a new, unique jewelry box.
A new piece of furniture can look like a vintage piece by antiquing the surface or by lightly roughing up the edges with sandpaper to get that old, worn look. Sounds scary but gives the look of a classic piece of furniture and fits in well with the shabby chic decorating style.
Speaking of furniture; comfortable, oversized pieces that you can sink into is often used in the shabby chic style. Remember grandma’s upholstered furniture? This is the look and feel that you want! Keep in mind that the style is comfortable and casual.
Soft colors are used in the shabby chic color palette. Sage green, soft blues and pinks, and lots of cream and white are part of the color scheme used in this decorating style. This applies to the surface of furniture as well as fabrics used in a room. White or cream- colored furniture is the hallmark of shabby chic home d
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Shabby Chic Window Treatment Ideas
Are you wondering what to use for window treatments in your Shabby Chic decorating style room? Here are several ideas to consider that are easy and will add that special Shabby Chic touch to any room.
We think of window coverings are something to provide privacy and to let in (or keep out) light, heat, or cold. However, Shabby Chic window treatments are a great way to add decoration to a room by providing a “frame” for the window.
In the Shabby Chic decorating style use fabrics that are simple and relaxed rather than fussy, use something soft rather than stiff, and use something which is loosely shaped rather than a tight configuration. Window dressings with a rounded rather than a hard-edged look are more casual than formal and better fit the Shabby Chic decorating style.
For an unstructured, effortless look, windows can be swathed with an ample amount of loose fabric that is allowed to puddle gently onto the floor. The simplicity of a plain white blind or a Roman shade works nicely to provide privacy. If you want a more formal but casual Shabby Chic look, consider using light easy-care fabrics such as lightweight velvet, muslin or poplin to create a draping effect.
One of my favorite Shabby Chic window treatments is to use small, wooden slat salmon-colored window shades with a medium-weight cream-colored lace valance. It provides privacy as well as adds a soft touch of color to the room and the lace valence provides a touch of elegance.
A tapestry swag valance with a sheer underlining draped loosely over a curtain rod is another attractive window covering to use in a Shabby Chic room. The curtains have a softer look while adding a touch of formality to a room.
A basic home decorating idea to remember is to never skimp on yardage when choosing fabrics. Insufficient width or length of fabric can take away from the elegant and luxurious look of a window treatment whether it is Shabby Chic or any other decorating style.
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Need Help in decorating a manequin for 14 yrs old female room?
I purchased a durable black plastic manequin for a friends’ daughter for Christmas but I need help in how to decorate it for her. She finally has her own bedroom with a daybed & dresser…My daughter gave her small desktop manequins w/stands in various colors like purple, with white boas, fancy porcelain shoes, black/pink wall pictures of bodies and w/fancy victorian outfits, etc. I suggested- do it like “shabby chic” but I’m lost for ideas to decorate this particular gift. It is not on a stand, it has the neckline and the torso down to half-thigh and it has a hanger hook on the back of the neck (hanging from the wall using a fancy hook) – I had to settle for this one because the cloth manequin was way out of my budget. Any ideas will be appreciated or should I give it to her just plain and allow her to decorate it her way. Thank you.
AMO 45 your idea is fantastic! I have a bunch of colorful Mari Gras beads would that work or stick to your idea? she is such a girly-girl ..I ‘m feeling she’s gonna like this, I hope!
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AMO 45 your idea is fantastic! I have a bunch of colorful Mari Gras beads would that work or stick to your idea? she is such a girly-girl ..I ‘m feeling she’s gonna like this, I hope!
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Decorating With Shabby Chic Products
If you’re looking for not only style but also comfort and a sot touch in your bedroom, the Shabby Chic bedding line is definitely the choice for you. Shabby chic is very simplistic but stylist type of decor using bedding as well as linens, and window treatments that boast of an aged style of elegance. Acceptable colors for this style decor include muted blues, as well as greens, pinks, and all varieties of white. In addition, the use of stripes, small flower arrangements (especially roses) as well as checks add appeal to the genuine cotton bedding. These are just some of the reason this style has maintained its popularity through the years.
Shabby Chic for the Kids
If you are of the opinion that bed linens in the Shabby Chic line are not strong enough for you to use on your children’s beds, you need to rethink your thoughts. Shabby Chic bedding was designed with children as well as the speed of your daily life in mind. Rachel Ashwell, the designer of the Shabby Chic line made the decision that everything she created needed to be child as well as dog friendly, thus the majority of the Shabby bedding is machine washable.
Decorating with Shabby Chic
If you would like to make your bedroom a Shabby Chic creation, you’ll be thankful to discover that you are able to buy in Shabby Chic designs with which you can add accent to your bedroom. A few accessories you can use with the Shabby Chic fabrics to make your room a Shabby Chic room include curtains, coverings for chairs, pillows in decorative patterns, runners for a table, and shades for lamps. You can also use furniture by Shabby Chic in order to give your bedroom some class while at the same time complementing the bedding.
Using a combination of old as well as new provides a Shabby Chic bedroom with an atmosphere that is not unlike the cottage look from the past. The Shabby Chic look has some imperfections, but comfort it provides and character it gives make its period look quite stylish. This designer bedding is a highly desired item in the market, so you want to make sure you are always on the lookout for pieces in the Shabby Chic line.
How to Buy Shabby Chic Items
When you’re in the market to buy Shabby Chic items, there are a few things for which you want to look. For example, make sure it has a soft and comfortable charter to it. You may also want to know if it complements French Country as well as Cottage d
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Wabi Sabi, Shabby Chic, and Design Psychology: Home Interior Design Styles
Wabi Sabi, an ancient Chinese philosophy adapted by the Japanese and practiced by many Westerners today, presents an alternative way of living more than a way of decorating your home. However, you can adapt your interior and landscape design using Wabi Sabi principles for happiness.
“Wabi Sabi” (pronounced “wah-bee sah-bee”) was formalized as the Zen Buddhism tea ceremony evolved. Zen Buddhism originated in India, traveled through China in the 6th Century, and to Japan in the 12th century. The ancient wisdom of Wabi Sabi practitioners helps today’s busy home makers with interesting interior design ideas. Wabi Sabi interior design followers learn to relax, take time appreciate the beauty and simplicity of natural design, and to know that their home doesn’t need perfection to bring joy, which compares to our research findings in residential Design Psychology.
Before you relate Wabi Sabi to Shabby Chic style, understand that the Wabi Sabi way of life starts with simplicity, whereas Shabby Chic interiors often fill spaces with a lot of interesting finds, which can end up with too much to care for and eye clutter, according to Design Psychology principles. This lesson of too much design detail, which stops the eye and makes you feel overwhelmed, became apparent to us when we moved from our expansive Victorian home into a smaller house and had to choose the more important furnishings from the treasures discovered over ten years of collecting, both in antique and thrift stores.
If you want to makeover your home for joyous living, consider Wabi Sabi restraints along with Design Psychology principles:
Simplify your life and home design. When you choose the best from your treasures, keep those accessories that support positive memories, regardless of monetary value.
Take pleasure from natural beauty. Choose design details with colors, patterns, and textures similar to those found in nature, which feel harmonious to people because they connect us to the earth.
Appreciate your home and furnishings, no matter how imperfect. When you love your home, this love shines throughout and makes it easier for you to clean and maintain. Your positive attitude brings you encouragement to find beauty all around, inspiring fresh ideas for home makeover projects.
Wabi Sabi beliefs include the principles of incomplete and impermanent designs, which parallel the Design Psychology principle that your home needs to grow and change, to support your changing lifestyle and emotional needs.
In contrast to Wabi Sabi’s use of modest and humble furnishings, Design Psychology appreciates the inherent beauty in all things. Enjoy the fruits of your hard work and don’t feel guilty when mixing the humble with quality showpieces. I love my Italian Millifiore glass lamps sitting next to my Mexican Rose rock.
Like any good design theory, Wabi Sabi finds beauty in the unconventional. Your originality in design makes your home unique. Design Psychology practice avoids the use of furniture “groups” and prefers unique, individual pieces offering comfort. If you were tempted by a furniture set, such as matching sofa, love seat, and the three matching tables, don’t worry; just know that additional pieces don’t need to match perfectly and that blending styles and finishes makes unconventional, unique spaces.
Design Psychology supports fearless home makeovers, bold with colors to lend emotional support yet restrained, without overly-filled rooms, to provide backgrounds for people and harmonious living.
Similar to the Wabi Sabi tea ceremony, practice daily rituals in your home. Create a home to celebrate life, one full of tranquility and beauty. Choose your home interior design style to best support your happiness.
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