Think of visiting an old hillside cottage, snuggled in comfortable soft furniture, fresh flowers on the nearby bench and the soft scent of candles fill the room. This is a feeling of a home decorated in the Shabby Chic style.

Overview - Shabby Chic is a comfortable casual look that uses vintage accessories, comfortable furniture, and feminine colors. Some key pieces that signify Shabby Chic are old lace tablecloths, soft floral fabrics, light painted worn furniture, wrought iron curtain rods with flowing sheer curtains, and colorful fresh flowers. Shabby Chic is a combination of elegance with old, worn accessories and painted wood tables, benches, and soft throw rugs with rough old lace.

Fabric and Color - Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers that show the worn through areas which give the pieces a vintage feel. The style utilizes faux painting by glazing or painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens which are inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colors. Soft pinks, mint greens, and soft aqua's and teals are used to add various pops of colors in the Shabby Chic design style. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it an older look. Bleached or faded are words that usually come up when describing Shabby Chic.

Accessories - Popular accessories are French-inspired linens, pillows made of vintage fabrics, chenille or patchwork bedspreads, crystal chandeliers, and anything with roses and other flowers on it. It is a soft, relaxed feminine and very romantic way of decorating that looks comfortably warm and inviting.

Recycle - The style, which originated in Great Britain, portrays the type of decoration found in large country houses. The end result of shabby chic is to embrace a feminine and comfortable overall effect. Recycling and reusing is an important aspect of Shabby Chic design because it does encourage that old and worn pieces of furniture and fabrics be restored and reused.

If you are thinking Shabby Chic for your next decorating design in your home keep two words in mind; Vintage and Feminine. Take time to go to antique stores and old consignment stores to find old, worn furniture and fabrics that you can restore as well as reduce cost. The little touches are what make the difference in this decor. Have fun!