Shabby Chic Decorating
What is Shabby Chic decorating?
Shabby Chic decorating is based around well-used, well-loved items and is meant to look comfortable, welcoming and homey. It is similar to cottage style decorating and to French Country decorating. Furniture is distressed and then painted white so it looks old and worn. The main color overall is white, with accents in soft pastel colors such as pink, green, grey and yellow.
Shabby Chic decorating takes its inspiration from the style of 1900-1950 England homes, when people used whatever they had. Worn furniture, family heirlooms, and hand-me-downs were combined in a way that was not dictated by anything other than family comfort. Designer Rachel Ashwell actually coined the term ‘Shabby Chic’ in the 1980′s, and since then it has become a definite decorating style, especially with budget and eco-conscious people who want to re-use old furniture and accessories rather that buying brand new items.
Shabby Chic decorating is full of mismatched pieces and fabrics. It all works together because color is used to make the items all look like they belong together. Wooden furniture is all painted white, and sanded around the edges to give it that worn look. In fact, the more worn it looks, the better it works. Painting a coat and then sanding it down and white glazing overtop leaves a lot of bare wood exposed, and helps that old desk or drawer look as if it has been in the family for centuries.
Fabrics also don’t have to match, as long as they have the same background color and at least one basic unifying color. Florals, stripes, checks, toile and other patterns can all live together in the same room, and even lie right on top of one another, when they are united by a color scheme.
Seating, such as sofas and chairs, tend to be large and overstuffed, and covered with rumpled but tidy slipcovers and plump, inviting cushions. Dining chairs may be mismatched wooden chairs all painted white, with matching fabric seat covers. Florals play a huge part in Shabby Chic decorating, cabbage roses in particular, as do vintage-look fabrics. You can age new fabrics by simply soaking them in tea.
Items are often used for a different purpose than they were intended, and this makes Shabby Chic decorating unique and personal. You can use a wooden chair or stacks of old hat boxes for a nightstand; an antique travelling trunk for a coffee table; an old wooden window shutter for a towel rack; or an old, scratched mirror for a serving tray. You can scour flea markets, garage sales and attics for mountains of treasures that will find new life in a Shabby Chic home.
SHABBY CHIC PINK FLOWER CHEAP GIRL BABY CRIB BEDDING COLLECTION 9p COMFORTER SET| US $109.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:52:24 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Chic Plush Teddy Bear In White Romper w Pink Rose Shabby Cottage NWT
| US $19.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:53:45 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic tm "White Whisper" Belgium Linen King Bedskirt
| US $250.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:54:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $280.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Vintage Dart 1969 shelf/bed crown shabby cottage chic French Romantic
| US $37.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:55:30 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Shabby Cottage Chic Floral Upholstery Ottoman / stool with decorative nails
| US $129.99 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:56:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $129.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
BEAU BOIS floral jacket shirt top MEDIUM ivory red blue shabby yet chic
| US $24.00 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:56:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
VINTAGE CHIC CAST IRON SHABBY PAIR CAT ANGEL SMALL BOOKENDS FREE SHIPPING SO CU
| US $16.00 (5 Bids) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 8:59:41 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
SHABBY DITSY FLORAL YELLOW PINK OR BLUE LOVE HANGING HEART CHIC
| US $2.79 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 9:00:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $2.79 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Shabby Chic Tables
Searching for Shabby Chic tables? We discovered these results for your search of Shabby Chic tables, which you may be curious about:
Shabby Country Chic TABLE~ELEGANT TRAY STAND with 2 Drawers Home Int| US $22.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 11:49:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $25.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Vintage Shabby Cottage Chic Wicker Pale Green end table plant stand bedside
| US $24.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 12:03:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $59.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Table Runner Made With Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Pink Roses Bouquets Fabric
| US $9.95 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 12:37:50 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
WHITE ELEGANT FOLDING TV TRAY SERVING TABLE SHABBY CHIC STAND 33139
| US $30.77 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 12:50:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $34.88 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Italian Tole Gold Gilt Metal Side Table Vanity Shabby Chic Hollywood Regency
| US $395.00 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 13:09:31 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $395.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Seashell Coffee Table Chic Shabby Mermaid Beach Shells Ocean Sea Fish Pearls
| US $700.00 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 13:13:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $700.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Set of 2 Romantic Round Rococo White Accent Table Distressed Shabby Chic 34708
| US $88.77 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 14:30:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $108.88 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
WHITE ELEGANT FOLDING TV TRAY SERVING TABLE SHABBY CHIC STAND 33139
| US $30.77 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 15:50:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $34.88 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
~*AWESOME SHABBY OLD DESK CONSOLE TABLE~PETITE CHIC~DISTRESSED FRENCH VANILLA*~
| US $339.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 15:52:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $375.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
CHIC SHABBY FRENCH STYLE BOUDOIR TABLE LAMP
| US $215.00 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 16:07:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $215.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Set of 2 Romantic Round Rococo White Accent Table Distressed Shabby Chic 34708
| US $92.77 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 17:30:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $108.88 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Romantic Shabby Chic Style Crystal Table Lamp With Hanging Prisms
| US $74.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 18:00:01 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
WHITE ELEGANT FOLDING TV TRAY SERVING TABLE SHABBY CHIC STAND 33139
| US $30.77 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 18:50:51 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $34.88 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Vintage Shabby Chic Carved Wood Painted Tables No Tops Lamp Table Nightstands
| US $300.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 18:54:54 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Vintage shabby chic white folding table folds flat solid wood 15 inches high
| US $24.95 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 18:56:11 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
PASTEL Tea Light Glass Jar Holder Picnic Table Hanging Easter Shabby Chic Decor
| US $7.75 End Date: Thursday May-17-2012 23:52:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $7.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
ANTIQUE SHABBY CHIC PORCELAIN SIGNED 27" TALL TABLE DESK LAMP BEAUTIFUL MUST SEE
| US $168.75 End Date: Friday May-18-2012 4:50:54 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $168.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Very Nice Vintage/Antique Table ~ Wooden Coffee Table ~ Shabby Cottage Chic
| US $150.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-18-2012 5:07:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $200.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Vintage Shabby Chic Floral Leaves Fall Leaf Antique Style Terra Table Lamp
| US $24.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday May-18-2012 5:29:03 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
SHABBY GLAMOR CHIC PINK FEATHERS PRINCESS COTTAGE LARGE WHITE TABLE LAMP & SHADE
| US $149.95 End Date: Friday May-18-2012 6:08:55 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $149.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Carved White Side Table
- .
…..
Shabby Chic Tables
thats what she said asks this question:
I’m having trouble understanding the dimensions of this piece of furniture?
Is it just me or is it written weird? Any help? How tall/wide is it really? Could it be the measurements of the box it comes in?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/177-0397940-0345329?asin=B0007T307O&afid=yahoossplp&lnm=B0007T307O|Simply_Shabby_Chic_Vanity_Table&ref=tgt_adv_XSMG1060
so then its 61 inches high?? but thats huge!
Best answer:
Answer by Mean Green
under features 61 1/4 H x 31 3/4 W x 18 D
H is for height.
W is for wide or width.
D is for deep or distance from the wall.
Answer by Paul in San Diego
The very top of the arch is 61 inches. The table top itself is probably 30 inches (standard table top height). The table top is then 31 (or whatever) inches wide and 18 inches deep (distance from front to back).





