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Decorating Basics: How to Create the Shabby Chic Look in Your Home

© L.C. Dumke

Shabby Chic decorating became wildly popular after the release of Rachel Ashwell's 1996 book, Shabby Chic. This style of decorating can be affordable, comfortable and downright gorgeous.

Characterized by muted green, pastel pink and faded gray, shabby chic decorating celebrates the glory of less-than-perfect, even once-discarded furniture and accessories. Vintage bedspreads, well-worn rugs, tables with peeling paint -- they all have a place of honor in the shabby chic home.

Incorporating the Shabby Chic Look into Your Home

• Look around your attic or basement (or your mother or grandmother's attic or basement). Examine discarded or unused items and determine if they are usable. The shabby chic mantra is "If it has good bones, you can use it."
• Hit flea markets and yard sales. (Check out Flea Market Guide to locate one near you.) An old wooden chair that is still sturdy and has great lines might not catch your eye if it's painted an awful color. But imagine it with a fresh coat of white paint. Or pink. Or green.
• Forget the traditional purpose of things. Tuck that painted flea market chair into a sparse corner and place a vase of wildflowers on the seat. Old trunks make great coffee tables, quilts can serve as sofa throws, and large baskets can hold everything from toys to fresh linens.
• Be bold, be brave, experiment. Clean up a beautiful antique chandelier and drape it with strands of old costume jewelry necklaces. Hang it in a young girl’s room. The result: a funky, one-of-a-kind, shabby chic masterpiece!
• Think comfort. Toss extra pillows on your couch. Throw a quilt or blanket over your favorite chair. Make it easy for family and friends to get cozy in your home. Shabby chic is the opposite of intimidating - it's warm and inviting.
• Mix up patterns, textures, and colors. Forget the old rule that says a room should have no more than three colors and patterns. The key is finding (or creating, or recycling) things you love and making them work in your space.

If you're willing to invest some time into hunting for treasures, you'll be surprised at the amazing bargains you can find. Shabby chic is an easy style to achieve because it can include anything you love.

The next time your sister or neighbor or friend says they are dragging an old piece of furniture to the curb for garbage pickup, think about recycling it into your own shabby chic showpiece. Once you try it, you'll be hooked!

The copyright of the article Decorating Basics: How to Create the Shabby Chic Look in Your Home in Budget Decorating is owned by L.C. Dumke. Permission to republish Decorating Basics: How to Create the Shabby Chic Look in Your Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.