Shabby Chic Decorating Made Fun and Easy.

Elegant and Comfortable

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Shabby Chic decorating gives a relaxed feel to elegance. Is that posible? That sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it. It can be done. Think of sitting in your grandmas kitchen. You can smell it right? Now try to picture it too. The breeze is whisking the pastel pink curtains back and forth. The heirloom table is crackled with age and you can see several layers of paint peeking through. The pine planked floor is smooth and worn. A you study the room you notice the cabinets have been painted white. Probably to freshen and balance the worn shabbiness, you decide. Ah, you sigh. This feels like home. You always new Grandma was stylish in her own special way. Now you can define it. Shabby Chic decorating reflects a style that places quality above newness. It's less concerned with trendiness and more in tune to warmth.

"Where do I start?," you ask. First choose a paint color combination. Below are a couple to get you started.

This color palette is slightly warmer than the one below and would look nice in a living room. Notice white is used

This is a calming palette. Possibly for a bedroom? Notice the use of white again

Easy Ideas

2. Dress up tired cabinets by painting them white. Let cure for a week. Then use a fine grained sand paper to gently rub on edges until the base color shows through. Seal with polyurethane.

3. Go flea market shopping for and afternoon. Look for vases or pottery in your accent colors that have a shabby look. Find fabulous Shabby Chic decorating finds at these flea markets in your neck of the woods.

4. Find a fabulous centerpiece for the wall such as the shabby chic wall plate set . Spending more on a single focal point is a lot more effective than spending the same amount on several wall pieces. A single grouping on the wall will immediately draw the eye and make the room feel more pulled together and complete.

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4. Balancing shabby with fresh is key. An example...Place a bouquet of fresh flowers in a used canning jar or soda bottle.

5. Work with what you already have. Scrounge around in the basement for old pieces of furniture and slipcover > them. An old trunk can even serve as a coffee table.

6. Use large baskets to hold toys and books.

7. Collect a variety of frames. You can then frame family photographs in black and white and create a wall collage.

8. Spray paint a dilapidated bicycle white, attach a basket with wire, add potting soil and flowers and voila! You have a piece of shabby chic decorating for the outside.

9. Costume jewelry can be used as a swag to adorn windows.

10. Use tiny floral patterns and stripes. Don't be afraid of patterns. Grandma's quilts are a great place for inspiration.

11. Collect odds and ends of china and flatware. Then use them! Don't worry about matching!

If you still lack inspiration,

Rachel Ashwell has a couple of terrific books like the one below that will get your creative juices flowin'.

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Shabby Chic Decorating requires a unique ability to be yourself and not conform to fashion rules.

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