Shabby Chic

Shabby Chic

Shabby chic is a form of interior design that compromises of furniture/furnishings chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear. They can also be new items that have been distressed to give off the appearance of being an antique. Whilst giving off the impression of old grandeur, Shabby Chic should create a soft, opulent, yet cottage-style décor.

Rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats is known as “distressing”. It gives off a ‘worn’ finish to the furniture. Furniture pieces that are not genuine antiques are usually selected for their resemblance to older furniture styles, and may be reproduction furniture with a distressed finish.

Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular. Pure whites, neutrals and worn or bleached out pastel colours are favourites along with vintage patterns, specifically floral. Soft neutral colours common in shabby chic design are sky blue, rose pink and beige tones.

Shabby chic is very soft, relaxed, feminine, romantic style of decorating. Usually meaning that soft furnishings such as pillows made of vintage bark cloth fabric, vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers, and anything with roses in the design are very popular.

Variants of Shabby Chic style include:

• Cottage chic

• Beach cottage chic

• French country

• Gustavian (Swedish)

Decorating ideas for Shabby Chic:

Upcycle furniture – Upcycling is a great way to ensure that you get the look you want. Buy old furniture and make it your own.

Distress furniture – Sanding or deliberately wearing furniture is a cheap effective alternative to upcycling.

Get Crafty – Make your own accessories. Take old jars and bottles, add lace or paint. Make something unique and individual.

Browse Charity shops – Charity shops are a great, cheap way to buy vintage pieces. Especially old clothes you can use for fabrics.

Think out of the box – Shabby Chic works best when you use your imagination and creativity.

Be conscious of colour – Stick to neutrals and pale colours. They will create a vintage, soft vibe that will give depth and substance to a room.

Our Interior Design Course

Working with interiors, finishes and furniture is covered in this course and it will explore many different techniques in order to help you plan an interior design project from conception to finish. Upon completion of the qualification you will have developed a much better understanding of the entire design process and have the knowledge to begin working as a designer.

In this course covers an array of interesting topics; ranging from project fundamentals to business skills and careers. We look at different types of career choices and different styles and techniques.

ABC Awards is a leading national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, and the Welsh Government. It has a long-established reputation for developing and awarding high quality vocational qualifications across a wide range of industries.   As a registered charity, ABC Awards combines 180 years of expertise but also implements a responsive, flexible and innovative approach to the needs of our customers.

Interior Design Level 3