Shabby chic interior design: colors, furniture and how to get the look

Shabby chic is a soft, romantic, lived-in style. Its signature is furniture and decor that look loved and slightly worn (painted wood with rubbed edges, faded florals, lace and linen) set in light, feminine colors. The idea is beauty with a story: pieces that look as if they have been in the family, or found at a flea market, rather than bought as a matching set.

The look was popularised in the 1980s and 1990s, and is closely associated with designer Rachel Ashwell, whose Shabby Chic brand brought the style to a wide audience. It borrows from English country houses and French vintage, and it is still a favorite for bedrooms, cottages and anyone who prefers comfort to polish.

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• -White and cream. The classic base. Warm whites make a room feel light and soft, and let the pastels and worn wood stand out.
• -Pastels. Blush pink, sage green, duck-egg blue and pale lavender, used on furniture, walls or textiles.
• -Neutrals. Soft greys, linen and oatmeal for a quieter version.
• -Muted accents. Faded rose, vintage teal or a dusty yellow in cushions, china and flowers.

Keep the colors low in contrast and slightly muted, so the room reads as gentle rather than bright. You can test wall colors on your own photo with the paint color visualizer, and pull a palette from any image with the color palette tool.

• -Sofas and chairs: slipcovered in white or cream cotton or linen, or upholstered in a faded floral. Slipcovers can be removed and washed, which suits busy homes.
• -Tables and storage: old or old-looking wood, painted white or a soft color, with visible wear. Look for cabinets, dressers, farmhouse tables and trestle tables.
• -Beds: an iron, painted-wood or upholstered bed, dressed in layered white bedding, a quilt and lace or embroidered pillows.
• -Lighting: a chandelier with crystals, an old-style lamp with a fabric shade, or a vintage-style pendant.
• -Floors: worn wood boards, painted boards or a faded vintage rug.
• -Walls: soft paint, floral wallpaper or wood paneling painted white.

Bedroom

This is the natural home of the style. Layer white and pastel bedding, add a quilt at the foot of the bed, hang a vintage mirror and put a painted dresser or chair in the corner. See AI bedroom design.

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Living room

Slipcovered seating, a distressed coffee table, floral cushions and a soft rug. Fresh flowers and a few framed prints finish it. See AI living room design.

Kitchen and dining

Painted cabinets in sage or cream, open shelves with mismatched china, a scrubbed wooden table and linen curtains. See AI kitchen design.

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Bathroom

A painted vanity, a vintage mirror, white towels and a little lace or linen. Keep the surfaces uncluttered so it stays fresh.

Much of the appeal of shabby chic is that you can make it. A basic approach to distressing a piece of wooden furniture:

1. 1.Clean and lightly sand the piece so paint will stick.
2. 2.Paint it with chalk-style or matt paint in white, cream or a pastel. Two thin coats work better than one thick one.
3. 3.Distress the edges, corners and areas that would naturally wear by rubbing with fine sandpaper until a little wood or the earlier color shows through.
4. 4.Seal with a clear wax or matt varnish to protect the finish.
5. 5.Swap the hardware for old-style knobs in brass, glass or ceramic.

Test the paint color on a hidden spot first. If the piece is an antique or valuable, check with an expert before painting it.

• -Edit the accessories. Group vintage pieces in small, deliberate collections. Too many objects turns charm into clutter.
• -Anchor with white. Plenty of white or cream keeps the room bright and stops the pastels from looking sugary.
• -Mix in something modern. A clean-lined lamp or a plain sofa stops a room from feeling like a period set.
• -Keep it clean. The wear should look intentional. Distressed is charming; dirty is not.
• -Add texture, not more pattern. Layer lace, linen and knits, and limit florals to two or three.

Pastels and faded florals can feel lovely or twee depending on your light and your room. The easiest way to find out is to see them on your own space. Upload a photo to Decoratly, pick a soft, vintage-inspired style such as Cottagecore, and see your room restyled in about 30 seconds, with your walls, windows and proportions kept. Decoratly does not have a style named shabby chic, so Cottagecore is the closest match, and you can also describe the look in your own words.

Not sure whether this is your style? Take the style quiz or browse all 75+ styles.