Shabby chic décor is a technique of decorating that balances well-designed and beautiful objects with old, worn out and sometimes tattered items. Top on this list is shabby chic furniture. Shabby chic decorating includes soft delicate colors with creamy white being predominate in many simply shabby chic schemes. Rachel Ashwell is credited for giving the style its name.

Shabby chic’s early beginnings included plenty of white painted objects which are still used today. Wooden furniture found at garage sales, flea markets, and even in the attic can be spray painted white and become shabby chic furniture. Since shabby chic decorating is also about distressed surfaces, add character to furniture by roughing it up a little--lightly sand the corners for a worn look.

Remember, if you want shabby chic furniture, don’t look for bright bold colors or matching sets. It would be more appropriate to mix and match upholstery patterns and add florals and stripes in pillows and other accessories. As an example, you might have visions of cuddling in your grandmother’s soft, comfortable slip-covered furniture.

Shabby chic has expanded to include vintage fabrics and all types of imperfect, once elegant accessories. A ruffled, rumpled elegance is characteristic of simply shabby chic. Antique collectibles are a nice addition to this decorating style. You might also want to include one of the many wonderful, ornate antique side tables as part of your shabby chic furniture collection.

In mixing patterns in the shabby chic decorating style keep the background color the same creamy white with at least one color recurring in every pattern. A tip for giving a harsh white fabric or lace a vintage-look is to stain it with tea. Use three or four tea bags in a pot of hot water testing it every 10 minutes until it has the desired aged look. Pretest a piece of fabric to get the right tint.

As you can see, shabby chic décor is an excellent choice if you are on a tight decorating budget. Combine creativity and time to browse secondhand stores, garage sales and flea markets, and you will have a comfortable, eclectic collection of shabby chic décor and shabby chic furniture.