How to Make a Shabby Bedroom

Pile the bed high with lacy throw pillows in your shabby chic bedroom.

The "shabby chic" style, created by Rachel Ashwell, is all about repurposing items found at flea markets, garage sales, antique stores and even at the curb on trash days. A shabby chic bedroom incorporates repurposed furniture, a pastel color palette, faded textiles and romantic lighting. It is more rumpled than perfect, decidedly feminine and always unique. No two shabby chic bedrooms are the same because the elements that go into them are chosen by you and used to create your personal oasis within the shabby chic décor style. Does this Spark an idea?

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Wood floor
Pastel pink, green, blue or white paint
Oriental area rug
Iron or wooden bed frame
Fireplace surround
Floral fabric
Floral sheets and pillow cases
White bedding
White duvet or chenille spread
Vintage quilt
Dust ruffle
Lacy or floral throw pillows
Dressers
Tea pots
China cups and saucers
Roses or daisies
Crystal table lamps
Linen lamp shades
Candles
Vintage alarm clock
Slipper chair
White slipcover
Wicker floor lamp
Stained glass shade
Table
Armoire
Stencil
Porcelain knobs
Prom dress
Clothes tree
Chandelier

Instructions

- 1
  
  Lay a wood plank floor. Paint it white or paint it pastel pink, green or blue. Warm it with a slightly worn Oriental style area rug in a pastel color palette.
- 2
  
  Choose a graceful vintage iron bed. Look for one sporting a little rust or one with the paint worn off in spots. Or paint the frame white or pastel pink, green or blue. Choose a wooden frame painted white or fashion a headboard from a vintage fireplace surround upholstered in faded floral fabric.
- 3
  
  Dress the bed with sheets and pillowcases in a faded floral print or choose white bedding trimmed with crocheted lace. Roses are particularly popular in shabby chic design. Toss on a white duvet or make up the bed with a white chenille bedspread. Opt for a faded vintage quilt or a new one that has been manufactured to look old. Hide the box springs with an eyelet dust ruffle and add another layer to the bed with lacy or floral throw pillows.
- 4
  
  Flank the bed with mismatched dressers. Choose some with peeling paint and missing hardware. Top them with tea pots filled with roses or daisies. Add table lamps embellished with crystals and topped with white linen shades. Complete the vignette with a vintage alarm clock and a pillar candle placed in a tea cup or saucer.
- 5
  
  Create a cozy spot for reading and day dreaming. Place a slipper chair dressed in a white, slightly wrinkled slip cover and a flowered throw pillow in a corner. Pair it with a white wicker floor lamp with a stained glass shade and a small occasional table painted pastel green, blue or pink. You could also opt for a round wicker table covered with a faded quilt in a pastel color palette.
- 6
  
  Hang your clothes in a large armoire. Paint it white. Look for an armoire featuring an arched top. Stencil the doors with a floral design. Add white porcelain knobs. Display a vintage prom dress by hanging it on the outside of the armoire or on a vintage clothes tree.
- 7
  
  Add romance to your room. Hang a crystal chandelier above your bed. Choose one with graceful iron arms. If the paint is chipped and some crystals are missing, all the better.