How to Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

Shabby Chic Decorating Ideas: Bedrooms

Shabby Chic bedroom decor is one of my favorite styles of bedroom decor. It's just so livable and friendly and inviting, you know? It's also the favorite of many people, so I decided to create a little guide to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom. 

Actually this intriguing style is a kind of country cottage decor that evolved from the English country and French country and Beach country styles. Want pictures of Shabby Chic bedrooms? I recently decorated a bedroom in my own house in Shabby Chic decor and included pictures of the makeover so you can see that it's really not that hard to turn your blah bedroom into a Shabby Chic wonderland. I tried to find everything you need to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom.

You can read about some different types of Country Cottage Decor and then shop for the items that fit your unique vision of what a Shabby Chic bedroom should look like. You can even combine some elements of different country cottage decorating styles! 

That's really what Shabby Chic is all about anyway. And since it's also about found objects and using old objects in a new way, it's an easy and cheap style to do. Just remember the most important thing, liveable. Enjoy!

Want Shabby Chic Bedroom Decorating Ideas right now? Click the link: Shabby Chic Bedding and Decor

What is Shabby Chic Decorating?

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

It really evolved from the country cottage decor tradition. Here are some examples of country cottage decorating styles you can incorporate into your Shabby Chic bedroom design. Whether you own a Country cottage or you just want to recreate the feel in your own home decor, the Country decorating styles here can help you achieve the look you desire for your bedroom.

Country Cottage Styles:

English Cottage, French Cottage, 

Beach Cottage, Shabby Chic

French Country: French country decorating ideas would include dainty items that capture the essence of French European styles. Unlike the English, the French country has textures and colors that reflect a simple French style. French country style furniture is very elegant and sophisticated. It has an uncluttered appeal that is classy and soft. Colors might include White, shades of Blue, Reds and Greens.

English Country: English country cottage decor has more floral accents and upholstered furniture as opposed to the hand carved wood furniture from a more primitive rustic look. Colors might include shades of Gold, Yellow, Orange, White, Red, Green and Blues. When you think of English cottage or country decor you envision a tea room with elegant patterns in the upholstery and country style curtains.

Beach / Coastal Country: Beach cottage decorating is for your country style beach house. Coastal cottage decorating includes lots of light colors and different shades of Blue. Beach country cottage bedroom furniture is usually lighter woods or White. Beach cottage bedroom decorating incorporates the natural colors of the coastal regions like soft sandy Browns, ocean Blues and Whites. 

Coastal cottage decorating includes rustic country beach style decor. Because the ocean air brings moisture and rust, rustic looking items are often used in a beach country cottage decorating.

Shabby Chic: Shabby Chic is sort of the natural heir to the other country cottage styles. It is a marriage of those other styles : English and French and Beach Country styles. So all you really have to do is take the elements you like from each one. The most distinctive thing about Shabby Chic is that you don't have to worry if your furniture is old and there are old layers of paint showing through on the edges. This is perfectly fine, in fact, encouraged in Shabby Chic style! 

It is meant to be very casual, like what you would see in the old days out in the country where the standards of elegance were relaxed. And the colors are soft, not bright, as the atmosphere is subdued. The overall feel is usually very light and airy, a look it takes from the Beach/Coastal Country Cottage style. Unlike the beach style though, it will always be soft, no loud tropical colors allowed.

Still not sure what your style is? Read on for some clues. And for help learning about your bedroom decorating personality, click here: Decorating Personality Quiz

How to Turn Your Existing Bedroom into Shabby Chic!

My Country Style Bedroom

How to Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

You can see that my Country style bed was layered with pretty quilts. The first layer is a Matelasse quilt, like one you can find below, and the quilt on top is a double wedding ring pattern quilt that my Mother made me. I loved this room but wanted to change it up a bit and make it more Shabby Chic and less country cottage. 

I already had the furniture and had painted the wood dresser, one nightstand, and the mirror White, and the wicker I bought White already. I added custom cut glass to the top of the wicker dressers and used a White eyelet bed skirt. I used pale Blue curtains and lamp shades.

Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

Here's my Shabby Chic bedroom after I changed just a few things. First I painted the walls a Vanilla color. I already had the furniture which is White washed wood and White wicker. I made the curtains which are pale Blue and gauzy, and trimmed in White lace. I took the sliding doors out and used the curtains instead of closet doors and they match the ones on the door that leads to the patio.

As you can see the comforter is sort of English country, with trapunto stitching, and trimmed in a very soft green. It has lots of White lace pillows piled up on it. The headboard of the bed is made from intricate iron with a swirly design in the French style. The curtain rods match the head board, swirly iron colored metal ones.The lamps are pale Blue and Art Nouveau style. And you can't see them, but the pictures on the walls are Angels. 

All the little accessories and jewelry box are White washed wood. There are floral quilts stacked for cool weather. And so while this is sort of country cottage/beach country, there's the English country element, and some French country thrown into the mix.

You can't see it here, but there's a White dresser that shows wear and tear on the edges, so it's definitely Shabby Chic. I think this bedroom is really Shabby Chic now. The mirror on the other wall is below, and it's painted White over the dark wood it once was. You can also see that I took a mirror from an old medicine cabinet and used it propped against the wall on top of a dresser (used as a night stand) to add light, and also to make the room appear larger.

Repurposing is huge with Shabby Chic too, so this room definitely fits that! But the thing that really turned this room into Shabby Chic instead of Country Cottage was the simple addition of the beautiful Shabby Chic quilt! So pay attention to your bedding, it's really important in setting the theme of the bedroom. See, it's easy to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom!

Shabby Chic Bedding

Vintage Shabby Chic Bedding

 English Rose Matelasse Coverlet, Full/Queen, Ivory / Parchment

Here you see mixed woods. Wood table, dark wood headboard on the bed.  This is another way to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom. The whole feeling is light and airy and natural, but not as beachy as tropical decor. Easy casual living. Very Coastal Cottage feeling too! 

I have this beautiful Matelasse Quilt in an aqua color in my bedroom, and it looks stunning years after I got it! Very well made. Easy care too. Just throw it in the washing machine. 100% cotton. You can see it above in my old bedroom photo.

Shabby Chic Quilts: French Country

Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas

 Surya 88-Inch by 92-Inch Florence Broadhurst Japanesen Floral Duvet Bedding Set, Full/Queen, Light Gray/Ivory

Beautiful French Country style bedding that looks great in Shabby Chic or casual country style too. Pastels are so calming in a bedroom. Gorgeous and luxurious! This would look stunning in a Shabby Chic Bedroom! 

They are showing it here with White furniture and accesssories so it already looks Shabby Chic but could easily be in a modern bedroom as well.

Shabby Chic Bedding

Shabby Chic Comforter Sets

 Lush Decor Belle 4-Piece Comforter Set, Queen, Ivory

In general English country decor is even more feminine than French country decor, and is a little more formal just as you would expect from the English. But it's still not really formal and is easy to incorporate into your bedroom. 

When people talk about Shabby Chic, they are usually referring to the look that incorporates lots of English and French country decorating style. The ruffles are very feminine, don't you think? I love this Shabby Chic comforter set! It could also be in a Princess bedroom or just an ultra feminine bedroom.

Shabby Chic Quilt

Shabby Chic Quilt Sets

 liMadison Park Dawn 9 Piece Comfroter Set - Blue - Queen

I guess I am partial to English Country style, since so much of my stuff seems to look like it! It really looks great in Shabby Chic decor as well. This is a Blue comforter set that would look good in many styles of bedrooms, including Shabby Chic. 

It is very English country style influenced and includes 9 pieces! The comforter/quilt 4 pillow shams, 3 toss pillows, and a bed skirt. Look how beautiful the bedroom is! All White accessories and curtains in a Blue setting make for a very fresh and soft and peaceful bedroom. Buying a complete set makes it very easy to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom.

Shabby Chic Girls Bedding

Shabby Chic Bedrooms

 Lush Decor Avon 3-Piece Comforter Set, Queen, Ivory

This quilt set is perfect for your Shabby Chic bedroom decorating. Easily create the cottage bedroom feel you've been dreaming of with this subtle bedding. Available in Full, Queen and King size, includes the quilt and matching shams. 

Just use lots of lace and eyelet in the pillows and accessories, and use sheer curtains or lace ones, and White furniture to achieve a Shabby Chic bedroom with a modern twist. In the photo of the Shabby Chic bedroom here, they used all White furniture, rug, curtains and accessories in a room with Grey walls and Gray floors. I think it's stunning!

Shabby Chic White Curtains

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

Sheer curtains and lace curtains are perfect for Shabby Chic Decorating. White is the most popular colors for these and if privacy is needed, shades or blinds in White are great behind the curtains.

 Cascade White 84 2 Piece Solid White Sheer Window Curtains/drape/panels/treatment size 60 Elegant Comfort® 2-Piece SHEER PANEL with 2inch ROD POCKET - Window Curtains 60-inch width X 84-inch Length - White Gypsy Ruffled Panel Cream 84

Shabby Chic Decorative Pillows

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

These four pillows are just to show you some examples of the types of pillows that work for Shabby Chic and Country Cottage Decor. If you would like to see more in different colors and styles just click on a pillow.

 Create For-Life Cotton Linen Decorative Pillowcase Throw Pillow Cushion Cover Square 18 Bird Pretty Pink Blossoms Color: AL-F0029-s Size: Standard, Model: 45cm x 45cm Safavieh Pillow Collection Throw Pillows, 20 by 20-Inch, Liege Petal, Set of 2 DENY Designs Iveta Abolina Winter Wheat Throw Pillow, Indoor LINKWELL 45x45cm Retro Shabby Chic Pink Roses Paris Eiffel Tower Linen Pillow Case Cushion Cover

Shabby Chic Style Lamps and Lighting

DIY Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas

These are 3 beautiful Shabby Chic lamps, but here's a hint for you. You can paint almost any lamp with craft paint to get a Shabby Chic looking lamp. And you can hang scarves over a lamp shade for a darling Shabby Chic look, or you can paint old lampshades with craft paint. And you can add lace or ruffled edging with a glue gun. 

So you might not need a Shabby Chic lamp; you can make your own. But if you want to really glam up the place, you can always add a chandelier like the one here. Or click a picture to see more.

 Home Design White Base Table Lamp / Bedroom Light / Fabric Bell Shade (White) Koehler Indoor Home Decorative Shabby Chic Scroll Candelier Shabby Chic Candlestick White Table Lamp Girls Table or Desk Lamp with Cream Ruffle Shade

Shabby Chic Bedroom Accessories

DIY Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas

These are the type of accessories that you normally see in Shabby Chic and Country Cottage Interiors. Old found objects embellished with a new coat of paint and perhaps decals or stencils or crystals work too.

 Gifts & Decor Elegant Beaded Candleholder Shabby Candle Holder Chic White Wooden Mirror Table Top Vanity Shabby Chic Dressing Room Organizer Makeup and Jewelry Box Metal Bird Cage S2 Shabby Chic White with Chanasya Polish Cloth.

Shabby Chic Bedroom Furniture

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

 Carved Wood Shabby Top White Side Night End Table Chic Bobkona St. Croix Collection Vanity Set with Stool, White Shabby Chic Decor South Shore Savannah Collection Door Chest, Pure White

My Shabby Chic Bedroom Mirror

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

Every bedroom needs a mirror, so here are some shabby chic bedroom mirrors to choose from, each with a cottage, chic style to it. What style fits your bedroom best? The first one is my mirror I painted White over the wood tone it used to be. Painting your old furniture White and leaving a little of the old paint finish exposed is a great start to decorate a Shabby Chic bedroom.

 20 Import Collection Glancing Songbirds Mirror

Shabby Chic Room Dividers

Decorate a Shabby Chic Bedroom

Divider Screens or Privacy Screens are often used in Shabby Chic decor both as room dividers and as pure decoration. I have a Blue one in my living room. But White is the most popular color for screens and for Shabby Chic decor in general. You can often find old room dividers, and just paint them to go with your bedroom decor.

 Oriental Furniture Office Furniture, 5-Feet Shutter Style Folding Privacy Screen Room Divider with Blinds, 3 Panel White Screen Gems Nantucket Panel Screen, White

For more Shabby Chic bedroom decor, click here: Shabby Chic Bedding and Decor

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