Designing home shabby chic with style

There's a fine line between achieving a nice home shabby chic look and falling into what can only be termed plain old shabby. But, by following a few simple rules you can stay on the right side of the line while letting your individuality shine.

Like most things, keeping it simple is the key. Home shabby chic grew out of the eclecticism of the French Provincial style, but for all its relaxed charm and seemingly effortless grace, it can be difficult to replicate.

The Origins of Home Shabby Chic 

Kris Dick of La Maison says that French Provincial is a style that doesn't come naturally to Australians. "Here we tend to try and match everything, whereas the French have a mixed sense of style and the look grows, almost organically, from the eclectic choices they make," he says.

"The French home shabby chic style is one of understated elegance. It is about buying a piece that you love for its own intrinsic qualities rather than because it fits into a preconceived idea or matches your existing decor. We can be a bit clinical at times, which is opposite to the sensibilities embodied by the French."

What to Look for when Shopping for Home Shabby Chic Items 

Whether they're antique or replicated pieces of furniture, furnishings or objects with an old-world charm, it's important to buy pieces that appeal to you. It can help to build the look over time and as your confidence grows, so too will a sense of balance. "The essence of good home shabby chic style is to know when to stop," says Kris. "For example, if you find a wonderful sofa, you don't want to drown it in cushions and throw rugs."

A good starting point can be to buy a few great pieces and build the look around these. There are also ranges of replicated furniture that help bridge the gap for those who are not quite ready to embrace a fully eclectic mix. "At La Maison we do a range of matched, straight-edged furniture in antique ivory, which still has a lovely feel and quality but provides a level of continuity that some people are more comfortable with," explains Kris.

So the secret to creating a really comfortable, casually elegant home shabby chic is threefold: choose pieces you love, don't be a slave to colour schemes, and most importantly, know when to put on the brakes.