This post will show you how to decorate the shabby chic bedroom of your dreams!
If you’re a hopeful romantic at heart, and prefer the soulful charm of vintage things over modern alternatives, then shabby chic might be the perfect interior design style for you.
What is shabby chic you ask? If you’ve seen the 2006 romantic comedy The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet’s quaint English cottage is the perfect example of shabby chic. Full of vintage charm and well-worn, “shabby” pieces, shabby chic bedrooms are low-maintenance yet incredibly alluring.
Although this style is commonly found in English countryside cottages and chic Parisian apartments, one can argue that shabby chic actually has All-American origins. Shabby chic was an extremely popular interior design style in the 90s, and has been making a strong comeback in the 2020’s like many other 90s trends.
You can easily replicate the shabby chic look in your own bedroom following this 18-step formula. Even if you omit some steps, you will still capture the “essence” of the look by getting the basics down.
18 Steps to Decorate the Perfect Shabby Chic Bedroom:
- Embrace secondhand and vintage furniture with imperfections.
- Get creative and re-purpose old furniture.
- Embrace wear and tear in the walls and doors around you.
- Rest gilded, ornate antique mirrors on the floor.
- Layer different textures of bedding to create a super cozy bed.
- Choose a metal wire bed frame.
- Add a romantic chandelier.
- Use wicker baskets for storage.
- Layer vintage rugs.
- Create a vanity area.
- Get a shabby chic dresser.
- Add lace curtains to your windows, or as a canopy for your bed.
- Add candles and antique candle holders.
- Add vintage wall art and paintings.
- Embrace vintage lamps and sconces.
- Use buckets as vases, and add a lot of flowers.
- Add a wooden trunk or bench at the foot of your bed.
- Add a rocking chair or wood chair in the corner, with a blanket.
1. Embrace secondhand and vintage furniture with imperfections.
The “shabby” part of shabby chic means that rather than trying to keep your furniture pristine, you can embrace the wear and tear that occurs naturally over time. From rusted metal, to chipped paint and distressed wood, all signs of wear can add character and soul to your decor.
Choose furniture made from quality traditional materials, like wood, metal, and glass. These will age more gracefully over time than the cheaper, modern alternatives like plastic, laminates and particle board. Older furniture also tends to feature better craftsmanship, and often will last longer.
2. Get creative and re-purpose old furniture.
One of the best ways to create that chic “thrown together” look is to re-purpose old furniture and use it in a creative way.
For example, use an old kitchen stool as a bedside table (like in the picture below). Turn an old wooden crate or bookcase into seating for the foot of your bed. Or, re-purpose an old room divider or out of service door as a headboard.
You can also try using an old bar cart to store beauty products instead, like in the picture below.
3. Embrace wear and tear in the walls and doors around you.
If you’re lucky enough to live in an old building, embrace the signs of wear and tear in your surroundings. From crackled paint walls, to well worn and dented doors, let the imperfections shine and take center stage.
You can even enhance the signs of wear by applying faux crackle paint finishes and antiquing to the interiors and furniture of your space.
4. Rest gilded, ornate antique mirrors on the floor.
Vintage antique mirrors that feature ornate, delicate metalwork can add add so much romance and timeless elegance to a space. Angle them against a wall and rest them directly on the floor to enhance that ultra-chic, thrown together vibe you’re going for.
You can opt for a full length mirror, or go for a dainty smaller sized one like the one pictured below for an extra feminine look.
5. Layer different textures of bedding to create a super cozy bed.
Shabby chic is a great interior design style for people who love mixing and matching different colors and prints. You don’t have to stick to one strict color scheme or design pattern here – you can actually just have it all.
Layer bedding with different types of fabrics to create that eclectic, homey vibe that shabby chic is all about. All the different layers will create the coziest bed, just in time for you to snuggle up for the frosty fall and winter months.
6. Choose a metal wire bed frame.
A classic, wrought metal wire bed frame is a quintessential part of any shabby chic bedroom. It is the perfect starting point if you’re trying to build your shabby chic space from the ground up, as the bed is the focal point of any bedroom.
Choose a bed frame with an intricate design, full of romantic swirls and curves, to bring a timeless charm to your space.
These beds can bring the romance and magic of a quaint English cottage to any bedroom, even if you live in the most boring of suburbs (like me 🙃🥲).
7. Add a romantic chandelier.
A delicate, beautiful chandelier with warm lighting can add a touch of classic European charm to your shabby chic bedroom. The soft iridescent glow from light filtered through a chandelier’s multitude of crystal pieces can create the most enchanting atmosphere for your space.
Blend old world glamour and cozy comfort seamlessly by finding a secondhand chandelier from a thrift store or flea market. Or, if you opt for a newly made one, choose a design that is reminiscent of vintage chandeliers to achieve that timeless elegance.
8. Use wicker baskets for storage.
Wicker baskets can be a charming and functional addition to your shabby chic bedroom. Not only do they provide extra storage space, but they also add texture and warmth to the room. Their organic, woven appearance perfectly complements the cozy, lived-in vibe of shabby chic decor.
You can use them to stash away blankets, pillows, and books, or even house plants as an alternative to plant pots. Nothing screams rustic, countryside chic like fresh, picked flowers or greenery stashed in cute woven baskets!
9. Layer vintage rugs.
Rugs are one of the best ways to make a bedroom feel cozier and more inviting. After all, there’s nothing like being able to walk barefoot in your room without your feet getting cold during the frosty months.
Layer vintage rugs of different sizes, patterns and textures to get that thrown together, mix and matched look. You can pair unique, one-of-a-kind thrift finds with more mass market rugs. The more eclectic the better when shabby chic is the look you’re going for.
I love indie rug retailer Saffron Bloom, a favorite amongst interior designers, for their rare vintage rug finds.
10. Create a vanity area.
Create a vanity area for a romantic yet functional addition to your shabby chic bedroom. Choose a vintage or distressed vanity table with a large mirror and delicate detailing. Pair it with a comfortable wooden chair or a tufted stool for that extra bit of charm.
Decorate the surface with pretty trays, vintage perfume bottles, and soft lighting to make the space inviting. If you need inspiration for beautiful vanity trays you can add to your vanity, check out this Room Salad article.
11. Get a shabby chic dresser.
No shabby chic bedroom is complete without an old wooden dresser with chipped paint and a distressed facade. These dressers are the perfect way to add a rustic, lived-in feel to your bedroom.
You can decorate the top of the dresser with old photographs, flowers, antique paintings, and candles to create a picture perfect vintage vignette.
12. Add lace curtains to your windows, or as a canopy for your bed.
Adding lace fabric instantly brings whimsy and romance to any space. Frame your windows with lace curtains to achieve that romantic, soft and hazy natural lighting.
You can also create a canopy above your bed with lace for an extra dramatic and feminine shabby chic bedroom.
13. Add candles and antique candle holders.
Adding candles throughout your room can create a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of a countryside home of a time long gone. You can even add vintage candelabras and candle holders to go full old-school vibes.
I’m a sucker for sandalwood scented candles, and my favorite is Maison Louis Marie’s No. 4 Bois de Balincourt. A warm, soothing sandalwood scent can really complement the rustic, cozy vibes of a shabby chic bedroom.
14. Add vintage wall art and paintings.
No shabby chic bedroom is complete without a curated assortment of vintage themed artwork adorning the walls.
You can mix landscapes, portraits, vintage photographs, and still life paintings. Etsy is a great place to find vintage and antique themed wall art if you don’t want to spend a fortune. Be sure to frame these paintings to complete the look. You can find affordable, ornate frames at secondhand stores, and also on Amazon if you don’t have much time to dig in thrift stores!
15. Embrace vintage lamps and sconces.
No cozy bedroom is complete until you have enough mood lighting to never turn on the dreaded “big light”. Soft lighting coming from eye or waist level instead of overhead provides the kind of warm ambience a bedroom needs.
Choose sconces shaped like candelabras or lanterns and vintage lampshades to match your lighting fixtures with the shabby chic theme. You never have too much lighting, so don’t be afraid of doubling up on sconces and standalone lamps.
Etsy is a great place to dig for vintage sconces. The selection constantly changes so keep your eyes peeled for great vintage lamps at great prices on there.
16. Use buckets as vases, and add a lot of flowers.
Nothing screams cottagecore like pots of fresh flowers strewn throughout a bedroom. Opt for galvanized metal buckets instead of glass vases for your flowers to create that rustic, countryside feel. You can also use cute ceramic bucket shaped vases as well, like the one featured below.
17. Add a wooden trunk or bench at the foot of your bed.
One of the best ways to make a bedroom feel extra plush is to add seating at the foot of your bed. It’s practical too: you can lay out your clothes for the next day, or sit while putting on shoes.
To complement the shabby chic look, choose a vintage, well-worn wooden bench, or an antique trunk for extra storage. You can place clothes, books or extra blankets and linens on the bench to personalize the look.
18. Add a rocking chair or wood chair in the corner, with a blanket.
Amp up the cozy, cottagecore vibes to 100 by adding a reading chair to the corner of your bedroom. You can add plenty of throw pillows and blankets to make it extra comfy.
You can find plenty of cool, vintage rocking chairs or regular chairs at flea markets and secondhand stores. Choose one that has a cool color or unique hand-painted pattern to add an eclectic touch to your space.
I hope this post gave you plenty of inspiration to decorate the shabby chic bedroom of your dreams. If you go for this cozy, classic interior design style, share a picture of the end result in the comments! The more inspiration to go around, the better ✨.
