Going “Shabby Chic” with Your Little Girl’s Furniture and Dresser Choices
by Alysha Miller Today's little girls have grown up surrounded by Disney and Barbie princesses. So it's no surprise that so many request a princess t...
Today’s little girls have grown up surrounded by Disney and Barbie princesses. So it’s no surprise that so many request a princess themed bedroom so they can feel like Cinderella in their own bedrooms. Instead, of going with a generic themed princess design turn to Shabby Chic furniture and bedding for a romantic, uncluttered and unique looking princess theme. Even adult woman can jazz up a princess theme with a Shabby Chic dresser, desk or chair for a home office or bedroom that offers a calming oasis to come home too.
The term shabby chic, refers to a style of interior design that is functional and comfortable. White furniture is usually the trademark of the Shabby Chic design. Often quality antique and gently used furniture is painted country white to create a fashionable, clean and functional look. A Shabby Chic dresser or bed does not reflect just one look. It is often combined with Victorian, Country and Romantic styling. As well as with vintage furniture and even vintage laces to give a perfect mix of lived in comfort. The Shabby Chic furniture line, also offers authentic workmanship and quality wooden white furniture at affordable prices and stylish designs.
The main purpose of shabby chic is to create a “clean” line and feel in the room, for an uncluttered, pristine look. Decide on what you want for furniture elements, including your shabby chic dresser, before you decide on what you want to decorate for your princess. This may help you design a room that has more open space so that your little girl can sleep and play in comfort and serenity.
A central feature of many Shabby Chic rooms with a vintage theme is the use of large old fashioned, embellished mirrors. Large mirrors are feminine and give a room more depth. For young children anchor a large mirror to the wall for safety purposes and give your little princess a fairy tale dress up corner. Add hooks to the wall by the mirror to display your daughter’s princess dresses. Then place several small wooden bins by the mirror to hold various crowns, costume jewelry, feather boas and other princess themed clothing items for role playing.
For an adult woman, add in a small secretary mirror to the decor. These small mirrors are great for sitting on the vanity table, a Shabby Chic dresser or a matching secretary desk to add elegance to the room.
For a girl princess room a Shabby Chic design must consider the type of bed to be used. A Shabby Chic bed with a large embellished headboard is a popular option. Be sure that the bed and Shabby Chic dresser complement each other. One of the most sought after bed styles for a princess theme is the canopy. A canopy bed adds softness and luxury to the room and makes a little girl really feel like royalty. If the Shabby Chic bed you choose does not already have a canopy, you can make your own using chandelier hooks and tulle material. Decorate the linens with glitter or rhinestones to complete the look.
The Shabby Chic dresser and nightstand is an important focal point in the room. These furniture pieces usually feature glass pulls on the handles and decorative carving for a feminine touch. A bookcase works well for the uncluttered look because it can be used to store items up out of reach. Thereby increasing organization and keeping a child’s room from getting messy. Your child’s collection of dolls, princess themed books, family pictures and awards can be placed in the shelves or on top of a Shabby Chic dresser. For a woman using the princess theme for the home office or bedroom, a secretary desk offers a pretty accent that traditional desks do not have. Their spindle skinny legs, narrow benches and minimal design, effortlessly tie in with the uncluttered look praised in Shabby Chic decorating.
Before you begin, make sure you put a fresh coat of paint up so that the walls are fresh and clean when you design your child’s bedroom. What color of paint should you choose? That depends on your preferences. Many “princess themed” rooms look good with soft purple or pink, although just about any pastel color will do, such as soft yellow; off-white, too, is another option. If you do paint the walls white, you can add a colorful border for accents. You can make murals on the walls themselves, or you can add a border with lots of color. You can also do wall hangings that are star or butterfly themed, and you can also use peel and stick decals for a more personal option. To make it a little girl’s dream, a large banner depicting princesses, fairytale castles, and other fairytale themes can be hung up over the bed; for really personal option, put your daughter’s name on it.
Finally, accessories are important, too. Using these small but important details will truly make your child’s room brand-new. Then, your daughter will truly feel like a princess. The fabrics you choose for the bed should be unique; although Disney related or commercial princess designs are fine, you can also use velvet, satin, lace, ruffles — anything that again, says shabby chic. Patterns? Florals, stripes, and prints can all provide a familiar, cozy look. Getting stuffed pillows in a number of shapes and sizes, ones, glass slippers, a tea set, play sets, or dollhouse can add to the atmosphere.
Although shabby chic is a design, it doesn’t just mean finding explicitly designed “shabby chic” furniture. Instead, you can take old items and give them a fresh new look; find pieces at flea markets, yard sales, attics, estate sales, and more. If you’re buying old furniture items, make sure you buy those that have been cared for well. If they’re too damaged, they may not be salvageable. And although most furniture with the shabby chic theme is white, you can also add some dark pieces. Cream-colored furniture, too, goes well with the shabby chic, princess-themed look you’re going for.