Shabby Chic Kitchen Decorating is a great way to decorate when on a tight budget.
Kitchen furniture is easy, if it is old and weathered, it will work, if it isn't quite old enough, paint it and sand it to give it the weathered look. Add mismatched chairs or benches.
Don't forget your kitchen cabinets when decorating. Pre-existing cabinets can be made to look old, or doors can easily be replaced with glass, or you can even choose to go with no doors at all.
Visit antique stores and estate sales, keeping your eyes peeled for items, such as, weathered armoires, china cabinets, antique corner shelves, book shelves, farmhouse sink, tables, chairs and benches.
Thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales are great places to find accessories, for the kitchen, look for, colorful plates, linen tea towels, hanging baskets, porcelain jugs, a weathered recipe box, old cookie jars, vintage tea sets, wrought iron plant stands and vintage pottery.
One of the least expensive ways to enhance your shabby kitchen decor is to display your treasures. Build shelves all around your ceiling wall.
It is a little difficult to dust but a little dust wont hurt anything it just adds to the old look.
Add colors, patterns and texture with the use of Damask, lace and floral fabrics, for window coverings, tablecloths towels and napkins. Look for fabrics that are of good quality, but look worn with age, fabrics with roses and floral chintz, paisley and stripes.
Lighting essentials for any kitchen should include good general, or ambient lighting, plus task lighting, at work areas, such as, the sink, stove, kitchen islands and countertops. My favorite shabby chic lighting is wrought iron chandeliers and pendant lighting in a distressed cream coupled with shabby chic wall sconces, and swirly candleholders.
Window covering can be swags, sheers and valances with crystal beads sewn on the bottom, lace panels with vintage roses, voile lace, mini blinds, balloon shades or shutters. Some gorgeous colors for window treatments are soft pink, white, silver gray, antique rose, ivory, mint, lilac and lavender. The main rule of thumb for any fabric in the shabby chic kitchen decorating theme is that it appear homespun, this holds true for pot holders, place mats, tablecloths and chair cushions.
Add floral throw rugs to the existing floors and you are good to go, but if you are looking to replace your existing floors natural wood, painted or stained or whitewashed are very popular.
Shabby Chic kitchen decorating begs for the use of, soft pastel paint colors, like pale aqua, pale green, sunny yellow, pale yellow, pink, light blue, teal, ivory, antique white and grassy green.
Add colors, patterns and texture with the use of Damask, lace and floral fabrics, for window coverings, tablecloths towels and napkins. Look for fabrics that are of good quality, but look worn with age, fabrics with roses and floral chintz, paisley and stripes.