The shabby chic style is chosen by those who love delicate shades and vintage design, those who completely deny glamor and pretentious luxury. The direction appeared in 1980, and the founder was the British artist Rachel Ashwell. The now popular style combines: Provence, boho, retro and even Victorian classics.
This style is not only suitable for cute country houses. It is quite possible to create it in an apartment in the bathroom. And ceramic tiles will become a kind of basis for shabby chic. After all, this is the first thing that catches your eye and sets the general background.
Design features in shabby chic style
This original and cozy style appeared in the eighties thanks to the artist Rachel Ashville. “Shabby” is translated from English as “worn, shabby.” This interpretation best characterizes the essence of the style - it is often created through antique furniture and vintage items that help add a dose of romanticism and vintage luxury to the interior.
Shabby chic bathroom
The following are considered distinctive features of shabby chic:
- Artificially aged or antique pieces of furniture . Of course, you don't have to spend millions on vintage tables or sinks. You can find suitable items on specialized websites on the Internet, flea markets, or even in your relatives’ attic.
- Delicate and soft colors . Pastel colors, discreet and pleasant patterns, a little gold plating. For example, floral distressed tiles in the interior will easily add a touch of romanticism to the bathroom design.
- Emphasis on volumetric ornaments . Here it will be possible to harmoniously fit into the project both a ceiling with stucco and even frescoes. Of course, for a small bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, stucco on the ceiling is a dubious option, but for a large house it would be quite appropriate. Modest-sized rooms can be decorated using furniture with convex patterns.
- Lots of cute decor . Miniature flower pots, beautiful textiles, vintage bath curtains, creative glasses for toothbrushes and similar interesting things are suitable for bathrooms.
- Soft light . Effective lighting is half the success of a design project. Spots, spotlights and even retro-style chandeliers are suitable for the bathroom.
Shabby luxury and vintage - shabby chic will not leave anyone indifferent
Important: shabby is somewhat similar to Provence, but these styles still have differences. For example, the distinctive feature of shabby is shabby luxury, aristocracy, a lot of ornaments and decorations in a rustic style.
Shabby chic bathroom 2022: incredible decor
- Similar bathroom design styles are honed through decor! So, there are real shabby chic motifs in it: sheet music, angels, flowers. You can combine them without fear!
- Enrich the atmosphere of your bathroom with exquisite textiles. Basically, airy, light materials are suitable: lace, tulle, high-quality chintz.
- Small, elegant jars with the above-mentioned motifs will add the appropriate aesthetics.
- Lettering is an easy and fun way to decorate your bathroom! It is enough to write some formal (or cheerful) message in calligraphic capitals on a clumsy tablet. The same method can be used to design simple signs.
- Elegant forged holders for towels and toilet paper will complete the idyllic picture you create at the junction of times and styles!
We hope our article “Shabby Chic Bathroom: Ideas, Photos and Tricks” will help you design the bathroom of your dreams!
Shabby chic tiles
Tiles with scuffs in the bathroom interior are the easiest way to bring to life a bathroom design project in the shabby style. The most important thing is to decide on the texture of the tile and its shade. Of course, you can use the classic options - smooth light tiles that suit almost all styles. However, there are other interesting options, which are listed in the table below:
| Tile texture | Characteristic | What goes with it? |
| Under the brick | Tiles with pronounced seams and an uneven surface imitating brickwork. Colors: white, red, orange. | Vintage furniture and fixtures, wood decor |
| Under the tree | Tiles imitating worn wooden boards. Color range: white, light yellow, peach, brown. | Textiles in soft shades and pastel colors, floral patterns on furniture, fresh flowers in vases and pots |
| Under the stone | Tiles stylized as natural stone - marble or sandstone. Color range: pink, white, beige. | Worn furniture and sanitary ware of a laconic design. Decor with floral patterns. |
An interesting combination of tiles in the shabby spirit: floral pattern and bleached wood stylization
Advice: when choosing tiles with an unusual and embossed texture, keep in mind that they often require quite complex care - you most likely won’t be able to wipe off the dust in a couple of minutes, since it will settle firmly in uneven areas or on a convex pattern.
Tiles with complex textures require special care—every “brick” will have to be washed.
Texture of ceramic tiles
It is the tiles that give the basis of shabby chic in the bathroom. Let's look at a few of the most popular textures:
Brick-like tiles with pronounced seams. If you complement it with antique decorative items, you get a completely chic style.
The tiles can also be presented in the form of worn antique boards. And if you dilute the composition with tiles with floral patterns in pastel colors, you will get a real shabby chic.
You can buy tiles to look like a strange stone. And if you decorate the bathroom with fresh flowers, it will turn out very interesting and attractive.
It is not uncommon to consider and use ceramic tiles with a washed out color. Definitely in shades of shabby chic.
Decorating a bathroom in shabby chic style
A bathtub in this style is suitable for those who do not like fashion trends and are in no hurry to follow them. For those who are accustomed to coziness and comfort in the bathroom, and not to new technologies. Again, we remember that we use decorative items and furniture in an aged style that must be carefully looked after.
And you don’t have to buy aged interior items somewhere; you can do it yourself. Often women and girls like to do things with their own hands. In this case, you can buy a regular cabinet or take an old one and use the decoupage technique to give it the desired appearance.
For such a bathroom, they often buy a bathtub with curved legs in a vintage style. And if there is a window in the room, then thin curtains in pastel colors are used, patterns with roses are acceptable. The mirror must be in an antique frame or artificially aged. Dried flowers and sticks will be a great addition to a shabby chic bathroom design.
We also recommend watching - White tiles in the bathroom: features of use and combinations with other tones
How to decorate the floor and walls
When decorating a bathroom, as a rule, classic materials are considered the most successful: tiles and plastic panels. Moreover, it is worth considering that ceramic tiles are deservedly classified as “long-livers” - with them, your renovation will not soon need updating. The design is more likely to bore you than to become unusable. The situation with panels is somewhat worse - they have a rather modest service life. There is another disadvantage: there is a high risk of mold formation under the plastic.
The floor is usually also tiled. And you can make any ceiling - suspended, metal, painted, etc. If we talk about colors, shabby chic requires light shades: pink, white, peach, light yellow and the like. Ornament, drawings, variety of textures - all this is welcome!
Porcelain tiles - look stylish and last a long time
Important : the shabby chic style has no clear boundaries - therefore, there are practically no limits to the designers’ imagination. Want something non-standard? Wallpaper your bathroom - the choice of vintage and moisture-resistant coatings will please even the most demanding designers.
Floor decoration
To imitate parquet and natural stone, shabby chic tiles measuring 20x60 cm or porcelain tiles of a similar format are usually chosen. This allows you to create a complete interior, as in the photographs, with a minimum number of coating seams.
Attention! “Shabby chic” cannot have perfectly straight porcelain tile seams. Therefore, the grout mixture should be specially “aged”, given unevenness and a worn-out appearance before being coated with waterproof varnish.
A white floor is difficult to use, so that the interiors do not resemble a hospital ward or a radio components workshop, it is necessary to use light-colored furniture and contrasting rugs, thresholds, and borders. Decors with a calm pattern or ornament will add originality, which can be used to zone functional spaces inside large rooms.
Choosing a bath and plumbing fixtures
In this case, it is important not to overdo it - if all the furniture and wall decoration are imbued with the shabby spirit, then you can choose laconic plumbing fixtures. A couple of elements in the shabby style and the mood will be created. For example, pay attention to vintage bathtubs with curly legs. Don’t forget about faucets - antique-style options look great. For example, massive taps in bronze or gold.
An antique bathtub with original legs fits perfectly into the interior
Bathroom furniture
It is important to think through storage areas in advance - this way you can solve several problems at once:
- save space;
- emphasize the design with suitable pieces of furniture;
- do not litter the room;
- make the bathroom functional and comfortable
All of the above is especially true if the bathroom is small. However, even with large areas it is worth thinking about comfort in advance.
Tip : Please note that today the trend is monolithic countertops, where a sink, cabinets, and even a washing machine fit harmoniously. Bathtubs with this design look fresh and modern.
A contrasting countertop is one of the key elements in a shabby chic bathroom design.
You can build the rest of the interior around the option with a tabletop - just choose suitable cabinets, etc. If you like other projects, then finding furniture is no more difficult. The main thing is to stick to the style and chosen color scheme. For example, in the shabby chic style bathroom in the photo below, the emphasis is on a light cabinet with embossed doors. It is beautifully complemented by a small pencil case with a glass shutter.
A compact and convenient locker that you definitely won’t regret purchasing!
We invite you to look at the following selection of furniture and accessories for an unusual and spectacular bathroom in the shabby chic style:
Decorate the bathroom in a romantic light and use elegant furniture
To give a romantic look to a shabby chic interior design, you can use stucco items with angels or flowers. The most classic option is stucco with rosebuds. It is not necessary to do anything original on the ceiling or install tension ones. This is of no use here. You can simply whitewash or paint it with white paint.
You should choose a bathtub made of cast iron, which can be painted in a pastel tone of the desired shade. Of course, painting will not be cheap, but you can try to find a bathtub in the desired color. But you have to try.
For a romantic style, you can install an antique chest of drawers in the bathroom. However, this should only be done if the square meters allow it. And you need to remember that the chest of drawers is made of wood, which means it requires constant care if it is in the bathroom.
Again, if the bathroom is large, then you can use a huge wrought iron chandelier with all kinds of pendants for lighting.
A few live plants in cute pots will add even more originality to the design.
Such a bathroom will appeal to girls and women of absolutely any age. After all, you just need to add a couple of candles and the romantic atmosphere is already ready. The spirit of love lives in this interior design.
Mirrors
“My light, mirror, tell me...” For the fair half of humanity, it is especially important what kind of mirror will hang in the bathroom. Today the choice is so huge that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make it. For a shabby chic style bathroom, mirrors in aged wooden frames are well suited.
You can choose options with built-in lamps - such models look cozy and cute. If you want to be creative, don't be afraid to experiment - pay attention to interesting shapes. For example, a sun mirror in a gilded frame looks so luxurious and chic that it’s hard to look away from it.
A mirror in the shape of a sun can be a key element in creating a design.
Kitchen screens and living room areas
Retro styles, including shabby chic, allow you to reduce your renovation budget through the use of original technical solutions:
- cracked (but not falling off in pieces) plaster, shabby furniture and shabby wallpaper are organically played up by adding a minimal amount of new elements;
- The optimal solution for the kitchen is to make or replace a wall apron that protects against splashes of hot oil and dark spots during cutting of food;
- in the living room, the long service life of the interior is emphasized by decorating individual sections of the walls inside the functional areas with tiles in the shabby chic style.
For a kitchen apron, you can choose tiles of any size with floral or floral patterns. Plain tiles in a limited space will not be able to clarify which style the owner has chosen. The main condition is discreetness, wear and careful attention to detail. In the living room, you can tile the fireplace area, a section of the dance floor or the steps to the mezzanine floor. Floor porcelain tiles should imitate aged valuable or rare wood species, noble marble or warm tuff, elegant limestone.
Floral print is traditionally used on wallpaper and tiles. However, tiles are used more limitedly than trellises. Therefore, in children's rooms, bedrooms and offices, it will not be possible to use tiles to decorate the shabby chic style. But hygienic, wear-resistant, waterproof cladding is widely used in hallways, on the porch and in the hall of a country house. Here, a floral print is quite appropriate and is not rejected by other decorative coatings.
Thus, tiles from the Shabby Chic collections of leading manufacturers are by default suitable for modern interiors. Design cladding allows you to reduce the budget for finishing and repairs, emphasizing the individuality and artistic taste of the owner.
Decor and accessories
The variety of decorative elements is one of the features of shabby style interiors. For example, the following accessories create a cozy feeling in the bathroom:
- original shaped mirrors;
- unusual vases, antique ceramic figurines;
- Natural flowers;
- creative and functional items, such as a cage-shaped toilet paper holder;
- wall tapestries, stained glass, paintings and frames with inscriptions.
Mirrors, flowers, vases - wonderful and spectacular decor options in the shabby style
Solutions for a small bathroom
Of course, every designer strives to make a small bathroom visually larger. For example, this effect can be achieved if you decorate the walls and ceiling in light colors. Mirrors also add space and air to a room. However, it is worth recognizing that the limited area is very limiting in the selection or development of design projects. The shabby chic style is perfect if you are designing the interior of a small bathroom.
Let's look at examples of decorating a small bathroom in shabby chic style.
Small bathroom in shabby style
Compact and stylish bath
What opportunities does shabby chic design provide when thinking through the interior?
Advantages of using this style in bathroom design:
- the ability to successfully fit old or inexpensive furniture into the interior;
- combination of practicality and elegance;
- calm colors that induce relaxation;
- rich, but discreet or vulgar decor, giving the bathroom an atmosphere of homely luxury;
- the ability to combine furniture and plumbing fixtures of different styles, successfully fitting the items you like into one room.
Design solutions in the shabby chic style make it possible to renovate the bathroom to suit every taste and budget. In such an interior you can use almost everything - from expensive collections of antiques to original vintage furniture from a flea market.
Additional accents
Literally anything can serve as a highlight in the shabby chic style. For example, an unusual watch or an antique vase. Multi-tiered chandelier, fresh flowers in pots, sink on lion legs. Or a rare chest of drawers in which your great-grandmother kept starched waffle towels.
Don’t be afraid to experiment - use beautiful textiles, unusual toothbrush stands, vintage soap dishes and other nice little things to decorate your bathroom.
The accent on the sink is made with a floral print
Color solutions
You should not listen to those who say that the palette of colors and shades of shabby chic is small. In fact, there is plenty of room to roam around here. In addition to all possible shades of pastel and delicate colors, we remember that there is also artificial wear. And this is a different look, a different shade and a different color.
The main color of this style is white. And many people know how many shades this color has: ivory, milky, light beige and many others. The second color is pink. There are even more shades and even more opportunities to create an unusual style in the interior.
Other main colors of this design: lilac, pistachio, soft blue, turquoise, violet, coffee. All shades are very delicate and even sweet. You should choose colors consciously, and not just everything in a row.
Curtains, napkins and other fabrics can be one color. But mostly floral designs with rosebuds or large flowers are used. There are absolutely no bright colors in the shabby chic style. Everything should look pale. after all, this is a shabby style. This is its attractiveness and peculiarity.
Features of the color palette:
- as if faded by the sun;
- lost color due to many washes;
- yellowish tints from old age;
- Even small stains from tea or spilled coffee are acceptable.
Only occasionally can you find exceptions to shabby chic. If we take a design in yellow and white tones, then you can add a few details in regular black and a little bright yellow. But don’t overdo it, otherwise it will be a completely different design.
