Home Tree Atlas: Home Decor Ideas and Mood Boards

Room Styling: Shabby Chic Paint Colors

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Blue Bonnet 2050-70

Wall Paint Color: Country Dairy by Ralph Lauren

Similar Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Blue Lace 1625

Similar Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Cloud White 967

The classic shabby chic paint scheme is white – just white walls. This gives you a blank canvas to then decorate the space with a pastel color palette: cream, yellow, mint, pink, and light grey. In most of the pictures above, you’ll see white or off white painted rooms. In my room specific mood boards, you’ll also see the white/off white walls:

Other shabby chic paint colors include painting the walls mint, light blue or light grey.

A Textured Look

For a more rustic style, why not go for a textured wall. This can be done with rough plastering, Italian style (seen below in picture (A). There are also ways of creating a textured look just by using paint effects (Textured Wall Painting Ideas: From Faux Wood to Linen Effects).

Check out my mood board here for different shabby chic wallpaper designs. My favorite designs are the textured ones, called Anaglypta wallpaper. You can even get wallpaper that looks like lace (B).

For me, the best shabby chic combination would be white walls with decorative wall trim, seen in picture (C) above. You can also get some pretty fancy crown molding that would go well in a shabby chic styled room (D).

To really get a shabby chic style in the room, you’ll want to use as much fabric as possible. This includes on the walls. Have a look at my post here for ideas on how to decorate the windows: Window Treatment Style: Shabby Chic Curtains, Rods, and Tie Backs.

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Unique Closet and Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas

When it comes to all the shoe storage ideas, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions to find the right solutions for you. Do you want to keep the shoes hidden away so you won’t have visual clutter? Are you looking for storage ideas for yourself or for your kids? Do you want to be able to see all your shoes so you can find the right pair easily? Or do you want to put your shoes up on display? Below I’ll go over a range of ideas that will cover all the different options.

Storing Shoes by The Entryway

This is the place to keep your shoes that you use on a more daily basis. Later I’ll go over ideas on storing shoes in the bedroom or closet.

An all in one storage unit, such as a hall tree, lets you store everything you need by the front door – just like in picture (1). A ladder is a unique idea for storing shoes (2), either by the front door or even in the bedroom. You can even fit hooks to the sides of the ladder to hang up your keys.

Other foyer and entryway shoe storage ideas include:

Hanging up floating shelves or railings on the walls (3). This can also work for storing shoes in the garage, mudroom, or hallway
Using large pvc piping to create shoe cubbies (4)
Crates can be hung on the wall to create your own personalised cubbie wall (5)
Follow along with the paid guide here to make your own lazy Susan shoe tower (6)
By grouping together your shoes in a wicker basket/tray, just like in picture (7), you create a clutter free and organized look
A glass door storage cabinet lets you store your shoes, and makes it easy to see each pair (8)
Some people would rather have their shoes out of sight, as this create a more minimalist look. To do this, get some closed cabinets just like the ones in picture (9) or for a modern style the cabinet in picture (10) which can be bought here.
Another way to hide your shoes is to store them in an ottoman or a shoe storage bench that has an open top
Crown molding can be used to hang up heels by the front door or in the bedroom (11)

Kids Shoe Storage Ideas

For kids, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for them to store away their shoes, otherwise they’ll be left all over the place. By the front door is the way to go. Since kids won’t have too many shoes they don’t really need to be organized. Large buckets (12), baskets or a large cubby are great for kids to throw their shoes into.

Closet Shoe Storage Ideas

For those who have a shop worth of shoes, storing them in the bedroom or closet helps keep the entryway tidy. You could go all out and build your own shoe closet. The one in picture (A) simply uses IKEA EXPEDIT closets, which have the right size cubbies for shoes.

Much simpler shoe storage ideas for small spaces and closets include:

Using a vertical hanging shoe organiser. Either hanging down from a closet railing seen in picture (B), or over the closet door (C)
Coat hangers can be bent so you can hang up your shoes in your closet (D)
Even file organisers can be used. They can separate and store sandals and flats on a closet shelf (E)
You could also use clear stackable plastic shoe storage boxes. Not only will these help store away your shoes, but lets you easily see what is inside each box.

The space under the bed can also be used to store shoes. Wicker baskets could be used, or there are storage boxes on wheels – like the ones from IKEA. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 | A/B/C/D/E

More storage mood boards:

March 15, 2014 in Storage

Shabby Chic Kitchen Decor Ideas

From the light pastel shades, to the elegance of a shining chandelier. The informal, yet formal, shabby chic style adds romance and whimsy to a home. Here are shabby chic decor ideas that will help transform your kitchen space.

Shabby Kitchen Furniture

In most kitchens, the kitchen table is the main focal piece. So you’ll want to make sure you create a shabby chic look here, to set the tone for the room. You can go for the more rustic shabby chic look, by using a chipped painted wooden table. Or for a more formal look, why not cover your table with layered fabric, lace, or floral patterned fabric – just like the tables in pictures (2) and (3).

For the chairs, chipped painted wooden ones are a popular design choice. Or there are the more decorative, curved metal ones.

Around The Sink

For the sink, you’ll want to get a porcelain tub. Take a look at the kitchen sink in picture (4). That sink is one porcelain piece, that includes a backsplash. To keep to that shabby chic style, go with traditional style faucets – the goosenecks.

Shabby Chic Kitchen Decor

White is the go to choice for the paint color on the walls. While decor pieces can be used to decorate the room with more colorful and pastel shades (mint, yellow, pink, cream). You can take it a step further and have the walls textured. For more ideas and pictures have a look at my mood board here: (Room Styling: Shabby Chic Paint Colors).

Fabric plays a big role in creating a shabby chic style. Above I talked about the different fabric choices for decorating the kitchen table. The same applies for the curtains in the kitchen. From using lace or ruffled curtains, to plain white ones with decorative tie backs (such as costume jewellery). For a mood board on all the different curtain ideas have a look here: Window Treatment Style: Shabby Chic Curtains, Rods, and Tie Backs.

Decorating with Storage

A shabby chic kitchen will have most of its storage displayed out in the open. If everything is out in the open then you’ll want to have storage containers that are decorative and add to the style of the room. Here are some ideas on what types of containers to use:

Enamel containers (5)
Glass jars
Wooden crates
Wicker baskets (6)
Wire baskets
White porcelain bowls or jars

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, white wooden ones are the way to go for a shabby chic look. These can be open shelves or have glass doors. White painted is the go to choice, while chipped paint creates a more shabby chic look. And for the finishing touch: decorative metal knobs/pulls (7) which can be found from 4 The Love of Wood.

For other kitchen storage ideas, have a look at my mood board post here.

Shabby Lighting

In any shabby chic room, you will want to have a chandelier. It instantly creates the shabby style. A mini chandelier will work best in the kitchen. It can hang over the kitchen table and or over the kitchen island.

Other lighting ideas include using barn style lights – the flat pancake looking ones. White or galvanised metal ones look good, along with pastel shades seen below – from Barn Light Electric.

Mint Wall Lamp: Barn Light Electric | Hanging Galvanized Light: Barn Light Electric

A traditional style lamp, like the one seen in picture (8), will add lighting to a kitchen island or countertop and help style the space. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

Related Styles

For more inspiration for shabby chic kitchens, why not borrow from vintage and French styles:

March 12, 2014 in Design Styles, Kitchen

Baby Sleeps: Shabby Chic Nursery Decor Ideas

Shabby chic is a great style for a baby nursery. With its pastel shades and use of fabric, it is a style that is whimsical, soft and romantic. Here are some shabby chic nursery decor ideas to help you decorate and transform your space.

Shabby Chic Crib Ideas

The crib is the main focal point in a nursery. It will be the largest piece of furniture in the room, and everything will be arranged around it. Get the shabby chic look here, and it sets the tone and feel for the rest of the room. Some designs ideas for cribs include using a wicker or an antique style French one.

It is not necessary to get a shabby chic crib to create the right style. Here are some ways to dress up any crib for a shabby chic look:

Your fabric choices play a big role in creating the right style. Use pastel colors, floral patterns and or lace. These can be used as shabby chic baby bedding, for skirting around the crib, or for lining the walls of the crib just like in pictures (2) and (3).
Another way to create the shabby chic look around a crib is to hang up a canopy above it (4).
And don’t forget about a shabby chic style mobile to hang over the crib (5). Etsy is a great place to find one.

Whimsical Lighting

The statement piece in any shabby chic room is a chandelier. For the ceiling light in a nursery, try and use a mini chaneleier (6).

To create cozy lighting in the shabby chic baby room, try and avoid using the ceiling lights. Instead go with floor and table lamps. Get lamps with fancy lamps shades – like the one in picture (7) and in the pictures below. Another cozy and whimsical lighting idea is to hang up string lights (8).

Silk Jewel Lamp Shade: $45 Amazon | Twist Lamp Shade: $39 Amazon

Blossom Chandelier: $396 Amazon

Shabby Chic-ifying Your Walls

You’ll usually see white painted walls in most shabby chic designed rooms. Other shabby paint options include mint, yellow, baby blue (for a boy), cream, or pink (for a girl). For a more decorative look, why not use some floral wallpaper.

Some other design ideas for the walls include: using trim, fancy crown molding, or using Anaglypta wallpaper as seen in picture (9). For more wall design ideas and pictures have a look at my mood boards here:

Decor and Storage Ideas

Some simple decor and storage ideas for your shabby chic nursery include:

A rocking chair
The curtains in the room can help create the shabby chic look (10). From floral patterns and lace curtains, to using antique door knob tie backs and wooden curtain rods, have a look at my mood board here for a range of creative curtain and window ideas: Window Treatment Style: Shabby Chic Curtains, Rods, and Tie Backs.
Use fancy storage containers, as they will add to the style of the room. Some ideas include wicker and wire baskets, vintage bottles, enamel containers (11), galvanised buckets can be used as trash cans, or a wooden ladder can be used to hang up towels and linens. For a mood board of storage ideas, check out this post: Organizing in Style: Shabby Chic Storage Ideas.

For more decor ideas for your nursery, have a look at my mood board here: Whimsy and Romance: Shabby Chic Decor Ideas.

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