Shabby chic style in scrapbooking: basic techniques and secrets. In the style of shabby chic: luxurious accessories for the interior with your own hands Shabby technique

Once, about 20 years ago, designer Rachel Ashwell came up with an interior for herself. She walked around flea markets, antique shops, bought old beautiful furniture of different styles. She put it in order, updated its appearance, used various decor techniques. So the old "junk" acquired a new, incomparable style. And then Rachel decided to give this style a name. Shabby Chic.

Not everyone is now correctly interpreting the meaning of the term "shabby chic". This is the style of furniture, decor, textiles. In general, the style of the interior. Currently, the same name is given to some handmade techniques, for example, in decoupage.

It is in this romantic style and decoupage technique we will do bottle for interior decoration. But first, let's find out what it is.

What is shabby chic? From English, this phrase is translated as "shabby chic, shine."

Shabby chic is characterized by the use of soft pastel colors. It is boiled white, very rarely cream, light lilac, pale blue and baby pink, ivory, creamy, sea foam. All the colors are beautiful, but seem to have faded with age. Decor items are gilded. Shabby chic is a style associated with romance and airiness. He is to the liking of all creative, dreamy and gentle natures.

Many people confuse the styles of Shabby Chic and Provence. What is their difference?

Shabby chic is luxury, elegance, and Provence is simplicity and a kind of rustic rudeness. There are many images of roses in Provence, but there are no angels like shabby chic. In turn, in shabby chic, you cannot see bunches of dried herbs, cockerels, like Provence style (imitation of a French village). Shabby chic allows for subtle stripes and checks.

Decoupage bottles and shabby chic style

To transform the bottle we need:

  • an empty bottle of beautiful shape with a smooth surface;
  • snow-white building paint and whitewash;
  • zero skin;
  • sponge and brushes;
  • three-layer napkin with the image of flowers;
  • scissors with a thin blade;
  • colored acrylic paints;
  • decoupage varnish;
  • water and container;
  • small cloth napkin;
  • PVA glue or decoupage;
  • nylon mesh, bead, needle, thread;
  • gold outline.

The first step is to wash the bottle with soap and wipe it dry. Now we are preparing building white paint, whitewash and sponge. You can buy a sponge at the store or make your own from a pencil and dishwashing sponge.

The main rule when applying layers is the obligatory drying of each. Or, more precisely, they applied one layer - dried it, applied the second - dried it, etc.


We dip the sponge into the construction paint and “bang” the bottle, applying 5 layers. After we do 2 layers of whitewash.


When the next (last) layer is dry, sand it with sandpaper.


The surface of the bottle for the drawing is prepared. We cut out fragments from a napkin. Separate the drawing layer.


Dilute PVA glue one to one with water if it is too thick. And three parts of glue with one water, if the PVA is of normal consistency. We try on a flower fragment, choose a place where it will be better located and looked.


We will glue the motifs with a fan brush. It is very convenient because it covers a large surface of the napkin and does not tear it.


The image on the bottle can be made the same on both sides, or it can be different.


So that the neck does not seem empty, we apply a pattern on it with a sideways slope.


We cover the dried motifs with the thinnest layer of varnish. It is better to use a synthetic brush.


Glued flowers will look drawn if we paint them with paints. For these purposes, we select the paint and do the painting right on top of the flowers and leaves.


As you can see, the painted motifs have acquired brilliance and there is a feeling that they are painted.

It's the background's turn. The most difficult thing in applying is not stepping on floral motifs.

We advise you to take a thin brush so that it is convenient to get into hard-to-reach places. But before we start, let's go through the varnish. This will give us protection that if we accidentally go to the flowers, then there is the ability to quickly erase. A thin layer of varnish in this case plays the role of an interlayer.

The background color for the bottle is delicate with a beautiful name - sea foam. We mix white and green paint in such a proportion that we get the intended shade. Having gone too far with greens, you will have to dilute again with white.


Thoroughly mixing the paint, cover the bottle.


A stage has come that requires a lot of patience. We varnish the bottle in 10 layers. Do not forget the rule written above! We dry!

With a golden outline we make a small chic along the rim of the bottom, neck and here and there we “bang” on the background. Squeeze out a drop of the contour onto the index finger and with quick touches “squeeze”.


We varnish the bottle again, but two layers are already enough.

For decoration neck bottles we will make a flower from tulle. We cut off two centimeter-wide strips approximately 40 cm long. Small rectangles for leaves.

In two containers we dilute the red and green paints. We throw tulle at them and wait. Since tulle is a nylon fabric, it is reluctant to dye. But we will get our way! After 30-40 minutes we get it. We dry.

We paint the edges of a thin strip with acrylic red paint.
Cut out leaves from pale green rectangles and paint over the edges with green. On top of each draw veins. We are waiting for drying.


We turn the flower from the red stripe, fix it with a thread. Sew on three leaves. Sew on a bead in the center.


We wrap a thin strip of delicate light green color around the neck of the bottle. We sew a flower.


The work must be done carefully, but do not forget that shabby chic needs the effect of some kind of negligence, accuracy and perfect order - alas, not his forte.



Shabby chic is a feminine style of "Victorian romance", which was born in the late 80s of the last century and became popular among young people. Bottle in engineering decoupage performed shabby chic style, will be an excellent decorative element in the interior, bringing a touch of nostalgia to it. With the help of decoupage technique, you can also do unusual vase or funny christmas balls .
Specially for the site Lessons of Needlework Anna Dranovskaya.

If you are a fan of the shabby chic style, then you probably like not only the interiors, things, souvenirs made in its theme, but also everything that is done in this direction with your own hands. Of course, it is done with talent. So, a lot can be done for the sake of style, thanks to decoupage. The technique is not so complicated as it requires diligence, attention, patience. But as a result, you will receive a thing that you will not get anywhere else.

Still worth a little "run" through the style. All fans of shabby chic know for sure the name of Rachel Ashwell, a British woman who changed the world a little. In the late eighties, she became interested in an unusual thing: in order to move away from the minimalism that was fashionable at that time, Rachel began to buy old furniture and other curious things in the spirit of old English traditions at flea markets.

She restored these things - from large furniture to accessories. And soon the interior of her home attracted everyone's attention. Rachel had to make things for sale, and so the shabby chic style was born. If you love him, it's hard to stop. And turning ordinary furniture, dishes, jewelry boxes and bottles into a stylish shabby chic thing, you will definitely want to continue making these amazing transformations.

Where to get shabby chic pictures for decoupage

You can, of course, look for suitable three-layer napkins on sale. You can download the necessary backgrounds on the Internet, you can purchase decoupage cards on sites for craftswomen. Often there are necessary pictures on Polish sites, English resources.

So, where to get pictures:

  • Download backgrounds, images on the Internet;
  • Order decoupage cards on special sites (more often - foreign ones);
  • Buy napkins (three-layer) with the desired motive.

And it’s better to save material for decoupage. Sometimes, after all, the desired fragment can be cut out of the fabric. Another time you will see napkins in a regular store, on which are chic faded roses. You can chat on forums, in groups for decoupage masters, and share your findings.

Is decoupage of shabby chic furniture difficult?

Often the complexity of decoupage is determined by its volume. Sometimes, of course, it will take more time to decoupage one bottle than to decoupage an entire chair or shelf. It all depends on the final goal, on the number of layers, variations of decorative effects.

But if you are in love with the shabby chic style and want to start changing the look of your home, then, of course, not accessories, but furniture will start. She defines everything. With one chair, a new life of a room can begin. And only then the little things will “catch up”. For many, the easiest thing is to transform the table.

An ordinary wooden table (perhaps already initially white) needs to be slightly tinted and decorated with images in a shabby chic style. And this means no rich and bright colors. Shabby chic is considered the world of pastel shades. With color accents, you also need to be careful.

What else will become the interior center after decoupage:

  • Chest of drawers - paint an old chest of drawers, decorate with decoupage, replace accessories;
  • An old piano - it can only perform a decorative function;
  • Picture frames or panels - start small;
  • Stools - yes, the most common ones, I would like, of course, with curved legs and other decorative effects, but the decoupage of ordinary stools may surprise you.

If you start the transformation from the kitchen, then it can be decoupage of bread bins, plates, jars for bulk. Or decoupage of a watering can, an ordinary metal one, which is inexpensive in a hardware store. Decoupage of plates is the very first step to updating the kitchen interior. This, by the way, is most likely to be a decorative plate on the wall.

Graceful decoupage: a tray in the style of shabby chic

To do this, first of all, purchase a wooden blank. Be sure to sand it to remove defects. Wipe with alcohol, degreasing the surface. Then prime the tray with wood primer. After drying, the tray is painted with brown paint, and not all, but only those areas where it is planned to imitate scuffs.

Then rub the candle on the edges, the bottom of the tray and the sides. After that, paint with white acrylic paint, two times. Do not make even strokes, let them be chaotic, directed in different directions. This is the basis of this work, treat these steps carefully.

Tray decoupage: shabby chic master class

After this great work, you need to do flowers. For example, print flowers on a printer, and then cover them with several layers of varnish, preferably matte. Then cut out the motifs along the contour, be sure to leave the so-called allowances.

  • Next, printouts need to be thinned. Put them in water for 15 seconds, and while the water is wet, rub the bottom layer of paper with your finger. Do this until the drawing becomes transparent.
  • Printouts are glued on PVA, pour glue under the printout. Still, there will be a waterproof varnish layer on top.
  • From above, you need to press a napkin, soaking up excess glue, while the picture should not “leave” or wrinkle.
  • The entire tray is glued in the same way.

And then there is toning. Toning of floral motifs is done in several ways - this is either artistic pastel, or shadows heavily diluted with acrylic paints. With a kolinsky brush, shade the pastel, first diluting it with water.

Finishing work with a tray: decoupage in the style of shabby chic

After that, you need to take sandpaper, quite grainy, and sand the places that were processed with a candle. First, this is done outside, and then inside the tray. Then the tray is covered with matte acrylic varnish twice, and take matte varnish. Gloss and shabby chic are polar things.

If you do not accept strong scuffs, then do not do them so desperately - you should not blindly follow the style, you can only follow its motives. Therefore, achieve an effect that is aesthetically closer to you. In an ensemble with such a tray, you can make a tea house.

Fashionable decoupage boxes in the style of shabby chic

Similarly, you can decorate the box. The main thing is to understand the main features of the style and decoupage techniques that will help to recreate this style. There are several nuances that are worth winding up.

Helpful information:

  • Acrylic paints will lie well only on the prepared surface - it needs to be sanded with sandpaper, dust removed, wiped with a damp cloth. And then apply the acrylic primer in three layers.
  • Scuffs are drawn with a candle, paraffin will take over the function of the reserve. Scuffs should not be very much, make them at different distances from each other.

The next point - always leave the paint to dry thoroughly. Do not speed up the drying process with a hair dryer, this can lead to defects. The best thing to do is leave it to dry overnight.

Chic decoupage of bottles in the style of shabby chic

And the bottle will be decorated in much the same way. Be sure to wash the bottle with soap and dry before decoupage. When applying layers, let each one dry well. After applying all layers of paint, the surface is sanded.

The motifs are glued to the bottle with a fan brush. It is convenient - it will not tear the pattern. The neck of the bottle should not be empty, because the pattern is applied to it with a sideways slope. Dried motifs are covered with a very thin layer of varnish. Do it better with a synthetic brush.

Decoupage in shabby chic style (video)

The shabby chic style is gentle, sophisticated, it has both vintage and nobility of tones, it is full of grace and some special perception of the world. And this is expressed both in large things, and in the most, it seems, insignificant trifles. Let creativity be your pleasure.

Good results!

Shabby chic(English shabby - well-worn, shabby)- the name of the style in the interior, decor, fashion. The name itself can literally be translated as “shabby shine” or “shabby chic”, which reflects its essence. American style emerged in the late 1980s; written by Rachel Ashwell Rachel Ashwell). She began by decorating old furniture purchased at sales and flea markets, initially for her own home. Over time, the hobby moved to a new level, sales began. Furniture, restored in soft, light colors, has become very popular. Over time, Ashwell created a range of accessories for the furniture of the corresponding style, the range expanded from tea sets to textiles.
The vintage style had a great influence on the shabby chic style. Vintage (from French vintage - long-term wine) - a direction based on a combination of modern and old, and sometimes even antique items in the interior. Shabby chic can be called vintage turned inside out, as shabby chic interior decor suggests a certain protest of excessive luxury.
The essence of the style is that furniture, interior items are artificially aged. Shabby chic is shabby chic. Items can be both old and new, painted mainly in light pastel colors and sometimes worn out, with delicate roses or birds, or without drawings at all, a lot of delicate textiles, napkins, pillows, bedspreads, covers on chairs and armchairs.

The main elements of Shabby chic style:
- the use of delicate pastel colors: boiled white, ivory, pale pink, light blue;
- objects used in decor should have a worn effect - several layers of paint should be visible (as if the table or stool had been painted many times), patina;
- pastoral motifs are used as an ornament, making shabby chic related to the “rococo” style - roses and angels in pastel colors;
Forget geometric patterns! Only “classics of the genre” are allowed - thin stripes or a cage;
- hand-made is only encouraged;
- the use of traditional, high-quality things from natural materials.
Flowers are a very important part of this style, especially the rosebuds. Leftover fabric, old sheets, old curtains and other fabrics can all be used to create your style. Use them for cushions, upholstered furniture and wicker rugs.


In decoupage, the shabby chic style is very popular. Furniture, plates, caskets, mirrors, wall panels are decorated in this style. For work, they use various aging techniques, smoky (shadow) decoupage, volumetric decoupage, less often - decopatch, gilding and gold leaf, but only if these elements do not clog the general meaning of the shabby: light colors with an advantage of boiled white, pastel accents, a sense of light, space , romance, a soft touch of antiquity.



Decor items in shabby chic style: also antique. Antique clocks, bronze, faded paintings in antique frames, old televisions, gramophones, vases, candelabra, antique telephones, various small objects of past eras, even a rusty iron on coals. Flowers enliven the interior, but again in aged pots or even boxes. Since the interior of a shabby chic does not express a specific style, then those whose “aging” expresses the style you have chosen will serve as decor items. There can be aged country items, and various different classic styles.

In any case, it should be remembered that the shabby chic style prefers to fashion a demonstration of quality and good taste in everything. Shabby chic in the interior is a combination of two incompatible concepts - beauty and shabby. The style takes inspiration from antiques and plays with the same vintage finishes. The shabby chic style is not afraid to show defects as a result of the ruthlessness of time in relation to objects, but on the contrary, it openly demonstrates it. Do not confuse a shabby chic interior with a junk dealer's house. The shabby chic style uses traditional, high-quality items made from natural materials. The antiquity of such items only increases their value.

Shabby chic design can be called bold. Such an interior solution is not suitable for everyone, and even then in this style one room or a thematic section of the house is more often performed than the whole apartment or house. The shabby chic style is suitable for people with an artistic beginning, creators, photographers, artists, or studios.

Shabby Chic (shabby chic) ​​is a style that uses light colors and shades of pastel color, and flowers are used to create a plot.

Here, as in the photo above, you can make the interior using the Shabby Chic technique. This technique is used to age objects, thus creating the effect of shabby chic. In our time, Shabby Chic has become very popular, because it gives objects a slight touch of antiquity, romance and mystery.

Perhaps this style does not suit you for some reason. In this case, we advise you to study and start working on new things as soon as possible!

Ways to use the Shabby Chic style in beautiful decoupage

In the picture above, you can see one of the souvenir options that you can create for your loved ones and friends.
You can use this style to decorate jewelry boxes, frames, tableware, mirrors, wall panels and various furniture. It can save your old furniture, breathe new life into it, and also help you create an original gift for friends and loved ones with your own hands. Using the Shabby Chic style, you will realize that creating unusual things with your own hands at home is very simple and also very pleasant.


We understand the pictures to work with the decor

Pictures for decoupage created in the original Shabby Chic style can be different. It can be various flowers, roses are most often used. You can combine several types of flowers, making compositions. "Aging" accepts a floral theme without pronounced geometric patterns, only checks and stripes are welcome, but they should not stand out when used.

Just look how great this style looks in - it's just a masterpiece!

The picture can be torn out of the napkins - but try to keep the edges uneven, this makes it less noticeable that the picture is glued. Another picture can be cut out of wallpaper or cut out of fabric. Remember, the picture for decoupage should be classic, elegant and delicate.

We decorate the wall clock with the help of creative techniques

Consider using this style to create a clock, as in this photo:

You will need the following materials:
  • MDF clock blank;
  • Stencil with numbers;
  • Tassels;
  • Clock mechanism and clock hands;
  • Napkin for decoupage.
  • Bituminous varnish.
  • Palette.
  • White acrylic primer.
  • Glue for decoupage.
  • Acrylic paints.
  • Circuit.
  • Household sponge.
  • Craquelure varnish.
  • Acrylic matt varnish.
  • Sandpaper.
  • Pastel to fill cracks.

Step-by-step master class with description and photo

Step 1: We cover the workpiece with white acrylic primer with a sponge, repeat this procedure three times, but only after each layer has dried. After that, the workpiece will look like in the photo below:

Step 2: We tear out the pattern we have chosen from the napkin and glue it gently to the workpiece. We are waiting for it to dry and sand it. It should look like in the photo:

Step 3: Since the background turned out to be very light, make it more beige, as in this photo:

Step 4: We draw the details of the picture where it is most needed. You can also add small details.

Step 5: Using a stencil and a sponge, apply the numbers with brown-black paint. In this photo below you can see how to do it.

Step 6: Using a smaller blank, separate the future translucent layer. We circle the smaller blank with a pencil as shown in the photo:

Step 7: To create a translucent layer, mix the acrylic varnish with the paint we used for the background (1 part paint and 1-2 parts varnish). We cover the numbers with this composition several times. No need to overdo it, the numbers should be translucent after covering them with the composition. Like in the photo below:

Step 8: Apply the numbers again through the stencil, over the old numbers. Let them dry and cover the surface with maimery 753 craquelure varnish. You need to cover in two layers. The effect will be better. We are waiting for it to dry, and cracks will appear.

Step 9: After the varnish has dried, we rub the cracks along the outer circle with gray pastel, and the inner circle with brown pastel. Rinse off the surface under running water, dry and coat with pastel spray varnish.

Step 10: On a sheet of paper, cut out a circle equal in diameter to the inner circle of the clock. Walls that are very thin need to be strengthened. This will be a stencil, thanks to which we can highlight the line with numbers using bituminous varnish. The stencil should look like in the photo below:

Step 11: Apply bituminous varnish along the edge of the stencil, and also apply varnish along the outer edge of the clock. As shown in the photo:

Step 12: With the help of a contour, we decorate the end with a three-dimensional pattern. Color it in with the background color. Then we cover with bituminous varnish. It should look like the photo below:

Advice from experienced craftsmen: it is beneficial to use this stencil technique - it's fast, beautiful and easy!

Step 13: 6 times we cover the watch with matte acrylic varnish. Each layer should dry well. We insert the clockwork and select the arrows.
Clock in the style of Shabby Chic decoupage is ready. You can decorate your house with such a clock or give it as a gift to your relatives or friends.

From time to time, you want to refresh the interior and bring something new to it. The decoupage technique allows you to quickly and inexpensively update furniture and interior items, to give the old atmosphere individuality and sophistication. Today we will show you how to transform an ordinary bedside table into a stylish piece of furniture with your own hands.

Decoupage bedside tables do it yourself

The bedroom is a room where comfort and harmony traditionally reign. If it is decorated in light or pastel colors with floral motifs, then shabby chic furniture will fit perfectly into such an interior with its light colors, smooth lines, scuffs and floral patterns.

For work you will need: a primer, structural paste, a stencil with an ornament, sandpaper, acrylic paints, brushes, PVA glue, transparent matte varnish, two-component craquelure, napkins with roses.

1. So, first you need to prepare the surface for work: wash, degrease with any alcohol solution and remove the accessories.

2. On the prepared surface, apply one coat of primer, which will provide good adhesion and protect the paint from peeling.


3. Since our bedside table is rather angular, and smooth lines look better in the shabby chic style, we will apply volumetric ornaments to the facade using structural paste. Structural paste is applied with a palette knife on a stencil with an ornament. After the patterns have dried, remove the stencil and lightly go over them with fine sandpaper to make the ornament smooth.


4. To give our ornaments a sense of a 3D effect and “age” the surface, we apply dark acrylic paint - it will show through the cracks on the white bedside table. To get such a gray tint, you need to add a little black to the white acrylic paint. So, we apply a dark shade only on the facade and corners, and on the countertop - only white.


5. Next, we move on to decoupage the tabletop: select a suitable floral pattern on napkins, carefully tear it off and peel off the two lower layers. We glue the ornaments on a dry surface in the corners with PVA glue. If the glue is too thick, it is better to dilute it with water 1x1. For gluing, choose a wide flat brush or a fan brush - it will be more convenient. You can apply glue directly to the napkin: we apply the ornament to the right place and apply glue on top with smooth movements. After the glue dries, cover the countertop with a clear varnish. It is better to use a matte varnish, because glossy surfaces do not look very good in a shabby chic style.


6. The next step: paint over the rest of the surfaces with white acrylic paint and sand the protruding parts of the nightstand and three-dimensional ornaments from structural paste with sandpaper - a dark shade appears, and the nightstand acquires an “aged” vintage surface.


7. Then we do decoupage on the facade of the nightstand: select the floral pattern on the napkin, peel off the top layer and glue it with PVA glue. To prevent the flowers from appearing too flat, you can lightly paint on the shadows with pale pink paint. As soon as the glue dries, varnish everything with a transparent matte varnish.You can apply 3-4 layers of varnish: the more layers, the longer the life of the furniture will be.

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