Shabby chic is a decorating style that lends itself to bright, airy colors. In order to bring out the full depth and texture of this look, your cabinets must be made from quality materials that do not have any decorative edges or corners. For best results, try to get cabinets made of solid wood, rather than laminated, veneered, or pressed wood. The natural saponification of wood helps to make shabby chic cabinets more environmentally friendly than veneered or pressed cabinets, which both have synthetic counterparts. Acrylic cabinet doors are another alternative for an ecologically conscious homeowner, as they are resistant to water damage and won’t warp over time like solid wood doors will.
If you’re looking for ways on how to make shabby chic cabinets, you’ll also want to pay close attention to window treatments and accents. When you’re planning your shabby chic home decor, pay special attention to the windows, doors, and accents around the room. The placement of large paintings or prints in key areas can help tie the entire look together and can also provide the illusion of more space, as well as providing a focal point for the shabby chic design elements. If you have an ample window space but not a large, decorative print, consider hanging a framed painting over the door or on a wall to make it easier to accessorize the room.
You can create the shabby chic look with paint and stenciling, but if you don’t have any artistic skills, feel free to hire a professional to do the work for you. If you choose to go the stencil route, you should also use inks with a pale blue or pastel color, so that the colors don’t stand out too much and that they aren’t overwhelming. You can find stencil kits at most craft stores, but if you want a more authentic look, you can also purchase stencils online or in catalogs dedicated to shabby chic decorating.
As for the cabinetry, you’ll want to select pieces that have a natural and distressed look to them. A light staining of teak will give a very nice sheen to your cabinets and will also allow them to be refinished over again. Cedar is another popular wood for shabby chic cabinets, because of its ability to change with the seasons. However, cedar furniture also tends to be very expensive, so homeowners may only install them in their homes if they have a relatively large budget to begin with.
Once you have your cabinets installed, you’ll need to update their look by repainting them with coordinating paint. While shabby chic paint does take a bit of getting used to, it can drastically change the ambiance of your home, so you’ll want to do it in stages so that your transformation will be a gradual one. Begin by choosing a neutral shade of paint for your shabby chic cabinets, such as off-white or beige. Next, choose coordinating accessories, such as hardware, dishes, and floral prints. These items will coordinate with the color of the paint, and you can finish them off by applying a matching stain to them.
In order to accessorize your shabby chic cabinets, you’ll need to find some type of finishing touch. If you’d like to dress your cabinets up a bit, consider using lace or ribbon to tie accents on your doors and trim. This works especially well if you’re painting your cabinets a neutral shade, such as off-white or beige. You can also paint your trim with the same beige or white colors that you’ll be using on your doors and then strategically place some lace or ribbon along the trim.
If you’re really ambitious and have plenty of money to spend, you might want to consider replacing your shabby chic cabinets with new, more up-to-date models. However, this option also has some drawbacks. For one, your cabinets are likely to lack character if they’re outdated. If you really want to go all out, you could always build a new home entirely out of shabby chic furniture. If you’re not good at DIY, this could be a great option for you since it will allow you to have a one-of-a-kind look.
When you decide that you’re ready to learn how do I make shabby chic cabinets? The best way to learn is to make some yourself. It’s really not as hard as you might think, especially if you enjoy the vintage or antique look in your home. If you do your research, you can find many different ways to create these cabinets using common household items, as well as a few supplies you may already have. As long as you keep your cabinets rustic and distressed, they’ll last for years.