In a recent article I shared with you one of the official decorating styles that you can incorporate into your home: Shabby Chic. Shabby Chic is beautiful, soft, opulent and cottage-styled furniture and decorating with a very distinct, antique, “distressed” appearance.
What’s great about Shabby Chic is, you can do it yourself. You don’t need to pay thousands of Rands to buy Shabby Chic styled furniture from boutiques… You can actually make your own. With a bit of paint (chalk paint preferably), an old piece of furniture, and just a few other tools, you can easily make it look Shabby Chic pretty in no time.
How to get that “distressed” look with Vinegar and Water
Not a lot of people know this, but Vinegar, even Apple Cider Vinegar, is very useful in creating that “distressed” look.
First, give your furniture piece a proper double coating of chalk-type paint. Allow it to dry completely. Then mix half a measure of vinegar with half a measure of water, and put it into an easy-to-use spray bottle. Spray the solution over the areas on your piece that you wish to have “distressed”. It would normally be around the edges and on the flat surface.
Use old rags or an old t-shirt to wipe over these sprayed areas until some of the paint starts to disintegrate and you start to see that distinct Shabby Chic look. Just be careful not to overdo it… It must appear natural, as though the piece of furniture has aged and been worn out a little over the years.
Some also recommend dipping steel-wool into the vinegar and water solution and using it to create that distressed look. Just be careful not to apply too much pressure, as you might damage your piece of furniture with the steel-wool.
So, are you feeling inspired to create your own Shabby Chic furniture? Then browse the Junk Mail website for great bargains on second hand furniture for sale and antiques for sale that you can renovate yourself and create that perfect distressed look.