6 shabby chic dining room ideas

2. Choose a wooden table and chairs

The star of your shabby chic dining room furniture is undoubtedly the table. Wooden tables and handcrafted wooden dining sets are popular choices. Decorate your rustic wooden table with a white table cloth, and some mismatched vintage crockery and tableware, to have it blend in seamlessly.

The other option is to source an old wooden dining table online, or the newspaper classifieds. Apply some white paint, then gently sand the corners and any areas that would receive wear over time to simulate the aging process.

You could try the same approach with your dining chairs. Look for wood examples, or even a dining bench, and consider a combination of wood and ornate metal too.

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4. Add in shabby chic accessories

The key to a shabby chic dining room, or any room you plan to decorate in this style, is to feature the right accessories. There’s a wide range of items that can work, from glass jars and handicrafts to florals and antique crockery. A ‘less is more’ approach is not something to worry about here.

Varying the textures and materials on offer adds depth and warmth – think wood, glass, china, metal, linen and lace. Vintage tins and containers picked up from a jumble sale or antique stores look good dotted around the room, as will an old crockery set on show in a display cabinet.

Picking up shabby chic accessories doesn’t have to be expensive either. A display of mismatched glass jars, vases and jugs won’t cost too much, nor will brightening up the space with some colourful flowers, placed in the centre of the dining room table in an ornament of your choice.

A large vintage-style mirror always works well in a shabby chic setting. Try a statement metal clock too.

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6. Lighting your shabby chic dining room

With grey being the colour of shadow – and a shade that works well in a shabby chic dining room – the right lighting can help to enhance the setting. You just need to consider its aesthetics carefully, so it doesn’t look out of place with your shabby chic dining room furniture.

Consider a decorative lighting element hanging over the dining room table. You might like a chandelier in the vintage style, or decorative ceiling lights. Metallics and glass can work, so consider a copper ceiling light or glass pendant lights.

Around the room, you could strategically position a table lamp or two. Buy new and swap the shade for a vintage lampshade, or choose an older piece. Upcycled lighting can be fun, with interesting pieces made out of old piping or car headlamps.

With vintage accessories such a huge part of the shabby chic theme, don’t forget the simplest lighting option. Some decorative candlesticks in the centre of your dining table set will work wonders.

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