blaue schranktuere im shabby chic stil gestrichen

DIY Shabby Chic

Transform old furniture into Shabby Chic treasures in no time! With matte pastel shades, natural colors, and a little creativity, you can create charming eye-catchers. Our guide shows you step-by-step how to achieve the popular Shabby look – stylish, individual, and with a personal touch.

How to achieve the look

Note on color selection

The choice of colors influences the entire look of your piece of furniture. A classic American farmhouse style, for example, is created with Graphite as an accent color and Old White as the top coat. For a French country look, Paris Grey is suitable as an accent color combined with Old White as the top coat.

Of course, you can customize the look entirely – subtle with similar shades or high-contrast for a real WOW effect. Using more than two colors is also possible and creates a particularly creative, unique character.

for color inspiration

Prepare and clean

Before you begin painting, prepare your furniture. Remove all handles and hinges, and take off drawers and doors to make the process easier. Clean the surface with soapy water to remove dust and dirt – harsh chemicals are not necessary.

Cover areas that should not be painted with masking tape.

Apply accent color

First, apply your "accent color." This is the color that will peek through the sanded areas. Stir the chalk paint thoroughly and apply it with a brush in thin, even layers. Vary the direction of your brushstrokes to create an appealing texture. Let this first layer dry well for about 1 hour before applying the second layer.

Apply top coat

Sanding for the shabby chic look

Seal with wax

Your shabby chic furniture is ready!

Turning old into unique: With the deliberately created signs of wear and the interplay of color layers, you have given your furniture a very personal shabby chic look. And the best part? No two pieces are the same – that is exactly what makes this technique so charming.

Would you like to keep the instructions for your next project handy? Simply download them as a PDF.

Download PDF instructions

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

DONE!

Products Used

annie sloan kreidefarbe graphite farbmuster

Chalk paint Graphite

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe old white farbmuster

Chalk paint Old White

from CHF 14.90

Abrasive Fleece Pads Classic 3-piece set

from CHF 8.90

annie-sloan-chalk-paint-wachs-klar-120ml

Clear Wax Soft

from CHF 12.80

Suitable alternatives for your DIY project

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Brushes, paint rollers & more

Chalk paint Old White

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe coolabah green farbmuster

Chalk Paint Coolabah Green

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe athenian black farbmuster

Chalk paint Athenian Black

from CHF 14.90

Chalk paint Pure

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe original farbmuster

Chalk paint Original

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe duck egg blue farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe duck egg blue mood1

Chalk paint Duck Egg Blue

from CHF 14.90

Chalk paint Graphite

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe aubusson blue farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe aubusson blue mood1

Aubusson Blue Chalk Paint

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe french linen farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe french linen mood3

Chalk paint French Linen

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe old ochre farbmuster

Chalk paint Old Ochre

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe svenska blue farbmuster

Chalk paint Svenska Blue

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe amsterdam green farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe amsterdam green mood1

Chalk paint Amsterdam Green

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe country grey farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe country grey mood1

Chalk paint Country Grey

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe antoinette farbmuster

Chalk paint Antoinette

from CHF 14.90

Chalk paint Coco

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe oxford navy farbmuster

Chalk paint Oxford Navy

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe olive farbmuster

Chalk paint Olive

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe paprika red farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe paprika red mood2

Chalk paint Paprika Red

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe louis blue farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe louis blue mood1

Chalk paint Louis Blue

from CHF 14.90

annie sloan kreidefarbe chateau grey farbmuster

annie sloan kreidefarbe chateau grey mood1

Chalk paint Chateau Grey

from CHF 14.90

Tips & FAQs

For Shabby Chic, matte chalk paints in pastel, white, and light natural tones are ideal. These colors give your furniture a soft, nostalgic look and fit perfectly with this interior design style.

Shabby Chic is particularly well-suited for old wooden furniture, as its rustic charm underscores the style's character. Dressers, tables, chairs, and shelves that already show signs of wear or are made of solid wood are ideal. Smaller decorative items, such as picture frames or chests, can also beautifully complement the shabby look. Let your creativity run wild and transform even modern furniture by giving it a nostalgic touch with chalk paint and the right finish.

After painting, lightly sand the edges and corners with fine-grit sandpaper to remove some of the paint and create charming signs of wear. Be sure to follow the wood grain to achieve an authentic look. We recommend using 80 - 100 grit sandpaper for a harmonious "shabby effect".

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