Savvy Shabby Chic Decorating

What's old is new again. Shabby Chic decorating is a trend that has greatly appealed to my artsy-fartsy soul. I have been able to turn my home into my canvas. Thankfully, with my husbands appreciative eye. Yes, I have received strange looks when I say things like, "I found the coolest antique windows that I'm going to use for our headboard." But when I've drug my new found treasures into the house and put them in place, he often stands back and says, "Wow! That really is cool!"

Another thing I've also heard is, "You paid how much for that old, beat up (insert name of latest fabulous find of mine)?" It amazes my husband that I actually pay money for things that look old and used. But what amazes him more is when I say, "I paid $10 for that. And look, here's one almost identical on Ebay for $75. Oh, plus $25 shipping." Then I bat my eyes and say, "Aren't you glad I'm savvy at spending your money?"

The fact is, decorating your home Shabby Chic can really be a fun adventure that both you and your husband can enjoy while not breaking the bank. We are fortunate to live in a small town that includes a charming downtown filled with antique stores and little Shabby Chic shops with names like "Whimzy" and "The Gypsy Shoe." Whenever we have moments where all three children are in activities, we stop and browse a shop or two. We chat about things that catch our eye, laugh at some, and even discuss how we could recreate items we love but can't afford. It has really become a good "hobby" for us to enjoy together. Of course, the artsy-fartsy part I take control of but, I need a strong man to do the hanging of objects so that I don't put 13 holes in the wall when I only needed 2. I also let him run the power tools and use any smelly chemicals needed because it helps keep him feeling manly in the process. Anything for my man!

Decorating your home Shabby Chic does take time when you're putting the pieces together yourself and collecting from all different resources. But the money you save and the feeling you get when you finally stumble across "the piece" that you've wanted and refused on settling for anything less on, is priceless. And there are lots of stores that sell Shabby Chic style furniture and accessories for those who either have the money or want instant gratification. But, I adore the process of searching and creating and the beautiful character that you find in real antique pieces.

If you're like me and enjoy the process of decorating and creating, or you just need to save money, I have some great tips for creating your own Shabby Chic style.

Most importantly, let your imagination go wild and look at all items with the thought of, "What else could that be?" That antique door with all that texture and neat old workings would make the neatest entry way piece to hang jackets and hats, hold purses or bags. All you have to do is add hooks along the top and a "shelf" at the bottom. You could even paint it and add a dried flower arrangement or other decoration. The possibilities are endless.

You're guaranteed to find amazing pieces at antique shops but, be prepared to find higher prices. I honestly use antique shops for inspiration and for those pieces that I just cannot find anywhere else. Even then, don't be afraid to make offers. Just remember that this is not a garage sale, it's their business, so make fair offers. I've found that as long as I make reasonable offers, I almost always get it for less than the ticketed price. We've also found that since we frequent our local antique and Shabby Chic shops often, they know us and now frequently offer discounts to us. They also watch out for pieces they know we would be interested in. And should we ever decide a piece isn't what we want anymore they are more than happy to buy it from us or trade. Never underestimate the bartering system, which brings me to my next tip...

Craigslist.com is a fantastic resource for bartering items and getting things cheaply. Either watch the ads for your area or post your own ad with the items you are wanting and what you have to barter. Best of all, it's a completely free service. Just be careful and use caution when arranging meetings. I also recommend using what I call a "junk email account" (like a hotmail account) because some ads are robot generated and you may receive a bunch of junk mail.

Estate sales, garage sales and Goodwill are great places to find your treasures at bargain prices. I recommend that if you have a particular item in mind, research to see what the going rate is in your area. This applies whether you are paying cash or bartering. No one likes to shell out money or trade, only to find out later they could have purchased the item for much less.

And if you have no shame, take a little drive next time your city has large trash pick-up day. I personally do not have the guts to stop and take something from someone's pile of "trash." But if I hurry home and tell my husband what I found, I can usually barter with him for something he wants and he'll run out to collect my "trash." I'm telling you, never underestimate bartering. (wink!)

As a note, I want to add one thing that you should been aware of as you go on your treasure hunts. Be very aware of lead paints, especially if you have small children. Their systems are more sensitive to lead poisoning and they put everything in their mouths. There are several easy and inexpensive kits on the market that will immediately tell you if the paint on your item contains lead. If you find that it does, you have to worry most when the paint is cracked or peeling. Otherwise, you can seal the item with a coat of lead free paint. If it's cracked and peeling, you may have to take the proper steps to strip the toxic paint from your item. There are specific steps you must take with lead paint removal or containment so, please be sure to read up on the topic before purchasing an item. (Google "Lead Paint" and you'll find several good articles) That $50 item might seem like a good deal until you realize you will spend several hours stripping and trying to contain toxic paint.

After much time, hunting and creating our home is really coming together and reflecting a personal style that is truly our own. It's something my husband and I have created together. We have interesting conversation pieces and many fun and interesting stories about the history of the item, "The Hunt," or how we stumbled across it. Don't get us started on our adventures in refinishing furniture!

I wish you luck on your next treasure hunt!