If you are someone who likes to mix styles, a foundation of shabby chic furniture can work wonders from the start. From there you can bust out while following a few rules that will keep everything in balance. We have the perfect essential building blocks to create a decor that is all your own.



Watch the scale

Think of the room as a scale on which you’re balancing items of different sizes – you don’t want anything to tilt the room too heavily to one side. A small or delicate item might be smothered if it’s in close proximity to a giant armoire or sideboard. Balance it out visually by putting that delicate chair with a table and a couch across from the large armoire or by keeping items at roughly the same visual weight.



The Remi bed from the Homes Direct 365 shabby chic furniture collection by the same name starts everything out right, with its classic, simple lines. You could throw in a lot of quirky details, prints, styles and the pieces in the Remi collection will handle it all with grace.









Remi bed, shown above



Cleanse the palette

One way to make items of different styles work together is by sticking strictly to a limited palette. Unify a variety of vintage chairs by painting them all the same colour and choose one or two other colours to build the room around. If you simply must have that zebra patterned rug in the living room, then stick to shades of black and white and one "kicker" colour in there. This third colour can also serve as a unifying element. Draw it through pillows, a rug, or other accessories.



Let the generations mingle

Don’t use one half of the room for shabby chic and the other half for rococco elements, as this will result in an unnatural feeling to the room – like it’s a museum rather than a living space. Let things mix and mingle: if you’re following the other rules concerning colour and scale, the items should be comfortable living next to each other.



Don`t Forget French Furniture

When searching for shabby chic furniture you will often find the same companies offering french furniture because its derived from the same designs, the look and aesthetics of both genres is very similar and often just described as shabby or french for sales purposes. So if you want a wider range of products to choose from try searching for french furniture too, we have a big range of both types here at Homes Direct 365.



See More Here: A Mixed-Up Shabby Chic World

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Homes must walk a fragile line between clutter and barren space. Finding equilibrium can mean all the difference between comfort and an overly busy home. Managing open space takes a perceptive eye when browsing furniture catalogues. To help with the procurement process we’ve put together a list of shabby chic pieces that’ll make the best use of open spaces without sacrificing comfort.



Bergere Antique French Style Cabinet

Accompanied by a TV or not, this Bergere antique cabinet is perfect for filling the space. An excess of room doesn’t mean filling it with pieces that serve no function. Clutter occurs when the items around your house are not being used on a daily or even weekly basis. Conflating style and function, this antique cabinet is ideal for showcasing photos, cards, or storing books, remote controls, or any other pertinent object you don’t want lying around the house. This hand-carved piece brings home owners a blast from the past.









La Rochelle Antique French Style Rattan Chair

Perhaps you just moved into your new home only to become the owner of a porch for the first time. Porches are lovely places to be outside without sacrificing the comforts of the home. Furnish your outdoor area with the right shabby chic furniture and you’ll never want to go back inside. The La Rochelle antique emits an antebellum feel while boasting its hand carved mahogany. The rattan chair is ornate with smooth curves and an elegant design that gives off the perfect French boudoir feel. The chair’s aesthetic makes it perfect as a stand along piece or accompanied by another of its own style.









La Rochelle Antique French Style Monks Bench

This La Rochelle piece captures the intricate style displayed in the aforementioned piece but offers a bit more sitting room. This bench is exclusively hand crafted from the finest mahogany wood. Sumptuous and antique, this is another shabby chic white finished piece that would be perfect for a shaded outdoor area or within the confines of your bedroom.









Antique French Style Footstool

This footstool is perfect for spaces that just need a little something extra to feel complete. Without taking up much space and offering a comfy cushion to put your feet up this stressed antique is the ideal unassuming piece of furniture for any room.









Read Full Article Here: Filling in the Gap With Shabby Chic

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Our French-style furniture is one of our signatures, and our Bordeaux collection is one of the
most popular for good reason. Its graceful lines follow in the traditions of a style that took
hold during the reign of Louis XIV.



The style of furniture and decorative arts of the Louis XIV era is well known for its, shall we
say, exuberance; with every surface festooned with elaborate filigree, gold leaf, marquetry,
and anything else that would fit. The Sun King was not known for his collaborative style, and
state-sponsored departments of the arts were responsible for the strict application of his
preferences.



Louis XIV dialed it back a bit, while still keeping some of that exuberance. Furniture of all
types had painted accents and lacquers, often with shell and flower motifs. Table legs were
curved and delicate, while desks, dressers, and chests also became rounded in the body.
This romantic style became popular all over France.



HomesDirect365 have taken the best elements of the Louis XIV style and applied them to
modern home decor in the Bordeaux matching range. Whether alone or as part of a full
bedroom set, the items in this collection are striking yet versatile – surround them with
colours and accessories as subtle or electric as you like.



Ivory writing table



This table is sweet and a little quirky – making it perfect for a shabby chic theme – from the
carved details around the mirror to the swooping curves of its legs to the en-pointe look of
its feet. But with seven handy drawers and ample surface, it offers more than good looks.



Full-size wardrobe

Also not just pretty to look at, this wardrobe has a smartly designed interior that makes it
highly functional. You might wonder how you got along without it.



Chest of drawers


A chest of drawers with personality in its bowed surfaces, with a bit of weathering on the
carved details, and delicate drawer pulls. Despite its commodious size, this dresser feels
light thanks to its narrow legs and inches of space underneath.

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