Some people prefer a bedroom that looks like a department store show room, while others look to relax in a room that reflects a warmth and charm of times gone by. Mass manufacturing and modern appliances can't capture that inviting rustic style or old-world atmosphere the way a peeling painted dresser, patina frame or vintage throw pillow can. With a little elbow grease and the eye of a savvy shopper, you can make your own shabby-chic bedroom retreat.
Instructions
Walls
1. Color wash your walls to give them a weathered look. Prime and paint your wall as usual with a base paint color you like in a satin or eggshell finish.
2. Rub a tinted glaze on the wall that's about two shades lighter than your wall paint. Use a damp cotton rag, dip it in the paint and start rubbing in random circular motions to spread it on the wall. Don't cover the whole wall; give it a mottled or dappled look. Work on one 3-foot section at a time from floor to ceiling.
3. Dip another rag into a glaze about two shades darker than your base color and rub that on, partially over the lighter glaze to bend them and partially over the blank spots. The more dark glaze you add, the darker your walls will get so add it sparingly until you like the look.
4. Switch to the opposite wall to give the first one time to dry. When the second wall is done, start a third wall in a corner adjacent to the first wall and finish it, then finish the last wall.
Furniture
5. Sand any modern-looking furnishings made of laminates and wipe them with damp rags. Prime them with acrylic-latex primer and paint them a base color.
6. Apply a crackle paint medium according to the manufacturer's directions and re-paint it with a contrasting color. Allow it to dry.
7. Sand your crackle painted furniture around the edges and on some surfaces to make it look old and worn. If you have any other painted or stained furniture, sand it to make the paint finish .
8. Distress wood furnishings further by hitting them with chains, a hammer or other heavy objects. Poke small holes in them with a nail or scratch them up with a stiff wire brush.
Accessories
9. Store away modern conveniences, such as audio/video equipment, in cabinets or behind a screen for when they are not in use.
10. Use vintage fabrics found at thrift shops and antique stores for your bedding and window treatments. Mix and match colors and patterns.
11. Shop at antique stores and thrift shops for lamps and other accessories. Use sand paper or steel wool to wear down anything too polished or new-looking.
12. Hang old portraits or folk art to capture an earlier era that interests you. Use ornate metal frames, but tone them down. Rub shoe polish on some of the edges and details of the frames and wipe away excess. Go over each frame with steel wool to further distress it.
Tags: them with, , antique stores, base color, look worn, partially over