Shabby Chic Painted Furniture

If you’re planning to revamp your old furniture or if you’re looking for inspiration for your next DIY project, shabby chic painted furniture is an excellent choice.

However, with so many styles and techniques available for this style of painted furniture, it can be overwhelming to choose one. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of ideas that will give you the confidence to start your project.

photo collage of different shabby chic furniture with text overlay

Whether you prefer pastel hues and distressed finishes or vibrant colors with floral motifs, shabby chic painted furniture allows you to unleash your creativity in any space.

You can incorporate decorative techniques like crackling, stenciling, or decoupage to elevate their look and make them truly unique.

With endless possibilities and a little bit of paint, you can transform your old furniture into stunning shabby chic masterpieces that breathe new life into your home.

First, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions, and then we’ll get to all of the great ideas!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

What paint is used for shabby chic furniture?

There are all sorts of paints that you can use on furniture, but there are specific types of paint that are best suited for shabby chic furniture.

applying chalk paint with a high quality brush

Chalk paint, mineral paint, or acrylic type paints are the best for shabby chic furniture because they distress easily, and distressing is a very important part of the shabby chic look.

Other paints like latex paint that you use on walls will ball up and gum up your sandpaper when you sand it off.

These paints also stick better to furniture than latex paint does, and they are so versatile. You can apply a furniture transfer over them, glaze over chalk paint with them, or create a layered or blended look with them.

Now, there are a lot of chalk paint brands, mineral paint brands, and acrylic paint brands that are great for furniture. Check out our what paint to use on a dresser post to see our top picks for each type of paint.

How do you make furniture look shabby chic?

The shabby chic style is characterized by distressed furniture, soft colors, and delicate details that give a room an air of romance and nostalgia.

To create this look, you can use a variety of techniques such as painting with chalk paint or mineral paint, distressing the surface with 220 grit sandpaper, applying waxes or glazes for an aged effect, and adding decorative details like stenciling furniture or adding furniture transfers.

To distress your painted furniture, let the paint dry completely. Then rub 220 grit sandpaper over the edges and details of your furniture. You can even sand the flat surfaces to create a few spots here and there that show some wood and make it look like the paint rubbed off.

Learn more about distressing and other ways to distress painted furniture in our distressing furniture blog post.

More Painted Furniture Ideas

If you get through this list of shabby chic painted furniture ideas and realize that shabby chic furniture isn’t what you want, here are some more painted furniture ideas that you might like.

Without further ado, here is our list of amazing shabby chic painted furniture ideas!