Summer is here and our gardens are calling! It’s the season of the sun and it’s the perfect time of year to give your garden and outdoor space a shabby chic upgrade. 

1. Tablecloths & Table Runners

  

(Oscar & French ruffled linen table runner)

Start with your garden table. Think of it as the centrepiece of your space. Throw a ruffled linen tablecloth or table runner over the top and immediately add a touch of comfort and rustic romance. The organic and wrinkled texture of linen is perfect for warmer months and should always be a shabby-chic textile of choice.

2. Seat Covers & Pillows

(Oscar & French ruffled linen chair cover)

(Photo - 4 All My Wishes & Dreams)

To make any area truly shabby chic it needs to be comfortable. Add seat covers to your chairs, benches and stools, and add pillows wherever you desire (the more pillows the better). Even though your garden is outdoors, these items are easily moved inside on rainy days or overnight. And choosing linen fabrics literally helps keep your body cooler during the warmer months.

3. Hammocks

 

 (Photo from Shelterness)

 Who doesn’t love a hammock? Once again, comfort comes to mind.  They make the perfect place to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy the scents of your garden. Choose a linen and lace style hammock for the perfect touch of rustic romance. And add draped netting for functionality (keep the bugs out!) and a little shabbiness.

 

4. Vintage Everything

 

 
(Photo – Antique Farmhouse)

 Any vintage item will do. Add personal flair and choose objects that mean something to you. Antique signs and old bicycles are some of our favourites. You can use bicycle baskets as planters and hang vintage signs anywhere and everywhere. Old, tin cans are also a perfect addition. They double as a watering device for your flowers and a sweet touch of shabby design. 

5. Paint

 

(Photo - Easichalk)

 

(Photo - HomeTalk)

White. White. And more white. Paint anything and everything you can with chalky finish furniture paint. This should also be a shabby-chic go-to item. If you prefer a little more colour, choose pastels and muted neutral tones. You can repurpose unused furniture, benches, pottery and more by simply adding a few coats of paint. 

6. Indoor Items

(Photo – Mommy Is Coocoo)

 

 

(Photo – Carol Speake)

 

Take a few household items outside. Vintage frames can be painted, coated and hung on fences or wood siding and walls. Bedroom dressers and drawers make for the perfect outdoor storage space, as well the perfect touch of shabby vintage appeal. Even broken or unused doors placed strategically can create a cozy space you’ll never want to leave.  

7. Lighting

(Photo – Midwest Living) 

 

(Photo – Brit.Co)

 

 

Lighting is the icing on the cake. Get creative with chandeliers and other lighting fixtures you would normally see indoors. Hang them from trees or other garden structures, and instead of adding candles or light bulbs – create planters. Mason jars are also a go-to feature of any rustic chic design. Simply add candles and voila! You’ve just created a shabby and romantic appeal.  

There you have it. 7 simple ways you can revamp your garden into the shabby chic space of your dreams. Always try to incorporate DIY projects or handmade items as well, and have fun with it. Experiment and create your own secret garden.