The little girls of today have Disney in mind, and Barbie as a Princess. So a lot of little girls want bedrooms that make them feel like princesses or Cinderella, too. However, even though there are generic princess themed designs you can choose from, shabby chic can give both big and little girls a romantic, clean uncluttered look in their bedrooms. Yes, adult women as well can start with the princess theme and expand on it with a shabby chic dresser, chair or desk in the home office or bedroom that will give them a place of refuge and serenity to come home to.

“Shabby chic” means a type of design for your home that is comfortable and functional. Usually, “shabby chic” furniture is white, and antique or gently used furniture can be painted white to give it a clean, functional, fashionable look. However, “shabby chic” when it comes to a bed or dresser doesn’t just mean one thing. You can combine shabby chic with Victorian, country or romantic themes for a unique style. You can also take vintage furniture, paint it white, and use vintage lace for a comfortable, “lived in” quaint quality. As a furniture line, shabby chic uses quality wooden white furniture that’s both well made and of the highest workmanship, but is also still affordable and comes in many stylish designs.

The main function of Shabby Chic is about creating clean lines and avoiding a cluttered look. Decide on the Shabby Chic dresser and other furniture elements that need to go in the room before starting the princess decorating theme. This will lead to designing a room with more open space and will be more comfortable for your little girl to sleep and play in.

A central feature of many Shabby Chic rooms with a vintage theme is the use of large old fashioned, embellished mirrors. Large mirrors are feminine and give a room more depth. For young children anchor a large mirror to the wall for safety purposes and give your little princess a fairy tale dress up corner. Add hooks to the wall by the mirror to display your daughter’s princess dresses. Then place several small wooden bins by the mirror to hold various crowns, costume jewelry, feather boas and other princess themed clothing items for role playing.

For an adult woman, add in a small secretary mirror to the decor. These small mirrors are great for sitting on the vanity table, a Shabby Chic dresser or a matching secretary desk to add elegance to the room.

For a girl princess room a Shabby Chic design must consider the type of bed to be used. A Shabby Chic bed with a large embellished headboard is a popular option. Be sure that the bed and Shabby Chic dresser complement each other. One of the most sought after bed styles for a princess theme is the canopy. A canopy bed adds softness and luxury to the room and makes a little girl really feel like royalty. If the Shabby Chic bed you choose does not already have a canopy, you can make your own using chandelier hooks and tulle material. Decorate the linens with glitter or rhinestones to complete the look.

The Shabby Chic dresser and nightstand is an important focal point in the room. These furniture pieces usually feature glass pulls on the handles and decorative carving for a feminine touch. A bookcase works well for the uncluttered look because it can be used to store items up out of reach. Thereby increasing organization and keeping a child’s room from getting messy. Your child’s collection of dolls, princess themed books, family pictures and awards can be placed in the shelves or on top of a Shabby Chic dresser. For a woman using the princess theme for the home office or bedroom, a secretary desk offers a pretty accent that traditional desks do not have. Their spindle skinny legs, narrow benches and minimal design, effortlessly tie in with the uncluttered look praised in Shabby Chic decorating.

Put up a fresh coat of paint in order to make the walls pop when redesigning a child’s bedroom. Many princesses’ themed rooms use a soft pink or purple to go with the fairy tale design, though an off white or soft yellow work just as well. Alternatively, you can paint the walls white and add a colorful border. Princess, crown, castle or chandelier murals can be hung on the walls. Butterfly or star wall hangings and peel and stick decals are another attractive options. For a personal touch, a large banner with a fairy tale scene and the child’s name can be hung up over the bed.

Finally, accessories are important, too. Using these small but important details will truly make your child’s room brand-new. Then, your daughter will truly feel like a princess. The fabrics you choose for the bed should be unique; although Disney related or commercial princess designs are fine, you can also use velvet, satin, lace, ruffles — anything that again, says shabby chic. Patterns? Florals, stripes, and prints can all provide a familiar, cozy look. Getting stuffed pillows in a number of shapes and sizes, ones, glass slippers, a tea set, play sets, or dollhouse can add to the atmosphere.

Although shabby chic is a design, it doesn’t just mean finding explicitly designed “shabby chic” furniture. Instead, you can take old items and give them a fresh new look; find pieces at flea markets, yard sales, attics, estate sales, and more. If you’re buying old furniture items, make sure you buy those that have been cared for well. If they’re too damaged, they may not be salvageable. And although most furniture with the shabby chic theme is white, you can also add some dark pieces. Cream-colored furniture, too, goes well with the shabby chic, princess-themed look you’re going for.

Submitted by: Angela Zabrazi sells furniture and also knows all about shopping Big Bear, CA real estate plus Big Bear Lake, CA homes for sale in general.