Shabby chic kitchen ideas - easy ways to create this relaxed, eclectic look

Love it or loathe it, shabby chic kitchens are one of the most popular interiors trends ever and it shows no sign of going out of style just yet. The phrase ‘shabby chic’ was first coined in the 1980s, with its trademark vintage styling, relaxed, romantic look and homely, timeworn furniture and furnishings, that were in contrast to the decadent, opulent trends of the time.

When it comes to shabby chic kitchen ideas, this eclectic look is as popular as ever and there are plenty of ways that you can add this style to your kitchen ideas, whether relaxed and rustic, soft and feminine or urban and industrial. With no hard and fast rules, it’s often just a matter of going with what looks good and feels right when putting a scheme together.

Vintage finds, timeworn furnishings, distressed paintwork and salvaged materials are all hallmarks of shabby chic kitchen style and while it has its roots in classic country kitchens, influences of industrial and farmhouse style, cottagecore and French country often come into play too. But whichever way you work this look, comfort and homeliness are at its heart, so it's not difficult to see why shabby chic style is as much loved as ever.