You can create a beautiful 'shabby chic' home either way!

Created in the 1980's by founder and designer Rachel Ashwell, shabby chic has remained an immensely popular form of interior decor.

Your shabby chic home is centered around the theme of graceful, used-but-not-abused shabby chic furniture and accessories with soft colors, fabrics and surroundings.

Your Shabby Chic decorating color scheme will include white/ivory, and pale shades of pink, blue and green. The walls of your space can be painted any of those colors, and in fact, if you are creating Shabby Chic home decor throughout your home (consistency in home decor is a good idea!), think about using several different walls colors in different rooms.

Just make sure that whatever color you select for a room, you use on all of the walls to create a soft and consistent look. When you move into a different room or space, that is the place to use the next color.

Shabby Chic furniture is soft, comfortable, overstuffed with rounded edges and often includes slipcovers.

Slipcovers can be a great option if your furniture is in good shape and/or if your budget won't allow for a change.

For example, you may decide to place a soft cotton slipcover in a beautiful shade of cream to cover your existing sofa. Then, you place several pillows in varying sizes and shapes across the back, using the colors mentioned above. The pillows may include florals, checks and stripes.

It's a good idea to continue the use of those pillows and or fabrics on other pieces and in other areas of the room.

Fabrics should reflect the color palette as described above and patterns are usually soft florals, stripes and checks. Feel free to mix and match, making sure that if you have a large print floral, for example your other fabric patterns will be smaller overall. Again, if you are unsure how to select furniture for your Shabby Chic style, just remember:

• Soft pinks, greens, blues and white/off-white
• Florals, stripes and checks with a solid fabric a sensible option
• Mix and match fabrics - one large print and the others small prints

Look for vintage (or reproduction) drapes, tablecloths, rugs, lace, and the like to complete your shabby chic space. Remember that gently used, faded and worn can still be elegant, graceful and beautiful.

The key to Shabby Chic decor is to select pieces that are white washed or painted in light colors, or light to medium wood finishes.

A fantastic place to shop for your shabby chic furniture is Target.com The collection to the left and the photos that follow are just some of the select Shabby Chic pieces available through Target.com.

Click on the 'Target' link above and when presented with the page from Target, just enter 'shabby chic' in the search box at the top. You will then see every great piece of shabby chic furniture offered! and, you'll love the prices.

If you find the perfect dining table and mismatched chairs at the flea market, paint the table if it is a dark wood. It doesn't have to be in perfect condition, in fact and shouldn't be. Put an elegant and romantic twist on an old dresser, for example by replacing the drawer pulls with 'crystal' pulls.

If your budget is slim, in addition to the great selection at Target.com shop at garage sales, consignment shops and flea markets.

Look for interesting shapes and sizes for your shabby chic furniture. Try to see past the scuff marks and other imperfections (although that is a key element of shabby chic decor!) and envision the piece painted in soft white and placed in your room. Remember to add the trademark finishing touches with some crystal accessories.

You might find an iron piece, perhaps a table or chair, new or reproduction, that will fit right into your shabby chic furniture plan. Mix and match the pieces, pulling the look together with fabrics and textures that repeat in the space.

Each piece of upholstery and case goods should have a unique personality and make it's own statement in your home. Have fun selecting your shabby chic furniture and accessories, and creating a beautiful home!

Do you love the shabby chic decor you've created in your home? Share your thoughts with our readers. It's simple! Just go to the Shabby Chic Decorating page and scroll down to the 'Tell Us Your Story Section'