Ah chalk paint, ‘shabby chic’ furniture, and all things ‘Vintage’ it’s all the rage right now. This trend began many years ago in the 1980′s when the term was coined by an interiors magazine. In the last year or two it has really taken off and I suspect the recession has played its part in the meteoric rise of Shabby Chic. What has the recession got to do with a furniture trend I hear you ask?
Well, in case you have had your head under a blanket for the last 4 years, you should have noticed a trend for saving money in all aspects of life has surfaced in the media. This is a direct result of people feeling the squeeze financially because of rising costs. Everyone is tightening their belts, and with that comes creativity.
The media, who stopped making program after program about property investing, needed a new focus. Enter “all things vintage and shabby chic.’ When the media get hold of something, they can end up forcing a sea change in thought and desire. Of course with shabby chic it is an aspirational thing too, because the trend started with the upper middle classes and a copying of a faded past glory.
How The Media Helped The Shabby Chic, Chalk Paint & All Things Vintage Rage
That sea change began with programs such a Super Scrimpers, which showed us how to save money and make extra money by selling excess items, or, by being more frugal and less wasteful. Then came all things ‘vintage.’ Programs such as Kirsty Allsopps’ Vintage home, amongst others, has cashed in on this trend. These programs taught us how to make things for ourselves instead of the relentless consumerism based on easy credit that we have had for the last decade or so. Part of the whole vintage trend has even filtered down into music, make up styles, fashion and all kinds of other things.
Enter Annie Sloane and other brands of chalk paint. Chalk paint, for those who don’t know, is the big trend in painted furniture. So called, because it has a distinctive chalky finish which can easily be rubbed off to form the desired ‘Shabby Chic’ painted furniture look. Often items are painted and then rubbed back so much they look like they have done several rounds with Mike Tyson!
Is Chalk Paint Any Good?
Chalk paint, is not a long lasting finish. Usually the surface is finished with wax rather than a varnish. Varnish is hard wearing, wax is not. You cannot paint directly over wax either, should you get bored of the look. It would need to be stripped back to basics before repainting. Also, waxed furniture needs re-waxing every couple of months. Are you willing to put in that kind of dedication to your furniture? Chalk painted furniture marks easily, the wax finish can rub off on textiles, and the paint surface will come off with regular wear. Great.
I’ve been painting furniture for many years on and off, it’s a hobby of mine, ( the table and chairs and matching sideboard in the picture at the top of this blog are my own work) but I’m not a fan of shabby chic. To me it is a bit contrived and reminds me of those ‘themed’ rooms that were all the rage in the late ’90′s early 2000′s before IKEA took off in a big way. Hmm, come to think of it, Swedish style, that was another big trend….one that replaced good furniture with temporary flat packed chipboard items, most of which ends up at the local recycling depot when it falls apart. One great thing I like about this vintage trend though is that it has now become acceptable to reuse and recycle old quality wood rather than just buy new, and that, has got to be good for the planet
