Shabby Chic Flooring Style Ideas

Shabby chic is a distinct interior design style marked by a blend of rustic, cottage and vintage elements for a romantic and lived-in look. It has been a favorite for many decades, first gaining popularity in the late 1980s and trending throughout the 1990s. Today, cozy spaces and interior design styles that emphasize a connection to nature are a leading trend.

Exploring shabby chic flooring ideas is a great place to start if you are attracted to this aesthetic and want to introduce it into your home.

Understanding Shabby Chic Design Style 

Min Hogg, the founding editor of a renowned interior design magazine, popularized the term “shabby chic” in the 1980s. Higg described shabby chic as “characterful, colorful, used but not abused.” 

Then, in 1989, British designer Rachel Ashwell revolutionized shabby chic and made the style a part of mainstream design. She opened a Shabby Chic store in Santa Monica, California, in the late 1980s and implemented the concept of transforming vintage thrift finds into beautiful home decor. 

Ashwell drew inspiration from her British roots, namely the grand country houses with their casual elegance and worn features. 

The characteristics of shabby chic include: 

• Imperfections: In this style, authenticity trumps perfection. Looking for unique pieces that have their own charm and tell a special story is a great foundation for creating a shabby chic aesthetic.
• Weathered furniture: Furniture and decor with a naturally aged and weathered appearance suit the shabby chic style incredibly well. The key is to choose quality pieces that uphold the chic aspect. Look for pieces made from distressed or reclaimed wood, antique pieces and aged crafted pieces.
• Soft color palette: The color palette you typically see in shabby chic decor is soft and romantic. It ranges from soft pastels like pale pink, peach, lavender, powder blue and mint green to muted neutrals. You will often see a variety of white shades, including cream and ivory, too.
• Feminine accents: Feminine elements like floral patterns, ruffles and frills help define shabby chic. Delicate fabrics like lace can add softness to your decor.
• Vintage charm: If you love shopping for vintage finds, shabby chic will reflect your personal style quite well! You can incorporate vintage textiles and accents into your space to create a sense of charm and nostalgia.
• Natural materials and sustainability: Shabby chic embraces natural materials like wool, wood, wrought iron, linen and cotton. The focus on natural materials and aged or reclaimed pieces also highlights sustainability within the shabby chic style.

The Best Shabby Chic Flooring Choices

The following are popular shabby chic flooring options to consider for your space.

Wood

Wood is the quintessential shabby chic flooring, thanks to the natural, authentic warmth and the effortless yet elevated style it offers. 

Wood also has genuine character — each type of wood and each piece of hardwood has a unique grain, tone and color. Some slats of wood will even have intricate knots and other distinct features that lend character and charm to your flooring. 

You have several options when it comes to wood, including domestic, exotic and engineered hardwood.

Carpet and Shabby Chic Floor Rugs 

Another standout flooring option for a shabby chic aesthetic is carpet. Carpet provides a soft, warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the romantic charm of shabby chic so well. It is also versatile, so you can easily find options that match your space. Frieze carpet is one of the best choices, as the casual, shaggy texture has the desired lived-in look. 

If you love the appearance and feel of carpet but are not ready to change your flooring completely, consider area rugs. A rug is a beautiful way to elevate your space and make it look more cohesive and visually interesting. 

For a shabby chic rug, choose floral-like patterns and soft colors. You can also choose a contrasting texture to the base flooring for more Bohemian-style layering. 

Luxury Vinyl Tile

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is ideal if you would like to create the look of natural flooring, like hardwood or stone floors, but at a fraction of the price. 

LVT is durable, low-maintenance, soft underfoot and incredibly versatile. It is available in an assortment of patterns and colors, so you can get the shabby chic look you like most. LVT with light, weathered tones, textured surface finishes and worn-edge finishes can work exceptionally well. 

Tiles 

For shabby chic floor tiles, explore tiles that reflect heritage-inspired, natural and authentic elements. Warm tones and neutral colors can make your space look inviting, cozy and perfectly lived-in. 

How to Choose the Best Shabby Chic Flooring for Your Space 

Choosing the right flooring for your shabby chic space will depend on your lifestyle, budget and personal tastes. 

Consider how foot traffic and how much cleaning and maintenance you typically need to do for your floors. For example, if you have pets and young children, you may opt for hardwood with some accent rugs over carpet. 

If you're looking for an especially budget-friendly choice, explore options like engineered wood with distressed features, LVT or area rugs.

Tips for Incorporating Shabby Chic Flooring

You can accomplish a shabby chic look in your home with these simple flooring tips, according to each room:

• Living room: Hardwood, carpet and rugs can transform your living room into an elevated shabby chic dream. 
• Kitchen: LVT is perfect for the kitchen — it is durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic, comfortable for standing for long periods while cooking and easy to clean. 
• Bedrooms: Carpet is a great choice for bedrooms as there is less foot traffic, making it easier to clean and maintain. It is also ideal for creating a shabby chic sanctuary. If your bedrooms already have hardwood or LVT flooring that you do not want to change, try adding a rug under your bed or key pieces of furniture.
• Bathrooms: The most important consideration in bathrooms is waterproof flooring options, making tile your best bet.

Find Shabby Chic Flooring Options at Carpet & Tile Mart Today

Shabby chic flooring is an excellent way to make your home more casual and inviting while maintaining feminine elegance. Hardwood floors, carpet and rugs are particularly good investments for adding this character to your home. 

At Carpet & Tile Mart, we have an extensive range of quality flooring products to suit your shabby chic flooring style ideas. We also have a versatile collection of flooring options, from hardwood to rugs, at competitive prices. 

Shop our floors today, or head to a Carpet & Tile Mart location near you to see our selection of the best shabby chic flooring in person!