Seven Ideas for Eco-Shabby Chic Inside Your Home

For many, shabby chic is the style and design of choice inside your home. But did you know you can find your look without the expense, and support the environment while you’re at it?

You don’t need to pay high-end retail prices for a shabby chic look. In fact, you can create a great shabby chic look for basically no cost at all. When you repurpose older items, utilize items made from reclaimed wood, use sustainable products like bamboo or cork, or finding a new home for older fabrics or eco-friendly fabrics (like linen, wool, hemp or cashmere) you’re really reducing the eco footprint of your home.

Shabby chic can be a perfect t blend of old and new, and you can create the ultimate home décor that stays true to its shabby roots while also staying true to the spirit of eco-friendly living.

Here are seven ideas for creating an eco-friendly Shabby Chic look inside your home:

Old fabrics, new home – There are many uses for older fabrics you can find on eBay, Etsy, or even by reusing thrift store sweaters. You can reupholster dining room chairs like this example from Wholeliving.com, make decorative pillows and throws like these examples on Pinterest or take old scarves or sweaters to make a quilt.

Glass vases – There are many uses for old glass bottles, jars and bowls around the home to create a Shabby Chic look. Use repurposed glass as vases or create a unique centerpiece with a collection of mixed glass like this example.

Repurposed glass lighting – Old wine bottles, mason jars and even glass vases can be repurposed in various forms as pendant lighting, even by using an old glass bowl. Wine bottles are popular forchandeliers and pendant lights.

Wall decorations – Nothing says Shabby Chic like repurposing frames, shutters, or even old doors as art on windowless walls. Shutters can help frame other art or occupy big spaces, while there are limitless uses for old window frames.

New-ish Napkins – Get rid of paper products in your home and instead use old handkerchiefs or vintage cloth napkins. Try reusing old button-down cotton shirts by cutting them into dishcloths or napkins. Vinegar can be used along with a natural detergent to get rid of germs and also acts as a natural fabric softener.

Shabby chandelier – Get creative by repurposing items to create unique chandelier lighting. Repurposing vintage silverware is popular for chandeliers, but many other items can be reused, like clothes pins, mason jars and even plastics, like coffee stirrers.

Ideas for reclaimed wood – Using sustainable materials (like bamboo or cork) or reclaimed wood is a great way to be eco-friendly inside the home, whether you buy it or create it yourself. Simply repurposing older items in new ways is an option. But two of the more simple DIY projects to utilize reclaimed wood are to create side tables by attaching any type of base, or using individual pieces of reclaimed wood to create wall shelves. Take it an eco-step further by reusing metal piping or scrap metal as the shelf support.