It can easily be considered that shabby chic furniture is something of an oxymoron, since furniture which is chic is often not considered to be the same as furniture which is shabby. Chic often implies elegance and class, whilst shabby may suggest, well, shabby really.

But more than ever before shabby chic furniture is something which a great many of us are looking to introduce into our refurbished and redesigned rooms in order to help create a truly stylish room bursting with character and elegance.

When most people consider the idea of shabby chic furniture it tends to largely be French furniture which is perceived and purchased. But in fact the concept of shabby chic started in Britain, not France. The phrase 'shabby chic' was coined in the 80s, since when it has grown massively in popularity, and is today a style of interior decor and furnishing which suits rooms of almost any size. Living rooms large enough to host a reasonably entertaining second division football match can certainly carry the shabby chic look extremely well, but then so can small, modestly sized living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms.

Today one of the reasons why many people consider shabby chic furniture to be associated with French furniture is because of the charm, style, elegance and character of the traditional French chateaux. The reason that shabby chic furniture works so well is because it implies a sense of classic styling, just as many older stately homes had an abundance of expensive and beautifully designed and constructed furniture which had often been handed down through the generations.

The fact that this old furniture had become a little worn, and perhaps shabby, in no way detracted from the essence of quality which was unmistakable. The shabby chic furniture available today may not have been handed down through generations nor be much older than your mobile phone, but is achieves the same effect extremely well. And at a minute fraction of the price that genuine antique furniture is likely to sell for.

Although shabby chic furniture is available in a variety of colours, styles and wood effects, those looking for French furniture will almost inevitably find themselves acquiring items of furniture and furnishings which are white, cream and decorated with a little gold. These are classic colours which are suited perfectly to a wide range of rooms.

Shabby chic furniture and French furniture works brilliantly in the bedroom when done properly, creating a calming, elegant and very stylish look relatively easily. By combining a few choice pieces of French furniture such as a bed, armoire and perhaps a dressing table with traditional French items such as large, ornate mirrors, chandeliers and suitable bedding, cushions and curtains it is possible to completely transform a bedroom for a relatively modest budget.

But here's the rub. Because it is easy to make the mistake of focusing on the work 'shabby' rather than on both the words 'shabby' and 'chic' together. Shabby furniture which is cheap, knocked about and of relatively poor quality will certainly add something to the room, but hardly what you're looking for. Today we are fortunate to be able to enjoy a wide selection of shabby chic furniture and French furniture available online, helping to inject something of the classic French chateaux into our own homes.