How to easily transform any living space into a shabby chic paradise

This article was sponsored by ​Faux Brickwork 

It doesn't matter if you live close or far from the coast, any living space can be tastefully transformed into a shabby chic haven that will whisk you away to your own private paradise. Shabby chic is easily my favorite decor fad as it's so versatile and can be used simply as a color boost to liven up a room or as the room's main theme. You can do it up or down, add something shabby here or there, go overboard with it or don't -- this style compliments almost every type of decor you may already have going on (so don't throw out that brown leather couch just yet)! But I get it, changing or adding to your home's decor can be a daunting task -- so the Sunburnt Blogger has teamed up with Faux Brickwork to specifically talk about how you can easily add this beachy style to your home.

So -- what exactly is "shabby chic"? While most people will say Wikipedia isn't a good source of information, I personally love the way they define this particular term: "a style of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear and tear or where new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique." 

You have undoubtedly seen it before even if you didn't realize it since shabby chic is a style often associated with beach houses! Many shabby chic items are light pastel colors that can be mixed and matched, and a lot of people love it because a new scratch or scuff just adds to the iconic distressed look.

If you are one of those people, keep reading about how to easily add this look to your living spaces below!

Start with a white textured wall

Shabby chic is all about that rustic look, and nothing says "rustic" quite like a brick wall. If you don't already have brick in your home and aren't planning on remodeling your entire foundation to incorporate it, Faux Brickwork, a local company located in Clearwater, Florida, can give you the same look for a fraction of the cost and effort with their many styles of ​Faux Brick Wall Panels. The best part is that you can have them shipped straight to your door and install them yourself with ease. The company is currently running a sale with one of their white wall panels for only $20/panel! I actually have a faux brick wall above my fireplace, and it's exactly where I hang all of my sea life decor from, which brings me to my next point...

Add themed wall art

You don't have to leave your brick wall blank -- it will make a nice canvas to show off your colorful shabby chic decor. I love going to the local flea markets and picking up new and used items that I can refurbish to my liking. If you prefer to do the least amount of work possible, coastal tourist shops are often abundant with ready-to-hang shabby chic wall art, and if you are really lucky, you might find something similar in great condition at a local thrift store for super cheap! I have picked up countless large beachy paintings at thrift stores for less than $15.

Tie it together with colorful accent pieces 

White wicker baskets, yellow velvet chairs, distressed end tables - adding a small (or large) furniture accent piece will really tie the theme together and make it look extra homely (and less like a museum). I, personally, love picking up free or cheap furniture and repainting it myself using colored chalk paint. Sometimes I will even paint designs like sea horses, flamingos and manatees into my furniture -- if you aren't artsy, a stencil can help. Some people prefer modern decor to accent the shabby chic wall art, and others are somewhere in between. Opportunities are nearly endless with how you choose to accent your space, so feel free to get creative trying different things!