Shabby Chic Outdoor Patio Ideas

Walls and Floors

• Decorating your walls and floors will help you develop the shabby chic theme. Paint the floor in a variety of colors, such as blue, green and yellow. As an alternative, paint it with a milk wash to give it an off-white color. Adding wooden or white-painted decking will also help you create a shabby chic atmosphere. Decorate the exterior walls by hanging fabric or mounting lattice against the walls.

Furniture

• Wicker furniture works with the shabby chic style and is readily available in the form of patio tables, chairs and sofas. Add an old bureau or baker's rack to your patio to hold gardening supplies. Don't be afraid of damage to the furniture from being out in the elements; shabby chic furniture is often old and imperfect anyway. Paint the furniture a bold color like blue or green. Old metal, such as a metal bistro table, complements the decorating style. Use vintage trunks as a table or a container to hold picnic supplies.

Accessories

• Hang objects in a variety of locations around your patio. For example, hang an ornate mirror or picture frame to the outdoor wall. Hang small pictures of flowers and vintage motifs from your outdoor bureau. Add china in different patterns to the table or break the china into small pieces to make a mosaic table or tray. Place an assortment of white containers together to form a striking display.

Planters

• Use a variety of planters to cover your patio with flowers. Teacups, painted coffee cans, basins, water jugs, a chair or even a toilet provide unconventional planters that will fit your shabby chic patio. Pop the drawers out of your outdoor bureau and place a couple of flower pots inside. Old planters or planters with chipped paint can find a new home on your shabby chic patio.

Fabric

• Cover your table with a floral or lace tablecloth. Linen napkins that don't quite match will make a quaint appearance on your outdoor table. Vintage pillows in a needlework or floral pattern provide a soft color palette on top of your couch or chair. An old quilt can also be used to line the back of a rocking chair.