According to a Macy's sales flyer, white is back as the top choice in bedding. But white has always been a top choice for decorators and consumers. White is far from boring and may be just the color you need at your place.
WHITE ENHANCES ARCHITECTURE. "The White Stuff," an article on The Traditional Home Web site, tells why interior decorator Leah Richardson chose white for her home. The interiors of Richardson's home "are as white and pure as a conch bleached by salt and sun," according to the article. Richardson chose white for her walls to enhance dark beams and furniture.
Black Baby Bed
WHITE IS NEUTRAL. In fact, white may be the most neutral color of all. Changing decorating schemes is a snap when you use white. You can have blue pillows in the summer and burgundy in the fall. Thanks to the neutrality of white you can change patterns and textures in a flash.
WHITE IS MANY COLORS. Go to your local paint store and look at color chips. You will see there are literally hundreds of shades of white. There are whites that look like heavy cream, whites with the palest hint of tan and peach, and many more. Before you start painting brush a test patch on the wall or furniture. See how the color looks during the day and at night.
WHITE REFLECTS LIGHT. Cramped and oddly-shaped spaces appear larger when you paint them white. However, if you have a dramatic ceiling or architectural detail you want to highlight, you may wish to paint that a lighter or darker shade of white.
WHITE IS A PROVEN COLOR. According to Sarah Van Arsdale of the Sheffield School of Interior Design, white has withstood the test of time. Black and white are classic color combination, Arsdale says, and you see it in "foyers of grand old homes around the world." Are black an white too dramatic for you? Don't worry, tan and white work just as well.
WHITE UNIFIES THINGS. Saran Van Arsdale thinks white "gives you lots of room to play." It also makes furnishings and accessories stand out. Like most of us these days, you may have mismatched furniture -- pieces you have collected over the years and inherited. You can unify these pieces by sanding them and painting them white.
WHITE LETS COLORS SHINE. According to wwwww.rentaldecorating.com white works to your advantage. "Anything that would get lost in the distracting colors of a room will get your full attention in a room that's all white." Photos, collections, antiques -- you name it -- stand out against a white background.
WHITE IS PRACTICAL. In the past white and kids were not a mix. Those days are over. White furniture and accessories show less dust than dark ones, according to HGTV. Many of the new white fabrics are stain-resistant and the new slipcovers are washable. Stuck on a color scheme? Think about white, the neutral, adaptable, classic color.
Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson