White. It’s pure. It’s simple. But,
when it comes to decorating our homes, white can be intimidating. In fact, many
actually avoid the color white at home all together. However, according to Sarah Gray
Miller, editor in chief of Country Living Magazine, white is a beautiful color
that can be both functional and elegant. Miller has some inspiring ideas on how
to break the rules of white and incorporate white into our home decor. “It’s got so much presence. It can be so bold, and yet so comfortable. There’s
really not a place where white doesn’t look great,” says Miller.
In this episode, The Shine's Host Allison Fishman is wearing: More on The Shine: Check out our recent episode on how to take some stress out of cleaning
Dress, Michael by Michael Kors
Necklace, Jessie Lane Jewels
Earrings, Rebekah Price (www.rebekahprice.com)
Shoes, Enzo Angiolini
Starting with function, Miller says
a great way to add white to a room is with slipcovers. Miller says, “You can
just pull them off and throw them in the wash when that guest spills a glass of
red wine on your couch.”
For a small pop of white, Miller suggests adding white curtains to a space. A
cotton that’s machine washable, can always be tossed in the laundry.
They’re also less likely to get stained, especially if you add a border of
color along the bottom where the fabric skirts the floor.
If you're wondering about white as a paint color, Miller is a huge proponent of white walls.
“White immediately opens up a space and makes it feel larger. The one exception
to that rule is in a truly tiny room, like a powder room. Sometimes patterned
wall paper or a bold color can be a better choice.” Miller recommends
painting with the same shade of white in every room, that way you can keep an extra can of your shade of white stored away for easy touch-ups at any moment.
Ready to really make a statement with white? Miller suggests white
washing your floors! This works great in a country or beach home. Whitewashed
floors combined with white walls can harmonize space and establish continuity
from one room to another. “It definitely gives things a contemporary, clean,
clean look. It bounces a lot of light around the room. And Miller says not to
worry about the floors getting chipped or scuffed. That will create a patina,
or aged look.
Overall, white creates a modern feel in a home. “We see it a
lot at Country Living when people are working with vintage stuff. The thing
that separates cluttered antiques to things looking like sculpture and like
they have a presence is often when they are set against a sea of white.”
Lastly, aside from the big stuff like furniture and walls, think
accessories, says Miller. White towels and white dishes can be easily mixed and
matched with other accessories. And when you consider dinnerware, think white for that too. White’s neutral background lets your meal stand out as the main
attraction at the table.
More on The Shine: Check out our recent episode on how to take some stress out of cleaning.
More from Country Living:
More Ways to Decorate With White
50 Home Design Finds Under $50
