White is a decorator’s secret weapon.  It is clean and crisp, and can vary from restful to energizing depending on the colors it is paired with.  I use white in every room that I design.

In my own home, I favor a neutral palette, and white is one of my favorite colors to use.  I enjoy layering white on white, while varying shades and textures to create interest.  But I also enjoy using white as a building block in a more diverse palette.  Starting with white for the main pieces of furniture, allows bolder choices to be made in the accessories either through the use of stronger colors or through addition of energetic patterns.In my own living room, I use a neutral palette that includes a wide variety of shades of white.  I have creamy white walls and white sofa which allows me to punch things up through the use of bold patterns on my pillows and area rug.In my dining room, I layer shades of white, and then accent the palette with a bit of black.My children’s rooms have more varied and vibrant palettes, but they are each grounded in a sea of white which I use on the walls.

Even if you are not a fan of an all-white look, incorporating white in your decorating scheme is a great way to create a place for your eyes to rest in the midst of color, and goes a long way toward creating a visual flow in your environment.

~Wendy Hyde

www.shabbynest.blogspot.com