Inspiration: Layering Soft Cream and Bright White
Cooler, brighter whites can be energizing, but they can also overwhelm or seem stark, especially in rental apartments where bright white walls are sometimes mandatory. Layering cream and ivory against the white has an instant softening effect. Work in wood tones as well for even more warmth. You can add accents of saturated color (third photo) if you want a more eclectic or edgy look. Or try an off-white paint in a bathroom, where bright white porcelain often dominates (last photo).
Playing with textures adds another dimension too. Try pairing a glossy white, like a modern tulip table, with a rustic, creamy linen upholstery (second photo). Or bring in an off-white flokati or other shag rug to set off hard white walls.
Do you like to layer warm and cool whites at home? How do you make it work?
(Images: Livingetc (1 and 2); I Suwannee; Angus McRitchie/Canadian House and Home (4 and 5); Bloesem Kids; Isabel Asha Penzlien/Design*Sponge; Decor8)
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inspiration, cream, neutral tones, bright white, ivory, off-whiteRelated Links
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I'll take No.2 minus the horrible plastic table and No.4 as is.
view ladymantle's profile
Where did they get the white rug in the first picture
view luccagirl's profile
I like the chair with the yellow looking pillow on the corner (4th pic). Can you tell me where you purchased that?
view luccagirl's profile
I could spend forever in that tub.
view thorndale's profile
seriously guys, akismet is a piece of cake.
I'd be pretty much afraid to touch anything in any of these rooms. 'Cept for maybe that last bathroom, but I'd still feel like I have to iron the towel afterwards. You know there's never going to be flame put to log in the first one. Ever.
view manys's profile
Is is a flokati rug in the 1st picture? Im looking for something like this.
view scydream's profile
scy: could be, but then again i'm a big fan of "close enough."
view manys's profile
I hated the first picture...it looks too sterile. The other rooms were ok....but I personally wouldn't live with that.
view suzy8track's profile
Love these looks but so impractical with pets!
view gingergirl's profile
There seems to be a lot of this lately, and I prefer it to the oversaturation of color that predominated for much of the last few years. It also seems to relate to an earlier post about mixing white and wood.
view travislessness's profile
@suzy8track, I agree with you about the sterility factor. White= Metal element in feng shui, that's why and all white room feels very cold. And look, they even used a dead (dried) floral arrangement in the corner. Brrrrrrrrr!
view FengShuiByFishgirl's profile
This is the kind of thing that I really like in theory, but would never do in practice. I don't think I could live like that. I like to eat on the couch, and I have a dog. So white upholstered furniture would not work for me. But I think if I went to a hotel with white furniture, I'd really like it. That said, the 2nd, 2nd to last, and last picture all appeal to me on some level. The room with the train table is ghastly.
view livc's profile
The white rug in the first picture might just be a shag rug. The small table in the second picture appears to be a Saarinen and a chair similar to the one in the fourth picture is produced by Norwalk furniture - Charley chair.
view debralee's profile