Are white jeans the fashion equivalent of the white room? A crisp, clean (and glamorous) look but impossible to keep, well, white? I have an awesome pair of white jeans that I never wear. Ever. Because it seems that any time I wear white, I manage to dribble something on myself, like bright yellow mustard. Likewise, I doubt I’ll ever enjoy the luxury of a white-on-white room. (Can you say pet owner?) Design icon Syrie Maugham popularized the all-white room in the 1920s and ’30s, earning the nickname “White Queen.” Fast forward to 2011. Designer Jonathan Adler never hesitates to don his signature white jeans, and many of his top decor pieces are in a bright white. The author of Happy Chic Colors calls white “the ultimate soothing backdrop.”
Photos: Top row and left :: Jonathan Adler Interior Design; Bottom right quadrant :: Syrie Maugham: Staging Glamorous Interiors, Acanthus Press
Soothing…until you spill something on it.
What do you think of the white-on-white look? Like white jeans, are white rooms achingly desirable but impossible to keep pristine? Or are you the proud owner of a room decked out all in white that has stayed that way for years? If so, what’s your secret?
Tell us in the comments below.
I do love lots of white – various shades of white all together. And one point about white clothing. Bleach. One point about white *things* (I have 3 children and have lots of white) – it really is a chore to keep things clean. But would you rather something be dark – have a stain – and not be able to see it? Out of sight, out of mind? Or see the grime and do something about it? White really kind of is cleaner if you're somone willing to keep it that way.
That's a great point, Ashley. I feel my dark brown/black marble countertops can hide just about anything. It's like a white car – they're sleek and gorgeous, but difficult to keep clean. If you do go the white-on-white route, I think Ashley's right; make sure you're willing to keep it spotless.
Ashley, I would never have a white-on-white home for that reason! When I was a kid, my grandma had an all-white home, but would still give us things like pizza and jelly donuts. I think it almost gave my mom a heart attack! I'm not that much less prone to drip onto the carpet now, so I'll leave it to less-klutzy folks.
See, that's what I think — I also have lots of white, two kids, four cats. White slipcovers that bleach. A white wool rug that I can spot clean or shampoo if need be. White is sunny. It sparkles. I like dark rooms too for their ambience. But give me a sunny farmhouse kitchen and a white porch any day!
Today I ordered a white kitchen, cabinets, corian countertop, integrated sink…..with stainless appliances. I plan to accessorize with color for each season or holiday. The floors are black walnut. Maybe not for everyone but I will love it!!
That's going to be gorgeous with the black walnut floors!
That's the perfect thing about white! If you are like me, you get bored of one look, one color. White as a background — white paint, white tiles, white cupboards — and you can change with the seasons, with the trends, with your mood.
I would love your kitchen. Mine is small and dark. Now I wish I had gotten white cabinets, etc. It would probably look brighter and more cheerful.
I like cottage style, so I would probably like a white on white bedroom also. I think the rest of the rooms could have color.
That's my kitchen!!! Love it not all white just enough to make it be bright! Plus that kitchen is so versital. You will love it once it is all done.
Love it!! My style is old world but, this piece is exquisite.
I really like to look at others white on white. But don't use it for myself. Have always loved white jeans or tops!
I'm the same way, Pege. I'm hoping that eventually I'll have the option to have a white-on-white home that will say clean and pristine.
I'm loving me the chabby chic style. Bought a small secretary at a garage sale and painted it an avocado green and using it in bedroom. Also bought 2 1920's laddar back chairs and using them for living area. These are green also .Didn't have to do anything to them. Get this!! they were only a dollar each.
We have white on beige, with sunshine yellow walls. The white upholstery on the sofa and some of the chairs is so versatile (just change the accent pillows, or turn the cushions over from time to time if they are beginning to look a bit dirty) and you have a whole new palate possibility! Now, white kitchen cabinets, which we also have, are another world of constant upkeep!
Aren't those white kitchen cabinets the darndest things to keep sparkling white?
Yes, I have white kitchen cabinets, and I just repainted the fronts yesterday! A little too shabby chic after six years! Now glossy and white and sparkly, shining in the sun!
Our house had all-white bathrooms when we first moved in. We lived with them for several years, but white tiles are so hard to keep sparkling clean as well, so we went with tiles in shades of tan and beige instead (my husband loves beige, so beige in the bathrooms was my compromise with him!). And being the owner of dogs that have both dark and white hair, neither black nor white work in our house. I can only wear those colors if I am leaving the house immediately, and my decorating options with these colors are limited. I am another who loves the look of an all-white room or outfit, but can never actually have one!
I know exactly how you feel, CplusE. I know my pets shed, but I'd hate to have obvious proof all over clean white floors.
I love the idea of a white on white color scheme. The crispness and cleanliness is amazing!
I know! It's so beautiful and simple, yet rich and extravagant at the same time.
Yes, our bedroom 's wall are toast colored walls with a cream down comforter with cream pillows. It always looks calming and everyone loves it. IAll whites and creams are definitely very restful
White-on-white is perfect for me. Our dog and cat are both white and shed all of the time. I'd rather be extra careful not to spill, instead of vacuuming every single night. Plus, it's super gorge.
Just down sized and living in 650 sq. feet………..My problem is the living room, 4 doors and a window…..For now the colors are sage and gold and I am sick of these, the room appears dark and heavy. Going into winter I am already depressed thinking of being inside for months. I cannot purchase new furniture so the love seat and large ottom in sage green must stay. What colors would blend with this choice besides yellow or gold?
My bedroom linens are sage and I painted the walls in kind of a khaki beige/tan. Can't think of exact shade, but get so many compliments and color is soothing
What color are your walls? With out knowing that – go to the discount fabric store girl! If you sew great, if not you can still cover up that grandma sage and gold furniture with fabric – Once again a white cotton duct fabric that you could toss in the wash – that would be my choice with some fun multi colored floral reto throw pillows – embroidered pillows to add some texture.
Ivory would brighten your room up. Either on the walls, or pillows and a center of the floor rug. Striped fabric could be stapled in place on the ottoman (muted light colors with ivory or white included.) If you have dark wood furniture, could you paint it? Lots and lots of options here in your replies. Good luck!
I think that pale blue and sage green with white or ivory accents would look cool and brighten up a dark room.
I would fold cream chenile throws over the green love seat and ottoman to lighten them up and paint the walls linen white by Benjamin Moore and put a graphic print on the wall in colors to pop the room.
I am an artist and I say go for pinks
Navy and sage green with cream would be awesome. I agree about yellow and gold, yuck
I love a white room! My bedroom is white on white with a touch of color. It is a most relaxing place. I feel like a Queen in my bedroom!
Like!
The only thing I want to do with white walls is paint them. White doesn't give me any feeling. It looks too pristine
Agree need color in my life! We are given do many beautiful colors to work with.
Heavenly! So clean and pure. As long as there is variation of textures/
Agreed! : )
I love white on white. Lived with it for years with a child and a dog. I'm willing to clean up any "accident" immediately because you see it immediately! If there is a spider on the floor, he gets removed immediately. My carpeting in now 11 years old and still looks great. I had white walls and white on french white upholstered furniture until I broke my leg and had to stay home for 7 weeks. I was so sick of looking at white on white on white that I redecorated as soon as I was on my feet. Kept the white carpeting but painted the walls a buttercream and added a leopard sette and black leather sofa! When I redo carpeting, I will definitely go for some shade of white again because when you do have to clean it, you don't fade some color that makes it obvious you had to clean up after an accident. Also, I love extremely short-haired dogs…most recently a dachshund so dog hair has never been an issue for me. I'll throw a sheet over a sofa, cuddle up with the dog…wet my hands and finger groom all the loose hair and pitch the sheet into the washer!
Had a white on white on white kitchen (not my idea). Never again! Spent all my time trying to keep it clean. Have better things to do with my time. Give me some color!
I think it can be a great look – in theory. But I find it BORING unless you have tons of architectural detail and designer touches. I prefer COLOR and texture. That's just me. Oh, and white carpeting – I have it now and can't wait to change it. Sorry, but white on white is too much for me.
I agree, white is fab! You should totally go with Black Walnut flooring like Vicki or Black Zebra wood flooring – lose the rugs, you have pets. Just saying
I love all-white rooms. I have had an all-white bedroom for over 7 years. The secret to keeping it bright white is having washable surfaces and extra paint for touch-ups. I can throw my sheets, duvet cover and pillow covers in the wash. My night stands, shelves and dressers are hard surfaces that can be wiped down. The rug is easily cleaned…so it all works even with a son and 2 little dogs.
Ah white. Love all colors of it. The most peaceful color that there is and bleachable too.
All white…pretty to look at; I couldn't live with it.
Believe it or not, just yesterday i did my master bedroom in white on white. used turquise, dark satin blue and White as accents. Looks fantastic! Sat. going to do guest bedroom white on white. By the way, i have 2 black cats and 2 rambuntious grandkids. All will be wel. Don't knockm it till you've tried it.
I have a lovely white on white kitchen/breakfast room which I adore! I HAD to change the PINK kitchen when I bought the house so I painted the yellowed pickled old cabinets in a creamy white, changed the formica (pink) to white/gray streaked marble, put 1inch squared of the same marble on the backsplash and put in new white appliances. The floors are medium dark hardwood as is my furniture in there. Clean but so inviting.
It's great to hear your thoughts, opinions and tips on this topic! It looks like the consensus of a white-on-white space is pretty much 50/50. Keep your ideas coming!
I do NOT like that much white, it reminds me of a hospital or Doctors office. That is pretty much what I have right now, and I am waiting for cooler weather to paint COLOR!
Don't be afraid of color. I was for a long time and 2 years ago I painted my living/dining room a chocolate brown and even in this horrid heat I've felt cool and comfy. I did use a bone white semi-gloss around the window frames and moldings to make a nice contrast! Try it!
I'm kinda messy so white on white just doesnt sit well with me. I love all the colors of the rainbow and lean towards blues,greens,lavender,pinks,reds and yellows. white is just so drab and very easy to make filthy.
We love white on white…our preference is to begin with a bone or Navajo white in satin, and then we paint the trim and doors in semi-gloss 1/4 of the same shade. Banisters or other items we sometimes do in a different white (i.e. antique white) just for contrast. Our carpets or area rugs tend to be an off-white frieze, which adds texture. For us, white-on-white is like having a blank canvas…our books, plants, and decorative items from family and friends around the world bring the color. The best part of it is that when we move (which we do fairly often), we never have to worry about whether the buyers will be turned off by the color…it shows well and is easy enough to paint over!
I do not like white jeans (get a stain as soon as I leave the house!) or white on white walls. I do love white though. I have painted white kitchen cabinets & trim with Hawthorne Yellow walls and when I finally (after 38 years) get my kitchen done over I will definitely stay with the same color scheme! My downstairs bathroom (inspired by a photo in the Pottery Barn catalog a few years ago) has white cabinets, white tile in the tub area with a few decorative tiles to break up the white, white wainscoting half way up the wall, Nantucket Fog (blue) walls and tile flooring in mushroom which is a sandy color. I also used the Nantucket Fog in my back room (off the kitchen) with white trim. My living room is bleeker beige so when I stand in my living room and look into my kitchen and backroom I'm standing in the sand looking at the sun in the beautiful blue sky! I am happy : )
I love decorating with whites and creams….so fun to decorate with. I find that I tire of accessories more than furniture… so I'm always on the hunt for new accessories for fun changes. Being very traditional changing antique furniture out is not an option. Mostly my changes are seasonal and with a white slate to work from, anything goes. And the same goes for my beautiful all white Spode china. There are no limits to my table scapes. I love buying up colored wine glasses and salad plates to add depending the colors I'm using at the time.
I live in a 'white house' from top to bottom. In SW Florida, it's cool ad relaxing – and frankly, I want to see if there is anything 4-legged walking on my floor or counters. I find white tile very easy to keep — it's the grout that can be a problem but I have found easy solutions for that too. My kitchen is full of cookbooks and shelves of a mug collection – they supply some color interest as do collectable art pieces on the walls of other rooms.
These days, doctors' offices and hospital rooms are not white – they are beige, yellow, and aqua. An all white interior is only as boring as you make it. For me, beige is about as depressing as it can get! Since I have never been bored in my entire life, I feel quite energized by any interior I choose. As we all know, taste is purely subjective and we are all not expected to like the same things. Color affects different people in different ways.
I'm not a clean freak, but I would have to wonder what would make a white house look "filthy" –we don't have food fights and when we drop things we pick them up.
I was wondering the same thing……is everyone running a muck with food and the animals?
This is so timely since my husband and I have been debating this subject recently. I would LOVE a white couch but he is opposed because he says it will show the dirt. I would rather see the dirt and clean it than just leave dirt I can't see. I love the look of white on white with bold pops of accent color.
I have a white room, white hair and a white dog…i love love love white..the pristine effect of newly fallen snow, white and soft and fluffy and how when there is a snowstorm everything slows down to a crawl and we observe the beauty of mother nature…as for the upkeep…well, my white chairs sport white
throws which adds texture and there is always the washing machine..i love my new white bathroom and the touches of a soft sea shell glaze that the mirror I made adds…white speaks to my soul and nurtures me like a cacoon.
Love the white on white… so fresh everyday…
I love wearing white…so pure… You can add color to it
everyday… Great.
My husband and I repainted all the dark walnut-stained pine woodwork in our home Linen White 10 years ago and it immediately brightened up the house and we have loved it every since and so has everyone else. It makes every day, even gloomy ones, beautiful. It took 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of satin and it has worn very well.
White on white works so well with cottage and country farmhouse styles. I love it – for contrast you can actually just use gorgeous antique pieces. In my bedroom I have all white shades, my antique rosewood bed, dresser and washstand just pop against the white. It is absolutely fantastic!!
)
I'll let you know. I just made white suedecloth slipcovers for my new white and gold living room. I love my white kitchen and bathroom. As noted before, I KNOW when it's clean or dirty. I'm counting on washable throws (also white and textured) to keep my sofa and chairs in reasonable condition. They really look swell in the sunlight coming through the picture windows.
Just my style, but I do have some dark wood armoires, and other antiques and dark antique maple hardwood floors, no carpet…..Love it.
I LOVE white-on-white!! I love color, but a white-on-white room is where I feel the most comfortable & serene.
In every house I've lived, I have gone in and painted everything white. It is the perfect backdrop for all colors.
Woods, art, furniture, personal photos, and textiles are vibrant against white. Later, there might be a need for additional splashes of color. White is my black. everything looks good with white.
Love the photos in this blog.
It's elegant and clean looking, peaceful as a snow laden wood, but frosty as Narnia under the Ice-Queen's rule; I don't think I could live with it all season. The benefit of changing seasonal color splashes is nice, but I need a bit more sunshine in my soul, and have a hard enough time keeping the shed fur of 4 cats off the rugs and furniture as is. Love the Ottomon in the first photo, where can I find one like it?
Like living in a wedding cake.
I love it, sweet and simple.
I think white on white can be beautiful and I agree that it can also provide a degree of flexibility for accessorizing not available with other colors, especially when applied to walls. One of my good friends has a lot of white on white decor and it is very aesthetically pleasing, but I simply cannot live in it. And it is not about cleaning, even with two cats! I don't think that white is necessarily "cold" either and I must applaud those with the panache to pull a room together. The problem is that I look at a white surface (walls in particular) and I inevitably think that I need to do something to make it more personal. It is a purely individual preference and decorating choice, but I see white and I think it is empty.
What a great Pouf! It really adds a different twist to the whole room. I've seen one similar at http://bit.ly/rfc9Z7 in Amara's Missoni Collection.
I recently did my all dark home into cottage white. It had amazing results for me who suffers from SAD. I would recommend it for anyone with that condition…plus it's so pretty.
I have walls in off-white, and white upholstered furniture with touches of robin's egg blue. I couldn't think of a color palette that is more soothing. This is carried throughout every room. I think this makes the whole house seem larger. However, I have no husband, no children, and no pets, so it's pretty easy to keep whites white under those circumstances! I admire anyone who can keep whites white with a family and pets.
I FIND WHITE ON WHITE VERY SOOTHING ESPECIALLY IF YOU ADD ONLY A FEW PIECES OF BLUE ACCENTS.
Perhaps a white on white would be great…at the beach…if you lived alone…and never drank red wine…and had no pets! I think it's beautiful, something to enjoy looking at, you know, like the Mona Lisa. But not really practical. It's part of design that holds your interest and appreciation, but at the same time, you know it's not really livable.
I LOVE white on white. I own two dogs and I don't see a problem here. No they are not angels, but any color would have to be cleaned, so why not your favorite one? No, I wouldn't do white carpet, but I would go really like and neutral. I like neutrals together too….pale gray, pale taupe mixed with lots of white. I love tone on tone and a mixture of textures. I agree with Deborah above – it is a natural, soft pallet for anything you bring into the room.
I love the crispness of white…with another color. Too much white makes me feel the owners are absent — the old cover all the furniture in the country house while we move to the city for the winter social season look. I am just thinking that "the ultimate soothing backdrop" shouldn't actually absorb every element of the room or else it becomes aggressive, but then I am from northern Minnesota where we get six months of aggressive white on white each year! Sorry, I just don't think this says anything about the people in the house. Makes me hinky.
White on white is timeless and classic, but not for everyone. I personally prefer more color…but white kitchen cabinets with white marble (carrara, calacatta, arabescato, statuario) counters will always be chic…as will a white carrara bathroom….and you can always change the accents.