Decorating with White
White made its grand entrance onto the home decor scene with the introduction of Rachel Ashwell’s shabby chic style. The color white is used profusely in shabby chic decor, using the color to unite worn objects from different eras. While some may think decorating with white is falling out of favor, numerous home decor sites still show an abundancy of white rooms. Country Living magazine has an entire section dedicated to decorating with white on its website. As for me and my home, I’m still a huge fan of white!
My farm house dining room is the whitest room in my house and it also has the least amount of natural light (other than one of the bathrooms that doesn’t have a window). Despite the lack of daylight entering the room, it looks bright and airy. The dining table is painted 2 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Colors – Old White on the table top and Paris Gray on the legs. The chairs wear a first coat of Duck Egg Blue with Paris Gray on top. I distressed the chairs so you can see both colors.
The walls are painted Steam White by Laura Ashley, sold at Lowe’s. I love this shade of white because it has a slight undertone of bluish gray. I’m more of a cool colors kinda girl and it took a while for me to find a shade of white with blue undertones as opposed to yellow. I added a script bamboo mat under the table – super easy to clean!
When I set the table, I almost always use white dishes because I think white-on-white looks crisp and fresh.
When decorating with white, you can use a mix of styles because the color itself provides cohesiveness.
For this place setting, I used larger plates found at Goodwill, topped with stock dishes from Walmart. The old silverware is a flea market find. I added blossoms from my Bridal Wreath bush and added lace.
Decorating with white in the dining room makes it easy to select a centerpiece because you can use almost anything. Blooms from the Bridal Wreath bush are tucked inside a blue Ball mason jar. Easy peasy!
The Bridal Wreath blooms look equally pretty in an ironstone creamer.
The buffet is painted in Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which I found at a local store that sells a lot of repurposed furniture.
My white ironstone collection allows me to continue decorating with white in our farmhouse dining room.
I’m a sucker for flowers so I added a branch of the Bridal Wreath bush to the ironstone bowl.
An altered small bottle and a rusty bottle from the dump accompany one of my white ironstone pitchers.
I love the cool white in my dining room so much, that I’ve decided to paint our living room the same color. Some people think too much white looks cold and impersonal, but I think decorating with white looks fresh and airy and it always brightens my mood.
What are favorite colors you’ve used to decorate your home?
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It’s all so pretty dressed in white. White makes it easy to change things up.
I like color but love looking at white rooms. They seem so peaceful. My husband was looking at your room a few minutes ago. And he asked me if I’d like an all white room. I said no, but I love how they can give me a calm feeling when I look at them. Which I do when I start to feel overwhelmed with life. Thanks for this calming moment. I was sure needing it. 🙂
I have quite a few rooms in the home painted white, 🙂 yellow based antique white and and cream. I luv the fact that I can add colour when I want to. I have green accent walls pops of red in the dining room. Neutral with pops of colour does it for me.
Luv your home.
Hugs, Gee
Jennifer,
Blue, mostly a light periwinkle, is my favorite color with which to decorate. All of the walls in my house are painted that color which is a perfect background for white. I was very decisive that the walls could not be white when we built our house over 25 years ago.
I had lived in so many apartments and temporary houses that had white walls that I found them boring.
Over the years, I’ve added more white to my house. The natural-stained pine cabinets in my kitchen were all painted white about 7-8 years ago, and I still love them that color.
Judith
No white for me, although I enjoy viewing all the whites on line and in magazines. Your home is lovely and charming no matter what color you use!!!
All the walls in my home and the trim are almond, it was easier that way!!! And it is the perfect backdrop for all the antiques, paintings, bric a brac, and family collections…….the colors are mostly red and blue with some pinks and sometimes purples find a way in here…….and things move in and out for the change of seasons. My bedroom is pink and aqua with naturals. I love color and living in an all white room would drain the life right out of me!!!
I LOVE white. You always do such a great job. I’d love it if you could link this up to our party, Give Me The Goods Monday! {1 party, 4 blogs)
Have a great week!
Jamie @ Better With Age
Your dining room is so crisp and welcoming, and how many lovely displays! I love whites too, it has become a way of life for me,
I couldn’t live in a dark home!
Hugs
Silvia
I love your whites Jennifer. I have white 1960’s beach furniture in my living room mixed with blues. My dining room is a dismal brown because my hubs thinks painting a buffet is a horror. I am working on that. My kitchen is white but desperately needs repainting. The painting never ends does it?
I love white. I have to tell you that your blog inspired me to paint my walls white. I love how uncomplicated it makes my life. I’ve had way more fun decorating since I went white. Funny because I never considered white as a wall color, only trim. Anyway, I’m sold on it! Love your new profile pic :-
Love your white dining room! I have a lot of black & white, light & dark, as I like the contrast. Thanks for your lovely blog.
love the new pic of you, jennifer! i’ve been a white lover for about 13 yrs, and have no desire to stop:) your vignettes are darling!
I always love your white space. Wish I could do white, but with log walls there’s not change. Your room is always stunning:)
Your use of white in your dining room not only looks pretty but is smart to keep it light and airy, Jennifer.
Your white dining room looks so beautiful and bright. I love it all!
I’m inspired! Lowe’s here I come….. the bedroom needs this – and so does the furniture I’m gathered — my computer desk. the TV stand and the dresser! I’m excited! THANKS!!!!
I’ve always loved your dining-room. Decorating with white gives us so much liberty to add touches of colour and change them whenever we want.
I always enjoy photos of your home. You have a great way of making it look so fresh and pretty!
Mary Alice
I love how you use white in your decor, it’s soft and airy and always inviting. I have one room that’s filled with soft white with yellow and gray as accents. For rooms that don’t flow into one another, as in my old house, I like to create something different in each one, but I’m not a fan of bright, primary colors. I think white will be around for a long time, it’s the perfect compliment to our accessories and pieces. Thanks always, for a great post!
XO,
Jane
I love how clean & pretty it looks! Thanks for sharing! I found you at Savvy Southern Style 🙂
Hi,
Great post! I’m not really a white kind of person; spent too many years in apartments with “apartment beige” of all shades. But I have to say it is starting to grow on me.
What colours did you finish your diningroom table and chairs? I love the softness of the colours. Though you mention you’re a “cool colour” kind of girl, these colours strike me as being warm, inviting and calming.
Thanks,
Cathy
Your whites are so lovely – thanks for posting your tips!
Jennifer as always your home is lovely and I adore your white. The mason jars and the flowers are displayed beautifully.
Cynthia
I♥decorating with white! Beautiful pics! Sharing this a little later on Facebook. XOXO
LOVE the white! I agree with you that it looks fresh and airy–absolutely beautiful! Hope you have a wonderful day!
~Abby =)
You’re awesome!!
I love the white, so fresh and clean!!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!!
That white buffet and mirror are still my favorites. Just love the whole white room!
Your white decor is just gorgeous. So comforting.
I love all your white, Jennifer. Nothing cold about this room at all, just lovely!
Jeanette
I love your pictures and the beautiful white. It is all so welcoming!
Absolutely beautiful Jennifer!! I love white!! I am waiting to have the time between clients to tackle my dining room!!! I have the rug too… and I am totally going white… Thanks for sharing such beautiful inspiration!!
It is all beautiful, but I have to say the white plates with simple flowers tied with lace is my favorite part – just so sweet.
Your room settings are always so lovely Jennifer. As you know, I’m a big fan of white too and love how it can brighten a darker room.
I host a weekly link party called “Seasonal Sundays”. This week, in honor of my fourth blog-a-versary, I’m having a giveaway of a $100.00 gift certificate to HomeGoods/TJ Maxx. I’d love to have you join the fun!
– The Tablescaper
I never thought before about how white is the unifying element that allows us to use such a variety of period decor in one room. I love that! Your dining room is so beautiful; light, bright, and so cheerful in spite of one window, and I love the baby’s breath. I’d never seen it not dried before and had no idea it’s so pretty when fresh. As usual, your post has taught me much!
I love white too, and you do it very well! I agree, using different tones of white and lots of texture help make a space warmer. I use tones from bright cool white to warmer whites to greige and even taupe and gray in my home. I also keep some dark wood and metals – silver, gold and rusty stuff. It is my favorite way to live right now! If I desire to use more color, it will be easy to incorporate it later, and even change it seasonally. Your home is lovely!
-Revi
I love white too Jennifer and I always love seeing your beautiful house.
White is surreal and dreamy and it goes fabulously with classy and chic country homes. White kitchens look absolutely marvelous. If you do them up with upclass accessories then they can even look downright grand. Pastel shades, fine china, silverware and flower arrangement are totally great for such homes and make them look even more pleasant.
Where did you find your side chairs? I love them!
Love the look, it is so sweet x
Where can I find a table as close to yours? OMG, I love it.
I asked for advice on the houz app. Wouldn’t you know, poof your dining room was shared.
Is there some Pinterest Rule that states no copycats aloud! I am blessed to have a corner hut h. Yours is to die for.
Is it the same color as the table?
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