White: The Winter Wonder

Published: December 19th, 2016

The early bite of winter has blanketed the park and beach beyond my home with a holiday layer of soft and quiet snow.

Whether glistening in a blue-ish hue beneath last week’s “supermoon” or brightening the lake and sky in mid-day winter light, the view makes me think of the wonders of white. White need not be boring. It can create a stunning accent that pops against more saturated colors and rich patterns. See how the vintage Vladimir Kagan sofa below makes white feel oh-so-luxurious against pattern and color.

Or go monochromatic white. A crisp, all-white room creates a clean and powerful statement of hope, purity and youth. Layering different tones (Benjamin Moore offers 200 hues of white paint!) becomes both soothing and complex, while throw pillows, art, flowers and accessories can provide small pops of color that delight the eye.

Lastly, consider white as neither a statement nor an accent, but as a neutral envelope for a vivid color scheme. Like a snowy beach to a blue winter sky, white makes colors more vivid and strong. Teals and purples go deeper and richer as they move to foreground, while white walls recede.

Looking for a few items in white to consider for your home? Consider these favorites of mine:

Enjoy the gifts of winter, including the wonders of white!