I remember walking into a decorator shop in 1992 and seeing for the first time what has come to be known as Shabby Chic. Being accustomed to my dark red walls and ornate Victorian furniture, my first thought was, “this will never sell.” As we all know, I was wrong! The casual elegance of the white on white went on to be a top seller through most of the 90s.
Proving the old adage that what goes around does eventually come around, the experts at Sherman Williams have named white as the number one color for 2016. Why white? Top designers point to its adaptability. White has the power to open up small confined spaces or add cohesion to large rooms, making it an option for almost any setting.
You soon discover when you start to work with white, that what the eye sees as white is, in fact, a combination of colors. You will find literally hundreds of shades available that fall into one of two categories, cool or warm. Cool whites have undertones of grey, blue and green; warm whites have a yellow, peach or beige cast. Speak with a consultant at your paint store and try to stay within one category as you assemble the components for your room.
Accent Colors: Color can be incorporate into your room, but remember, in a white room, color is magnified making even a gold fish bowl a focal point. Keep it simple and tasteful. There are three good choices here. Choose the subtlety of varying tones of white, taupe and ivory, go for slight contrasts with brown, beige, and black, or yield to your adventurous nature with splashes of orange, yellow or turquoise.
Furnishings: Work with what you have. From streamlined Mid-Century Scandinavian to whimsical French Country and Primitive Farm House Chic, you will find that white is at home with almost any style of furniture. If you are starting from scratch go with white or subtle white on white prints for your upholstered pieces. Avoid bold print fabrics as they can appear garish in a white room. Painted white distressed furniture, wicker, and rattan add character and if you shop wisely can be easy on the budget.
Accessories: Textures are an essential component in a white room. Natural fiber woven rugs, throw pillows in burlap or linen, and splashes and greenery add variety and depth to a white room. Metalware, architectural elements, and pieces of brass or copper also incorporate well into this setting. Are you a collector? Don’t hesitate to add your collection of old books, antique clocks, and globes or cluster of colorful MCM glass.
Decorating with limited funds? Use your imagination to turn your old accent pieces and garage sale finds into the perfect touch for your new room. Clock cases, lamp bases, hat boxes, and small furniture painted with flat white paint, old books covered in parchment paper, and casual window coverings made from white sheets allow you to put your personal touch on a room while keeping down the cost of your redesign.
There is nothing that brings life to a tired decor like a fresh coat of paint and what better time take on that project than during these cold winter days? Here are two links to help you get started. Livingonadime.com offers step-by-step instructions on how to paint a room and HGTV and The Sherman Williams Company have money-saving coupons available online at www.shermanwilliams.shopathome.com. Now, what are you waiting for? Until next time…Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com.
