9 Ways to Decorate with White

In an hour or so, the skies are set to open over my house in Baltimore, delivering some kind of record snowfall for the reason. I guess that's why I've got white on my mind.

Call me J.Lo, but I think white rooms are incredibly gorgeous, totally elegant, and wildly impractical. When I was a little kid, my parents' living room included a white shag carpet (it was the mid-70s) and white sofas. Oddly enough, it was my dad (and a glass of red wine) that ruined the snowy perfect, not me.

Now that I have a sticky-jelly-fingered toddler of my own, I can't imagine what my parents were thinking. I still think white rooms are luxurious and beautiful, but the practical side of me admits that there are lots of ways to incorporate white that don't require an in-house cleaning staff.

This list includes nine different ways to decorate with white - please add your own experiences in the comments!

Kit Pollard

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9. Or stick it outside. And if you just can't make it work inside, take it to the yard. I love long wooden tables anyway - but I especially like this fresh white version.

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And finally...one last way to accessorize: with the white shag rug from my parents' mid-70s living room. Actually, i think the rug in this room looks great and thoroughly modern (even if it's still a bad idea for the serious red wine drinker...)

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Another great way to accessorize - thick white mattes on artwork. I love the effect of lots of similarly-framed works of art.

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8. Accessorize. A few white accessories brighten up a whole space. I especially like white dishes, which look great on open shelves or in glass-front cabinets.

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Fixtures in the bathroom - like cabinets - are pretty permanent, but can be replaced. Also like cabinets, white fixtures make for a clean look.

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6. Whitewash your "mostly permanent" purchases. Cabinets are a semi-permanent way to incorporate white into your design. They make for a fun, bright kitchen.

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I love whitewashed brick, too - it brightens up the space without losing the personality exposed brick offers.

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5. Add it to the walls and floors. White is a natural choice for walls, especially in a space with architecture as grand as this.

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4. Light it right. The very first room in this ideabook was lit with bright natural light, giving the space a fresh, open feel. This space is much more romantic, thanks to the softer lighting.

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Finally, it's hard to go wrong pairing black with white - it's like turning a checkerboard floor into an entire room.

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Another color pairing I love. The mix of cool blue, white, and a little bit of shimmer gives this kitchen the feeling of a pristine, practical jewelry box.

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Or next to busy walls. With anything other than white furniture, this room would give me a headache. As it is, I love it.

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3. Build contrast. I love a little splash of white next to rich wall color...

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2. Linens only. If all white feels to stark to you, consider choosing white linens. To me, they always feel clean and fresh and hotel-like.

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The slight off-white used in this space - plus the quilted headboard - DO give it an elegant vibe.

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1. All white, everywhere. Simple, full of natural light, clean, and refreshing. This white bedroom doesn't have that opulent J.Lo feeling, but it's just as luxurious in its own spa-like way.