All about white

Neutral Vintage Living Room

The owner of this light-filled living room found imaginative applications for vintage finds—she turned a 19th-century wooden tub into a coffee table and utilized an antique checkerboard as a unique piece of art.

Throw Pillows

In a white living room, throw pillows should serve as more than a decorative element. A layer of cushions instantly corrects the problem of a too-deep sofa and adds visual interest and depth. But avoid over-accessorizing a shallow one—remember, people need space to sit.

White and Gray

Slipcovered Shabby Chic sofas, heaped with hand-sewn pillows, flank this living room fireplace. The leather armchair is by Jean de Merry; the owners had the small antler side table custom made.

New England White

The living room in this Colonial-era New England home uses soft grays and taupey browns—like the blue-gray hue on the mantel and the tan-and-brown striped area rug—to enrich a white palette.

Bold White

Textures and shapes are enhanced against white. Subtle but significant details, such as the original paint of a vintage fireplace mantel and the bold lines of an 18th-century American cupboard, stand out when displayed against a backdrop of plain white walls.

Antique White

White decor looks anything but basic in a living room filled with antique finds. Instead of family photos, hang mirrors of various sizes in a stairwell to reflect the light palette.

Wonderful Walls

Take full advantage of vertical space. These custom bookshelves in the living room create a display space for a collection of American art pottery. Here's how we recommend keeping the arrangement interesting:

• Group similarly shaped items (fluted vases, trophy-like urns) together, but stagger heights and mix various creamy shades.

• A few wild-card components, such as shells, architectural remnants, and tarnished silver vessels, prevent a monochromatic collection from becoming monotonous. Just keep them all muted, so they don't hog the spotlight.

• Stacked books make great risers—providing the height needed to help fill up a tall shelf.

Cozy White

People tend to believe that white creates cold spaces. To prevent this: Avoid hard, modern pieces and use fluffy cushions and distressed finishes—so you still get that airy feeling, but with warmth to it.

White Noise

Custom club sofas flank the living room's centerpiece, an oversize midcentury coffee table fashioned from iron and bleached oak. The antique twist-turned-leg side chairs were found at a local shop, Random Harvest. A collection of old ironstone fills the built-in shelves, and aged finds—like a brass candelabra, globes, and a display of pinned butterflies—lend patina.

Bright Idea: A built-in ledge, painted the same color as the wall, offers an unobtrusive workstation.

Read more: White Living Rooms - Ideas for White Living Room Decorating - Country Living