White shouldn't be overlooked as an accessory color to brighten a room

Most people think of accessories as providing a spurt of color to waken a room with neutral walls and furnishings, or as a complement to other hues found in fabrics and rugs.


But white shouldn't be overlooked for decorative pieces that accentuate other colors in a room.
 

"Paint your woodwork white, and your wall color will seem more vivid," according to MattandShari.com, the website for the PBS series Around the House with Matt and Shari. "Try framing colorful artwork with white matting and see the colors in the artwork become more intense."
 

White curtains or shutters, by themselves or combined with window shades, allow more light to enter a room, which makes it feel airy and expansive. While white shutters are often used in country or cottage style décor, soft sheer shades have a more contemporary look. They allow filtered light to enter a room, but also maintain visibility of outside views.


A dark corner of a room can also be lightened with a white tablecloth spread over a small table, or a collection of white accessories grouped together. Clear jars filled with white and cream-colored candles, white flowers and porcelain pieces are some items that can be used effectively in such a grouping.