How to use white in your decor

DO'S

1) “Use white or lighter colors in a smaller space. It's going to feel bigger and more open,” says David Dennis, owner of home decor shop RCKNDY.

2) Painting woodwork or even a brick fireplace surround a glossy, creamy white instantly freshens up a space.

3) Consider an all-white kitchen. “It's got a clean, uncluttered feel,” says designed and HGTV star Emily Henderson.

DON'TS

1) “I don't like large pieces of white upholstered furniture. Other people seem to be afraid of them. I've noticed that everyone will stand around a white sofa instead of sitting down to enjoy conversation,” says Darin Miller, owner of home store And Beige in Washington, D.C.

2) Put down a fuzzy white rug without taking into account your lifestyle (pets, foot traffic, a coffee or cabernet addiction). The last thing you want is something underfoot that looks dingier than a painter's drop cloth.

3) Keep all of your walls all white. “I think it's almost chilly and disconnected that way,” says designer Marya Karlton.