Off-white is almost always the better choice in a living room. Pure white only earns its place in a very bright, very modern room, where it stays crisp. Everywhere else it looks cold, and it shows every mark.
Shade
Where it works
What to know
Pure white
Contemporary interiors, white walls, strong light
The most demanding in the range
Cream, off-white
Wood, linen, warm tones
Forgives light marks
White and gray
Dark sofas, Scandinavian style
The easiest to live with day to day
Is a white throw a bad idea with children or a pet?
Not if you take fleece or microfiber. Those go in the machine at 86°F and come out like new. What to avoid in that case is long-pile faux fur and chunky knit, which hold hair and wash badly. If you have a dog or a cat, look at our pet range instead.
How do you keep a white throw white?
Wash it alone or with whites, never with colors, even pale ones.
At 86°F maximum. Hot water yellows synthetic fibers over time.
No fabric softener on fleece: it mats the fibers and dulls the white.
Air dry. A tumble dryer grays white fabric within a few cycles.
Common questions
Does white really make a room look bigger? It reflects light, so yes, a large white throw on a dark sofa visibly brightens a dim living room.
What size for a decorative effect? Count on 59" x 79" (150 x 200 cm) at least. Below that, a white throw reads as a pale patch rather than structuring the room.
