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Ivory Color Guide: Refresh + Calm with Soothing Off-White
Featuring a luxuriously creamy tone, ivory can instantly warm, calm and refresh – all at once. Here’s how to incorporate ivory into your home.
What is Ivory?
One of the most common shades of white used in interior decorating, the color ivory is warmer than pure bright white and features a yellow or beige tinge. ‘Ivory,’ ‘off-white,’ and ‘cream’ are often used interchangeably to describe the same soft hue.
What Does the Color Ivory Symbolize?
Tinged with yellow or beige undertones, ivory is a softer and warmer form of white – and thus brings softer, warmer connotations than pure white alone.
Named after the creamy tint found in the tusks of elephants and horns of rhinoceri (which, throughout history, were prized in many cultures and symbolized wealth and prosperity), ivory today is often associated with elegance, luxury and a calming clean feeling.
How to Style with the Color Ivory in Interior Design
Ivory is a shade of white, which means it packs high style versatility. Because ivory often contains yellow undertones, though, if you are considering pairing a second color with ivory, pay attention to the undertones of the second color choice. Does the color lean toward warmer or cooler undertones, or does it contain no undertones at all?
The warmer the shade of ivory you use in your home, the warmer the undertones should be in any secondary colors you use for accent pieces, decor, etc.
If the color you want to use does not seem to have any undertones at all, feel free to style it however you wish with ivory; it is often the case that such a color features a balance of cool and warm, making it compatible with a wide array of shades.
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Editorial Disclaimer: Articles featuring tips and advice are intended for educational purposes and only as general recommendations. Always practice personal discretion when using and caring for furniture, decor and related items.