7 Easy Ways to Decorate with Blue and White
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Blue and white has been loved for centuries, from Ming porcelain to English transferware, because it works almost anywhere. It feels fresh in a modern kitchen and right at home in a traditional dining room. Here are seven easy ways to bring it into your home.
1. Start with one classic pattern
If you're building a collection, pick one pattern to anchor it. Spode's Blue Italian has been made since 1816 and is still easy to add to piece by piece. A 12-piece starter set covers four place settings, and you can grow from there.
2. Mix patterns, keep the colors
Blue and white pieces don't have to match. Florals, birds and pastoral scenes all sit happily together as long as the two colors stay the same. Try Blue Italian dinner plates with chinoiserie napkins, or stack soup plates on top for a layered table.
3. Group ginger jars in odd numbers
Ginger jars look best in groups of three, in different heights. Pair a tall 15-inch lotus jar with a 10-inch jar and a small pair of mini jars on a mantel, console or bookshelf.
4. Put flowers in your porcelain
A ginger jar with its lid off becomes a vase. White hydrangeas, peonies or simple greenery look striking against blue and white. Use a glass jar inside if you're worried about water.
5. Soften a room with textiles
Pillows are the quickest way to repeat the look across a room. A pair of chinoiserie pillow covers on a white or navy sofa ties it to the porcelain on your shelves.
6. Use serving pieces as decor
Serveware doesn't have to live in a cupboard. A Blue Italian sandwich tray makes a pretty catch-all on a coffee table, and a small handled basket holds keys, candy or potpourri by the door.
7. Give it room to breathe
Blue and white shines against plain backgrounds. White walls, natural wood and woven textures let the patterns stand out instead of competing.
Browse all our blue and white finds, or start with Spode Blue Italian and ginger jars.