In coming up with a design for this new website look, I struggled with a tough decision: should the background be white, colored, or patterned?

Seems like a trivial matter, right? Just do whatever you like! But as I kept thinking about it, it seems to me that the choice of a background can have a underlying effect on how visitors receive your site and build loyalty to it (well, aside from quality content, of course). Unfortunately, there isn't much out there that discusses this topic. It seems to me that most of my favorite blogs and sites have white backgrounds, with very standard large image headers, and narrow 2-3 columns layouts. Why is that? Is it because of the crisp, friendly, bright white backgrounds that draw me to those sites, or is it simply a coincidence?

Anna Maria Horner, Apartment Therapy, ~>O<~, good-ness, How About Orange...all white backgrounds. Not that any of them is lacking in color though... I think a background, white or not, contributes a lot to the mood of a site. Like, would you rather go out on a bright sunny day with clear blue skies, or a grey and wet gloomy day?

I couldn't stand the idea of having a white background though...I love color, it would be so unlike me to do it. I've probably never put a plain background on anything but sheets of white paper...but I didn't want to sacrifice personal style for the sake of being generally accepted. So to compromise, I came up with this mostly-white background that still reflects a bit of my style. It frames the content of the pages in a non-obtrusive way, and still provides a sense of airy-ness to it. At least I think...

What do you think? Share with us your site in the comments below! What's the background like? If you have any insights on the topic, I'd love to know!