The quilt's background is cream, as stated. It looks white in the picture so I ordered from Joss & Main in case I needed to return it. Another site had it for less, but it could not be returned. I could not find a suitable quilt locally and their prices were usually higher. The quilt is lovely with a subtle sheen that adds to its elegance. It took a lot of looking to find a quilt with just enough pattern to complement my bedroom.