The color is very much an antiqued white, as described. Another reviewer said these were closer to plain white, but they clash somewhat with my white trim, and are more yellow. Not a problem, though. They are actually roomier than I imagined, even though they don't take up much floor space. In one drawer, I put a full size box of tissue, and it only took up half the drawer. My only regret is that the design is a bit ornate compared to my other furniture, so it looks a bit odd. It's so hard to picture furniture in the room it's intended for! My fault, not the fault of these nightstands. Regarding the smell, the drawers do smell a bit like paint, but not strongly. I expect it to fade, in time.