diff --git a/bravado_core/schema.py b/bravado_core/schema.py
index 884abe9b..0d826463 100644
--- a/bravado_core/schema.py
+++ b/bravado_core/schema.py
@@ -118,11 +118,15 @@ def handle_null_value(swagger_spec, schema_object_spec):
 
     :param swagger_spec: :class:`bravado_core.spec.Spec`
     :param schema_object_spec: dict
-    :return: None if the spec is nullable
-    :raises: SwaggerMappingError if the spec is not nullable
+    :return: The default if there is a default value, None if the spec is nullable
+    :raises: SwaggerMappingError if the spec is not nullable and no default exists
     """
+    if has_default(swagger_spec, schema_object_spec):
+        return get_default(swagger_spec, schema_object_spec)
+
     if is_prop_nullable(swagger_spec, schema_object_spec):
         return None
+
     raise SwaggerMappingError(
         'Spec {0} is a required value'.format(schema_object_spec))
 
diff --git a/bravado_core/unmarshal.py b/bravado_core/unmarshal.py
index 26a074f6..6f1c5038 100644
--- a/bravado_core/unmarshal.py
+++ b/bravado_core/unmarshal.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from six import iteritems
 
 from bravado_core import formatter
+from bravado_core import schema
 from bravado_core.exception import SwaggerMappingError
 from bravado_core.model import is_model, MODEL_MARKER
 from bravado_core.schema import collapsed_properties
@@ -128,7 +129,10 @@ def unmarshal_object(swagger_spec, object_spec, object_value):
         prop_spec = get_spec_for_prop(
             swagger_spec, object_spec, object_value, k)
         if v is None and k not in required_fields:
-            result[k] = None
+            if schema.has_default(swagger_spec, prop_spec):
+                result[k] = schema.get_default(swagger_spec, prop_spec)
+            else:
+                result[k] = None
         elif prop_spec:
             result[k] = unmarshal_schema_object(swagger_spec, prop_spec, v)
         else:
diff --git a/tests/schema/handle_null_value_test.py b/tests/schema/handle_null_value_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51f4955b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/schema/handle_null_value_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import pytest
+
+from bravado_core.exception import SwaggerMappingError
+from bravado_core.schema import handle_null_value
+
+
+def test_default(empty_swagger_spec):
+    spec = {
+       'type': 'integer',
+       'default': 42
+    }
+
+    assert 42 == handle_null_value(empty_swagger_spec, spec)
+
+
+def test_nullable(empty_swagger_spec):
+    spec = {
+       'type': 'integer',
+       'x-nullable': True,
+    }
+
+    assert None is handle_null_value(empty_swagger_spec, spec)
+
+
+def test_raise(empty_swagger_spec):
+    spec = {
+       'type': 'integer',
+    }
+
+    with pytest.raises(SwaggerMappingError):
+        handle_null_value(empty_swagger_spec, spec)
diff --git a/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_object_test.py b/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_object_test.py
index 2bbf8fea..900d2f29 100644
--- a/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_object_test.py
+++ b/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_object_test.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ def address_spec():
                 'enum': [
                     'Street',
                     'Avenue',
-                    'Boulevard']
+                    'Boulevard',
+                ],
+                'default': 'Street',
             }
         }
     }
@@ -95,11 +97,19 @@ def address():
     }
 
 
-def test_with_properties(empty_swagger_spec, address_spec, address):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'street_type, expected_street_type',
+    (
+        ('Avenue', 'Avenue'),
+        (None, 'Street'),  # make sure the default works
+    )
+)
+def test_with_properties(empty_swagger_spec, address_spec, address, street_type, expected_street_type):
+    address['street_type'] = street_type
     expected_address = {
         'number': 1600,
         'street_name': u'Ümlaut',
-        'street_type': 'Avenue'
+        'street_type': expected_street_type,
     }
     result = unmarshal_object(empty_swagger_spec, address_spec, address)
     assert expected_address == result
diff --git a/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_primitive_test.py b/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_primitive_test.py
index 1c2b624c..1bb6dcba 100644
--- a/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_primitive_test.py
+++ b/tests/unmarshal/unmarshal_primitive_test.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def test_string(minimal_swagger_spec):
         minimal_swagger_spec, string_spec, u'Ümlaut')
 
 
-def test_booean(minimal_swagger_spec):
+def test_boolean(minimal_swagger_spec):
     boolean_spec = {'type': 'boolean'}
     result = unmarshal_primitive(minimal_swagger_spec, boolean_spec, True)
     assert isinstance(result, bool)
@@ -67,6 +67,15 @@ def test_required_failure(minimal_swagger_spec):
     assert 'is a required value' in str(excinfo.value)
 
 
+def test_default(minimal_swagger_spec):
+    integer_spec = {
+        'type': 'integer',
+        'default': 42,
+    }
+
+    assert 42 == unmarshal_primitive(minimal_swagger_spec, integer_spec, None)
+
+
 def test_ref(minimal_swagger_dict):
     minimal_swagger_dict['definitions']['SpecialInteger'] = {'type': 'integer'}
     special_integer_spec = {'$ref': '#/definitions/SpecialInteger'}