diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
index 5c9748dd..baccefe9 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-widget-list/src/ListControl.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import ImmutablePropTypes from 'react-immutable-proptypes';
 import styled from '@emotion/styled';
 import { jsx, css, ClassNames } from '@emotion/core';
-import { List, Map } from 'immutable';
-import { partial } from 'lodash';
+import { List, Map, fromJS } from 'immutable';
+import { partial, isEmpty } from 'lodash';
 import { SortableContainer, SortableElement, SortableHandle } from 'react-sortable-hoc';
 import NetlifyCmsWidgetObject from 'netlify-cms-widget-object';
 import {
@@ -165,19 +165,64 @@ export default class ListControl extends React.Component {
 
   handleAdd = e => {
     e.preventDefault();
-    const { value, onChange } = this.props;
-    const parsedValue = this.getValueType() === valueTypes.SINGLE ? null : Map();
+    const { value, onChange, field } = this.props;
+    const parsedValue =
+      this.getValueType() === valueTypes.SINGLE
+        ? this.singleDefault()
+        : fromJS(this.multipleDefault(field.get('fields')));
     this.setState({ itemsCollapsed: this.state.itemsCollapsed.push(false) });
     onChange((value || List()).push(parsedValue));
   };
 
+  singleDefault = () => {
+    return this.props.field.getIn(['field', 'default'], null);
+  };
+
+  multipleDefault = fields => {
+    return this.getFieldsDefault(fields);
+  };
+
   handleAddType = (type, typeKey) => {
     const { value, onChange } = this.props;
-    let parsedValue = Map().set(typeKey, type);
+    let parsedValue = fromJS(this.mixedDefault(typeKey, type));
     this.setState({ itemsCollapsed: this.state.itemsCollapsed.push(false) });
     onChange((value || List()).push(parsedValue));
   };
 
+  mixedDefault = (typeKey, type) => {
+    const selectedType = this.props.field.get(TYPES_KEY).find(f => f.get('name') === type);
+    const fields = selectedType.get('fields') || [selectedType.get('field')];
+
+    return this.getFieldsDefault(fields, { [typeKey]: type });
+  };
+
+  getFieldsDefault = (fields, initialValue = {}) => {
+    return fields.reduce((acc, item) => {
+      const subfields = item.get('field') || item.get('fields');
+      const object = item.get('widget') == 'object';
+      const name = item.get('name');
+      const defaultValue = item.get('default', null);
+
+      if (List.isList(subfields) && object) {
+        const subDefaultValue = this.getFieldsDefault(subfields);
+        !isEmpty(subDefaultValue) && (acc[name] = subDefaultValue);
+        return acc;
+      }
+
+      if (Map.isMap(subfields) && object) {
+        const subDefaultValue = this.getFieldsDefault([subfields]);
+        !isEmpty(subDefaultValue) && (acc[name] = subDefaultValue);
+        return acc;
+      }
+
+      if (defaultValue !== null) {
+        acc[name] = defaultValue;
+      }
+
+      return acc;
+    }, initialValue);
+  };
+
   processControlRef = ref => {
     if (!ref) return;
     this.validations.push(ref.validate);