Eclectic Elements

How to Decorate in White

Interior Design Tips by Eclectic Elements

 

WHITE IS NEVER BORING: Beige can be boring, but not white. It's a very dramatic color. That's proven over and over again by weddings and we never tire of looking at them! 

WHITE CAN BE COZY: People think of it as cold, because they believe a white room must be neat. Use fluffy cushions and distressed finishes so you still get that airy feeling, but with warmth to it. WHITE MAKES FOR A FLEXIBLE AND FORGIVING FIRST STEP: Paint a room white, and you have a blank canvas for anything. Start with bold wallpaper, and you're already committed. 

PAIR WHITE WITH PASTELS, BUT PROCEED CAREFULLY: They can read as baby colors, so I choose mellow shades that impart just a whisper of smoky pink, blue, or green.

WHITE IS INDEED A COLOR — WITH LOTS OF RANGE: If you look carefully at the undertones, some are blue, pink, green. You really need to paint a wall and experience the color at different times of day, to see how the light changes it. WHITE UPHOLSTERY CAN BE PRACTICAL: I often use outdoor fabrics inside. Faux leathers and suedes are also very forgiving.

WOOD WARMS UP EVEN THE MOST SPARSELY FURNISHED WHITE ROOM: There's a lot of movement in wood. In effect, it starts to feel like a print — just a very subtle one. Other low-key ways to add interest and depth: Fabrics with woven tone-on-tone chevron or herringbone patterns, marble countertops, and antique rugs on the reverse (just flip the rug over so the muted side shows).  

WHITE HAS THE POWER TO UNIFY DISJOINTED SPACES: My country home in Virginia is an old farmhouse that had been added to over time; even the floors didn't match. White — on the walls and underfoot — harmonized the space and established continuity from one room to another. It encourages flow, whereas an abrupt color change can destroy the sight line. On a more prosaic note, an all-white decorating scheme lets you move furniture around: A chair pulled from the living room can also work at the dining table.

NOT ALL WHITES MATCH: Once you start layering different tones, you can't assume they'll all go together. You've got to look at them next to each other to see if they blend. 

 WHITE ALLOWS YOU TO APPROACH DECORATING AS YOU WOULD FASHION: You can freshen up a white room just by swapping out throw pillows: blue ones for summer, orange ones for winter, and so on. A rug or work of art is another little way to make a big difference.

 

WHITE DEMANDS ACCESSORIZING: Layers of objects with different textures & colors are where white rooms really come together!