by Robin Roenker
White rooms don’t have to be plain rooms. On the contrary, all-white décor is a hot trend right now, spanning the design gamut from chic, ultra-modern aesthetics to rooms with a cozy, lived-in country or vintage vibe.
So whether you’ve chosen white as your color scheme, or you’ve inherited it because of your landlord’s restrictions, by choosing the right whites and a few key accent pieces, you can turn your white room into a fresh and inviting space that you’ll love to be in.
Choose the Right White
First, find the white that’s right for you. If a true white feels too stark, opt for one that’s a bit warmer or cooler in tone, depending on the look you’re after. An antique or linen white with a slight yellow or brownish cast seem warmer and well aged — a good match if you’re going for a vintage or shabby-chic look. Whites with lavender, gray or bluish tones soothe the eye and are the perfect sleek and peaceful backdrop to a more modern look.
Whatever white you choose, consider painting the walls, trim, ceilings and even floors (if you plan to paint them) all the same shade. This monochrome approach to white opens up your room, creating the illusion of a larger space. And, without different shades of white competing for attention, the walls of your room become streamlined, uniform canvases against which all the other décor can truly pop.
Play with Hue and Texture
In a monochromatic room, any slight variance in shades or textures draws your eye. Play that up when decorating. Have fun mixing hues of white: perhaps put a cool, crisp white couch next to a warmer white end table, next to a distressed white TV armoire. Or, in the bedroom, mix antique white pillows with crisp, true-white sheets and a pinkish-white vintage chenille throw.
While it’s best to match your ceiling, wall and trim paints, feel free to mix a range of whites in the furniture and accessories you choose. It’s an easy way to add drama and interest to the room while still keeping the sleek, pulled-together look of an all-white color palate.
Similarly, use varied and unique — even opposing — textures in your furnishings to add visual interest. In the bedroom, pair a heavy damask cream-colored comforter with billowy, sheer antique-white drapes. In the living room, mix the sleek look of white leather armchairs with a dramatic, oversized white shag area rug. Mix and match white wood, ceramics, wicker, even acrylic pieces as accents to drive home the all-white theme. At various points of the day, light will bounce off the different textures and white tones differently, making the room feel as though there’s more than one color at play.
Have Fun with Accent Pieces
Once your key white pieces are in place, it’s time to add a small splash of color here and there. Adding accent pieces of a different color — perhaps some throw pillows, a small print on the wall or a striking vase — adds a dramatic contrast that can help the various whites of your room work together more seamlessly.
For the boldest effect, opt for a single accent color, such as black, brown, turquoise, orange, red or yellow, rather than mixing several together. Be careful, though, not to overdo it. Using too many accents can quickly turn a sleek, all-white room into a two-tone mess.
Remember, too, that not all accent pieces must be of a contrasting color. Juxtapose old with new. Adding fun, eclectic, and unexpected white pieces to your room — whether a funky chandelier, an ultra-modern chair, or an arrangement of distressed framed white prints or mirrors — can have as much impact as a few, well chosen contrasting elements.
Making White Work for You
White doesn’t have to be scary. Sure, it stains. Yes, it can show dirt. But by choosing your pieces wisely, you can make white work. If your couch will be the crashing-spot of peanut-butter-and-jelly-eating kids and muddy-pawed Labrador Retrievers, then opt either for the wipe-down ease of leather or a washable white slipcover. One advantage of white: it can easily be bleached, so stains are easy to tackle.
Those small considerations aside, an all-white décor can brighten most any room. After all, nothing can beat white for its versatility. Whether you’re in an ultra-modern high rise or a cozy beachside cottage, an all-white room can make you feel right at home.
Freelance writer and mother-of-three Robin Roenker looks forward to one day having an all-white room of her own.
