We've been seeing a lot of all-white interiors lately; and as much as we like the look, we're wondering how to make one of these rooms interesting. Check out some tips from Living Etc. that shows off how to play around with white after the jump...
[ Photos from LivingEtc ]
1. Play With Texture: Add interest to a white scheme by hanging subtle anaglypta paper and layering textures. Each surface absorbs light differently, creating a multitude of tones.
2. Go For Glamour: A pearlescent wallpaper creates an opulent backdrop in this open-plan dining room. Combine lacquer, glass and fabrics with elegant detailing to create a feel of understated sophistication.
3. Add Vibrant Color: White acts as a great foil for bright accents. Soften a plain white space by adding colourful cushions, rugs and accessories in a mix of contrasting patterns and textures - here sunshine yellow highlights add a fresh feel.
4. Warm Up With Wood: Create a striking contrast by pairing white with dark wood. Use intricate wooden veneer wallpaper along one wall, and keep the rest of the space light and bright. Balance the look by adding wooden pieces throughout the room.
5. Introduce a Vintage Vibe: Layer old linens, lace and soft damasks for a sense of romance and nostalgia, and add a dreamy feel to walls with greyish whites. For a rustic headboard, join together pieces of timber, then whitewash with diluted paint.
6. Play with Tone: There are hundreds of shades of white, ranging from bright hues with a cool milky feel to warmer historic shades that create depth. Paint different surfaces in slightly different tones for a tranquil spa atmosphere.
7. Opt for Minimal Magic: Use flooring that's the same colour as the walls for a seamless effect with a modern edge. Team with clean-lined furniture and accessories, and add just a few touches of texture.
8. Try Translucent Chic: Combine semi-transparent fabrics with clear, frosted or milky-coloured glassware for an ethereal look. For a radiant visual effect, hang filmy curtain panels at different depths.
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Comments (11)
Where is the chair in #4 from?
Ok.. I love white.. it may not be practical for a family, but the pearlescent wallpaper is too cool.
Why is all-white not pracical for a family?
Wouldn't an all-white room teach the kids to stay neat & help clean up?
Tip number 9: Add lots of books.
The variety of color and texture in books is a great contrast to a white room. Books are also very human (especially if you've actually read them) which a great antidote to the potentially antiseptic effect of comprehensive white.
My problem with all white - it looks great in a room with big windows during the daylight hours. At night, it looks really blah. Not good at all. The light and airy effect is completely lost and the whole thing just looks vaguely dingy.
But it does make for some pretty interiors magazine eye candy.
Yay! Unmade beds are now stylish. I knew it. I knew I was ahead of the crowd in my hip, trend-setting ways.
:::goes in to look at bed proudly:::
"Aw, dang, it doesn't look at all like the magazine photo!"
:::kicks bed:::
:::hurts foot:::
:::cries:::
hahah... yes, true blue, i too have been years ahead of the fashion troops with my unmade bed.
I love the curtain panel in #8. Where can I find panels like that ?? relatively inexpensive. I would love them to contain some gray or light print. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Spaces do teach us how to live, no matter how old we are. I disagree with the poster(s) who suggested that white spaces are impractical for children. Aesthetic sophistication takes time to build; may as well start 'em young.
I love that white hanging sculpture in panel 1: does anyone know what it is or where I could find one? Looks like the spheres on the table might be made out of the same stuff...thanks!
I totally agree with the person who said an all white room actually makes kids keep things neater.... I have 3 kids under the age of 10 and our family room is all white. Everything is slipcovered and machine washable, but seriously, I don't find myself having to wash very much at all! They don't dare eat in that room anymore (used to be a constant battle) just because they know that there no way they could ever hide a spill! And where my husband used to sit down on the beige couch covered in dirt from outside.... he wouldn't dream of doing that now. There is something about white that says "I'm comfortable, relaxing...but respect me!" :)