HOW TODECORATE WITHWHITE
All-white schemes have timeless beauty and are a favourite with designers and architects. Employ a few clever design tips and make white the shining star of your home
White walls – what could be easier? Well, yes and no. With the simplicity of white comes the challenge of creating interest and balance without being overly-fussy – there’s nowhere to hide in a bright white scheme. The good news is that it’s relatively easy with a little know-how.
Starting with the walls, the trick here is to be guided by the light. ‘North-facing rooms will have a cool, constant light that can take softer, warmer shades of white to help to cancel out any coldness while south-facing rooms can have a very “hot” light, and so a white with more blue in it will help balance out the yellow glow of bright sunshine,’ explains interior designer Atlanta Bartlett, who has written several books on pale and all-white interiors.
With so many shades of white to choose from, picking a shade can be a bit of a minefield. Little Greene recommends its cooler whites, such as French Grey Pale or Gauze for south-facing rooms. Warmer shades such as White Lead or First Light will appear quite cream in tone here but will brighten a north-facing space. Atlanta suggests thinking about what style of room you want to create: ‘Is it a sleek modern space? An earthy natural scheme? A sophisticated elegant room or a relaxed beach vibe? Deciding on your “story’’ will automatically narrow down the shades of white that will be right for you,’ she assures.
WHITE CAN BEFAMILY FRIENDLY
Using white throughout your home is a simple way to create flow whatever the size and shape of the rooms and spaces. It’s a great family-friendly choice too, especially if you choose a tough finish for walls that can be easily wiped down, and it’s one of the most forgiving wall colours if you need to touch up scuffs and marks.
White has traditionally been associated with wealth as it takes time and effort to maintain such an impression of cleanliness but make it easy on yourself by choosing wipeable surfaces and removable chair and sofa covers that can be popped in the wash, then layer up with textured throws, buying a couple to rotate for easy laundering.
“The move towards natural is leading to a revival in materials such as cork, rattan and wicker”
WHITE MIXES WITHNATURAL TEXTURES
For a contemporary feel, blonde wood is a natural match for white – think pale floorboards, beds, side tables and dining furniture with that relaxed Scandi charm. Look at similarly honeyed tones in natural flooring, such as jute and sisal – the added warmth will balance out any sterility and add texture.
Natural materials bring feel-good factor to a pale scheme and Joanna Thornhill, in her new book, The New Mindful Home (Laurence King, £14.99), explains how the move towards natural is leading to a revival in materials such as cork, rattan and wicker. ‘Cork has shaken off its dated reputation as a new generation learns to appreciate its plentiful eco credentials and versatility along with the physical warmth it can bring to the home,’ she says. ‘It’s increasingly cropping up in flooring or moulded furnishings, with designers allowing its natural matt good looks to shine through. Natural cotton and linen are other eco-conscious choices for interiors with hemp and bamboo giving organic cotton a run for its money. They produce strong natural fibres and come from high-yield crops that are sustainable and renewable.’
WHITE LOVES TOLAYER UP
As with any decorating scheme, the route to a relaxed feel is to avoid being too matchy matchy. ‘Layering shades of white is a great way to bring depth and soul to a white room,’ agrees Atlanta. ‘White comes in many depths and tones from the neutral grey tones of polished concrete to the cooler hues of a winter sky or the clean, bright white of chalk. You might choose a soft earthy white on the walls and lift this with crisper white woodwork for a subtle contrast, add to this slubby off-white linen covers on your sofas and plenty of natural textures in the form of rush matting, baskets and untreated, weathered wood and you’ve got the beginnings of a soulful white colour scheme that is soft and soothing.’
“Play with a range of heights, shapes and sizes, and mix up the surface finish to include high gloss, satin, chalky and flat matt alongside chunkier patterns”
Think about shapes and silhouettes. For furniture, aim for a few circles and organic shapes as well as some height and airiness – spindled furniture and sculptural floor lamps can be perfect for this as can bold houseplants. It’s essential to have some focal points to create pockets of interest but you can also use these to distract from less attractive features and the change the perception of space. For instance, a long narrow room can feel more balanced by leading the eye through the space, bouncing from side to side with say a plant, a chair, a bold piece of art.
WHITE LETS YOU FOCUSON TEXTURE
As you are building layers, consider texture – and in quite subtle ways too. It’s a good opportunity to experiment with the shifts in the way objects catch the light. Play with a range of heights, shapes and sizes, and mix up the surface finish to include high gloss, satin, chalky and flat matt alongside chunkier patterns. Adding in some natural elements such as flint pebbles as well as flea shop finds that are perfectly imperfect will help build a rich display. Then mirror some of these textures across the room – a chunky knitted footstool, a milk glass lampshade, a couple of pieces of furniture in chalk paint or weathered finished.
‘Nature can be the best teacher,’ says Atlanta. ‘Think glistening water lapping at soft sand, powdery snow dusting rough bark or dew drops on a leaf. Translate this to your home with a glistening crystal chandelier hanging over a rustic wood dining table, a raw linen armchair in front of the gentle sheen of an antique mirror, a soft sheepskin rug combined with leather and velvet, utilitarian aluminium cafe chairs alongside retro basket weave lampshades or a rusty metal table on a polished concrete floor.’
WHITE LIKES FRESH ACCENTS
Accent colours bring any scheme to life and it’s no different here. Even the palest scheme will have colour outside the window, little pops in everyday objects and an abundance of greenery from plants is always welcome in any room. White provides a wonderful blank canvas so splash out on walls with bright prints and artworks or be restrained with economical touches of black. Think like a designer and employ the power of three. If you have a green print on the wall, add two other green accessories into the scheme – a vase, a cushion, a plant, a lamp – it will have greater impact and feel like a considered scheme.
“Deciding on your ‘story’ will automatically narrow down the shades of white that will be right for you”
