If you’re new here, let me start off by welcoming you (Hello!), and also to let you know I don’t typically do a ton of neutral/spaces. I adore working with color and pattern and layering on the pretties - without being too over the top.
Today I want to talk about white. Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz are brimming with images of rooms that are painted white. We love them, don’t we? After all, they feel so airy and refreshing! One thing you should know about doing white walls is that it works best in rooms that are big and receive tons of natural light.
Here’s a perfect example. This is a room I worked on a few years ago with double height ceilings and lots of windows/French doors to help further that bright and airy feel.
So what’s a decorator to do when working with a smaller room that doesn’t get a good amount of natural light and you’re craving a bright and fresh look?
I suggest you start with a wall color or wall covering in a medium depth. Too light and the wall color just fades into dinginess. Too dark and the room will be eternally dark and moody - which is a look unto itself and pretty popular right now.
And now we’re getting to the part where the Role of White comes in.
Adding white to a room in the form of window treatments and accessories is a great way to move your room a little closer to those bright and airy rooms we love so much!
I think this image of a completed Chattanooga dining room project from a few years ago shows how effective the white window treatments are in creating a light and fresh feeling. Try to imagine the room instead with a busy pattern on the drapes. The room would feel much different and maybe even a little stale.
Another thing I like about using lots of white as an accent is that it’s a palette cleanser and it makes the colors you’re using feel cleaner and brighter.
See how the navy pillow and the sky blue headboard feel so crisp against the white bed linens? Hard to believe but this master bedroom has only 8’ ceilings and does not get a lot of natural light. The white linens really help to brighten things up!
White curtains, white chairs and white blossoms create an airy and relaxed feel to this dining room against a medium depth wall color.
This trick also works well for styling bookcases and china cabinets. White accessories look more dramatic and elevated against a darker backdrop. And they make your room feel lighter and fresher.
This image is from Romantic Homes Magazine and it shows the beauty of white ironstone against a darker backdrop.
A budget friendly way to get this look is by using Milk glass pieces for styling bookshelves and China cabinets. Its pretty plentiful at local antique malls and thrift stores, and most of it is reasonably priced.
And never underestimate the beauty of a sculptural white lamp against a colorful backdrop.
So there you have it. I hope you’ll try some of these easy ways to get the bright and airy look of white rooms by adding lots of white to your rooms!
Are you ready to live more joyfully in your home? Contact us at thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com and let us know how we can serve you!
