Decorating with white
Decorating with white
I like to focus on white occasionally in these pages because it’s a cool, stylish look I absolutely adore. I swear when my last child leaves home, I’ll be standing at the door, waving with one hand – with a tin of white paint in the other. First I’ll do the floorboards and then the walls. I will have white sofas, white bed linen and a crisp, clean white kitchen – and if my poor husband doesn’t run fast, I’ll dress him all in white to make sure he matches!
WHITE IN THE BEDROOM
Whether you’re minimalist or a collector and hoarder, white in the bedroom is peaceful and relaxing. Bright white walls will reflect maximum light and Resene Alabaster and Dulux Mt Aspiring are two reliable shades. Add more layers of white with furniture and linen. Don’t be afraid to finish with a dash of colour, maybe in a cushion or lampshade. This exaggerates the white effect beautifully by providing sharp contrast.
WHITE IN THE LIVING ROOM
A white living room is anything but a boring painted box. This canvas is ripe for embellishments that will lift it into the decorating stratosphere! White looks good with any other colour or even metallics and suede effects. Paint forecasters predict a big year ahead for lavender and violet, while rich creamy yellows are also tipped to be popular.
The trick to keeping your white theme clean and classic is to make sure any accessories are carefully chosen and introduced slowly while you analyse what does and doesn’t work.
WhITE IN THE KITCHEN
An all-white kitchen is a design classic and if you buy and sell regularly, it’s a safe decorating choice. Having said that, it is possible to end up with something too clean and sterile, so try to incorporate some other colours too. Even details in a light wood, such as pine, can break the monotony of too much white. If you’re buying a house with an all-white kitchen and it’s not your thing, using a contrasting colour on the walls can make an amazing difference. Red, black, blue, green – you name it, they all go well with white!
WHITE IN THE BATHROOM
I’ve always advocated timeless white fittings for bathrooms, although I did hear of a woman who moved heaven and earth to find the perfect black bathtub! Anybody who remembers the pink and green bathroom suites of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s will know that many people lived to regret installing them! With your white tiled and/or painted scheme in place, choose accessories to liven the room. Black provides a brilliant contrast with white, while metallics can add colour and character. Silver and gold equal sumptuousness and it’s nice to give nature a voice with a towering palm or a full, leafy fern plant.
- Louise Richardson
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