14 Ways to Make White Walls Work
White walls provide a starting point for most home decorators; here's how to dress them up with colour, tone and texture
Is the idea of choosing colours to paint over white walls just too daunting? Or are you currently forced to live with white walls as a renter? Either way you may be ‘stuck’ with white – but fear not, there are many practical (as well as stylistic) reasons to embrace the white walls around you. Far from being sterile, white walls can be a canvas for creating a unique home, full of personality.
2. Incorporate natural textures
Contemporary country homes, and beach styles that tend to feature a lot of white, benefit from the natural textures that connect these homes to their physical environments. Driftwood accents, natural stone benchtops, hardwood flooring, woven baskets, and the odd plant or two create a warmth that balances the large expanses of white. The overall effect is simple but serene.
Contemporary country homes, and beach styles that tend to feature a lot of white, benefit from the natural textures that connect these homes to their physical environments. Driftwood accents, natural stone benchtops, hardwood flooring, woven baskets, and the odd plant or two create a warmth that balances the large expanses of white. The overall effect is simple but serene.
3. Just add books
Books have the magical ability to make any room feel instantly homey. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases are an economical storage solution, while being a natural focal point thanks to the interest they create. Organise your books by topic, author or even colour.
Brilliant ideas for bookcases
Books have the magical ability to make any room feel instantly homey. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases are an economical storage solution, while being a natural focal point thanks to the interest they create. Organise your books by topic, author or even colour.
Brilliant ideas for bookcases
4. Paint your bookcase
Painting the back of your bookshelves is a great solution when you don’t have the option to paint your walls, and it doesn’t matter whether you have built-ins, like those in the photo, or the freestanding variety. Wallpapering is another option if you’re interested in experimenting with pattern.
Painting the back of your bookshelves is a great solution when you don’t have the option to paint your walls, and it doesn’t matter whether you have built-ins, like those in the photo, or the freestanding variety. Wallpapering is another option if you’re interested in experimenting with pattern.
5. Hang colourful curtains
Curtains are another way to add a dose of colour to a room. Brightly coloured curtains can actually make your white walls look even fresher, while off-white or beige curtains can soften the room’s overall appearance.
Curtains are another way to add a dose of colour to a room. Brightly coloured curtains can actually make your white walls look even fresher, while off-white or beige curtains can soften the room’s overall appearance.
6. Look to your floor
When you think about the amount of floorspace in your home, it’s easy to see the potential for adding in colour when the rest of the room is all white. Large area rugs are a natural place to also introduce pattern. And don’t be afraid to go with strong colours and patterns on your floor, because when your walls are white, your eyes will always have somewhere to rest by just looking straight ahead.
When you think about the amount of floorspace in your home, it’s easy to see the potential for adding in colour when the rest of the room is all white. Large area rugs are a natural place to also introduce pattern. And don’t be afraid to go with strong colours and patterns on your floor, because when your walls are white, your eyes will always have somewhere to rest by just looking straight ahead.
7. Adopt a Scandinavian style
The Scandi look is a calming look with broad appeal, and one of the simplest looks to pull off, so long as you’re able to exercise a good amount of restraint. Black and white is the dominant colour palette here, but this should be combined with dots of other monochromes such as grey, as well as dashes of neutral tones.
Read more about Scandi style
The Scandi look is a calming look with broad appeal, and one of the simplest looks to pull off, so long as you’re able to exercise a good amount of restraint. Black and white is the dominant colour palette here, but this should be combined with dots of other monochromes such as grey, as well as dashes of neutral tones.
Read more about Scandi style
8. Turn on coloured lights
Coloured lights are not just for bordellos and discos. There is a full spectrum of colours available to you in varying degrees of brightness. For a small price, you can buy a variety of light bulbs in the colour of your choice, depending on the mood you wish to create.
Mood-enhancing tips for lighting schemes
Coloured lights are not just for bordellos and discos. There is a full spectrum of colours available to you in varying degrees of brightness. For a small price, you can buy a variety of light bulbs in the colour of your choice, depending on the mood you wish to create.
Mood-enhancing tips for lighting schemes
9. Fashion a gallery wall
Do you have an art collection gathering dust? White walls are the perfect backdrop for any gallery no matter what your collection – you can also intermix styles and mediums of art without it feeling like there’s too much going on – the beauty of hanging it on a white wall is that it will pull it all together.
Do you have an art collection gathering dust? White walls are the perfect backdrop for any gallery no matter what your collection – you can also intermix styles and mediums of art without it feeling like there’s too much going on – the beauty of hanging it on a white wall is that it will pull it all together.
10. Position statement art
When you have one large painting or photograph that you want to show off, hanging it on a white wall is the best way to ensure it gets noticed. Saturated colours like the green in this painting will have even more impact against white walls. The walls of the hallway and the archway also help to draw your eye towards the painting, inviting you to look closer.
When you have one large painting or photograph that you want to show off, hanging it on a white wall is the best way to ensure it gets noticed. Saturated colours like the green in this painting will have even more impact against white walls. The walls of the hallway and the archway also help to draw your eye towards the painting, inviting you to look closer.
11. Bring the outdoors in
Hanging plants are having a bit of a moment right now. One of their appealing aspects is that they don’t need to be very big to have a strong visual presence since they usually hang at about eye height. Large potted floor plants can also breathe a lot of life into a room while looking incredibly stylish.
Hanging plants are having a bit of a moment right now. One of their appealing aspects is that they don’t need to be very big to have a strong visual presence since they usually hang at about eye height. Large potted floor plants can also breathe a lot of life into a room while looking incredibly stylish.
12. Install statement lighting
A large light in a bright colour can be all that you need in a white room. In fact, white walls can be your cue to installing a big, bold pendant light like this orange one. A dramatic pendant light immediately becomes the focus of a room, and its sculptural quality allows you to be expressive when it comes to setting a tone for other decor choices.
More on statement pendant lighting
A large light in a bright colour can be all that you need in a white room. In fact, white walls can be your cue to installing a big, bold pendant light like this orange one. A dramatic pendant light immediately becomes the focus of a room, and its sculptural quality allows you to be expressive when it comes to setting a tone for other decor choices.
More on statement pendant lighting
13. Choose navy and white
Navy and white is one of the most elegant colour combinations, and a timeless one at that. Navy is dark enough to provide contrast but the blue adds a touch of warmth. If you start with white walls, you can afford to bring in a lot of navy in the ways of curtains, cushions, upholstery or bed coverings. A bright navy will deliver a nautical look while a darker navy, as in this room, will keep things looking cool and sophisticated.
Navy and white is one of the most elegant colour combinations, and a timeless one at that. Navy is dark enough to provide contrast but the blue adds a touch of warmth. If you start with white walls, you can afford to bring in a lot of navy in the ways of curtains, cushions, upholstery or bed coverings. A bright navy will deliver a nautical look while a darker navy, as in this room, will keep things looking cool and sophisticated.
14. Mix up your textures
Add warmth and interest to an otherwise all-white home by layering coloured rugs, wood furniture, artwork, wall-hangings, plants and other accent pieces. The bathroom is an unexpected place to incorporate these items and may make you appreciate the smallest room in your home a bit more.
TELL US
Do you like your walls white or coloured? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Read stories on how to add colour to your home
Add warmth and interest to an otherwise all-white home by layering coloured rugs, wood furniture, artwork, wall-hangings, plants and other accent pieces. The bathroom is an unexpected place to incorporate these items and may make you appreciate the smallest room in your home a bit more.
TELL US
Do you like your walls white or coloured? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Read stories on how to add colour to your home
The eclectic look is a popular one that’s easy to pull together and can immediately cheer up a cold white space. A white background helps to keep the room looking clean and fresh, and allows us to show off our favourite possessions no matter how disjointed they are.
Warm up a minimalist white scheme