How to decorate an interior in white?

Features of use in the interior

Snow-white only seems boring: if you handle a light color correctly, there will be no equal to it. Walls and ceilings, upholstered and cabinet furniture, textiles or decor, or all together are performed in white. What are its advantages?

1. Visual expansion of space... No other representative of the color range has this ability to reflect light and, accordingly, enlargement of rooms.
2. Color versatility... There is no color that can be called incongruous with snow white.
3. Psychological neutrality... Red energizes, causes aggression. Blue - soothes. Shades of beige inspire confidence. White alone has no effect on a person, allowing the eyes to rest and relax.

Disadvantages the interior in white colors does not actually have, but there are features that should be considered:

• Overly cold shades of white, if used improperly, create the effect of an operating room, taking away all the comfort from the living space. Better to use medium or dark tones.
• Light interiors require well thought out lighting; otherwise, white will look dirty in dark corners.
• An off-white interior can evoke depression, so that this does not happen, dilute with bright accents in decor or decoration.

In fact, there are no rules that impose or prohibit the use of white: on the one hand, it is ideal for small rooms - makes them bigger. On the other hand, it will become an excellent background in a spacious living room, literally connecting all its parts together.

On the picture snow-white bedroom

What shades are there?

Anyone who is afraid of white interiors, considering them boring, simply does not know about the rich palette of this color. White only seems monotonous: in fact, it has a wide range of shades, including light and dark, warm and cold tones.

Consider the basic shades of white:

• Diamond... The coldest tone with a touch of blue.
• Snow... It also has an admixture of blue, but less pronounced.
• Lactic... Natural light tone commonly found in nature.
• Porcelain... White with a slight touch of gray.
• Ivory... Soft, warm shade with yellow undertone.
• Antique... More intense sunny.
• Cameo... A complex tone with a touch of pink.

It is not difficult to choose a suitable one for an apartment in light colors: the main thing is to know which side the windows face and how much natural light is present in the room (whether the sun is covering the tree under the window or a building standing nearby).

If the room is sunny, take cold undertones (an admixture of silver, blue, gray). For northern or western rooms, on the contrary, you need warm shades (with yellow, beige, powdery, orange).

In the photo there are cold shades in scandi-living room

The best combinations of white

Although white can be combined with any other color, among all the possible options there are duos or trios loved by designers around the world.

For example, contrast duo with black... Expressive, yet achromatic and pleasing to the eye. It can be the basis of modern high-tech styles, minimalism. To keep the apartment in light colors, the background remains snow-white, and small accents are made in black. Black and white prints, as well as unusual textures, are always relevant.

Accents in the white interior can be highlighted with something brighter: lemon, light green, azure, bright orange. The companion is selected according to the temperature: a cold snowy one needs blue, a warm antique one needs orange.

If you want to keep the finish in light colors, bright colors are unacceptable: instead, you should use pastel colors... Pale, unsaturated shades will not look like stains in contrast, but they can create the feeling of a colored interior.

Complementing the snow in classic interior or scandinavian will become beige and gray. Monochrome combinations look harmonious, leaving the possibility of adding a third tone in the details.

In the photo, a combination with black, green

Finishing options

If clean white ceiling has long been considered the standard, then the white walls in the house still raise a lot of questions. Some people think that the crystal snowy interior will resemble an operating room.

But actually, white walls - a clean sheet that spurs the flight of imagination. With such a canvas, you can depict anything on it: from restrained classics to eccentric fusion... Moreover, if the entire finish is snow-white, the furnishings (furniture, decor) can be changed at your discretion at least every six months, without the need to make repairs.

Important! It is better to choose paint or wallpaper washable: Walls get dirty easily and should be easy to clean as well.

In a standard white interior, the floor is made medium (wood) or dark (tiles), considering light colors impractical. But this is a special charm, even the luxury of a white floor. the main thing choose materials that are easy to care for, such as porcelain stoneware, which is not afraid of washing with aggressive agents.

In the photo, a combination of tiles and paint

What does white textiles and decor look like?

Interior design in white is not limited to finishing: decorative elements can also be made in this color.

For example, air tulle most often it is a diamond or cream shade. You can also decorate windows with thick curtains, jalousie or roman blinds - all of them in alabaster look light and at ease.

In the white interior of the bedroom, a monochromatic bedding would be appropriate: it is easy to wash (can be bleached), it does not attract attention and looks modern. Textile options for the hall - blankets and sofa cushions all possible shapes and sizes.

If both are made in white, the decor will remain relevant at any time of the year. Light details look best on a dark sofa, but they will also be appropriate on light gray furniture.

In a white interior, the decor can be not only fabric: paintings or a photo framed with a mat is a great option for decorating a wall. Snow-white vases, figurines, candles and other elements also create coziness.

Pictured is a light airy tulle

How can you dilute?

If you don't want to mix colors in a white interior, but you need to dilute the atmosphere, use textures and textures. Example: tree. Wooden furniture or its parts (countertop in the kitchen) harmonize perfectly with the snow, make it warmer, more comfortable. Wicker items (baskets, boxes) on a light background also look impressive.

In design in light colors in loft style a great addition would be concrete or brick... The concrete is left gray, and the brick can be either red for contrast or white just for texture.

Do not forget about fabrics: prints on pillows, carpets, rugs, curtains are appropriate for designs in white tones. Drawings can be made on a white background to preserve the air in the room, or be absolutely contrasting.

In addition to pronounced textures, there are also less noticeable ones: gloss, satin, dullness.Even the same shade of coconut (for example) will be completely different in these three variations. The use of different coatings is one of the main commandments of off-white design.

What styles is it suitable for?

When you mention a white interior, the very first style that comes to mind is Scandinavian. The people of Norway, Sweden and Denmark have really done well with this gamut and we have a lot to learn from them. For example, the concept of creating a cozy space based on cold shades. But scandi is not the only embodiment.

Discreet off-white is the basis for minimalism... The shade of cleanliness and order is irreplaceable in the embodiment of the most modest, even cold design. Do not overload the interior with decor, it is better to leave it empty, as if unfinished.

In a classic design, warm undertones (ivory, antique, pearls) are irreplaceable. Combined with gold or bronze accents, the design is austere yet luxurious.

Do not write off the industrial, rough loft. The options for using alabaster in it vary: from white brick walls to leather sofas against a background of concrete surfaces.

Interior design examples

Whatever room you decorate in snow-white, each will look good. For example, the bedroom will turn out to be airy and spacious: the light finish creates a kind of "white noise" that allows you to relax after a hard day at work.

Living room it is better not to leave a single color, here you need small accents for a more dynamic perception. But it is not necessary to make them bright - beige, brown, gray, black tones will do.

IN kitchen white - one of the most practical tones. Glossy light facades are easy to clean, and in terms of soiling they are in the last places. The main thing is to choose high-quality plastic or paint - low-quality materials will turn yellow or green over time, losing their original whiteness.

For a tiny bathrooms, where there is already snow-white sanitary ware, the shade will become salvation. The bathtub, toilet and sink literally dissolve against the background of the walls, making the room is visually larger.

Snow white finishes and furniture may seem unacceptable in hallway... But it is worth choosing the right materials (washable paint or wallpaper, glossy cabinet doors or matte without shagreen) - and the entrance to the apartment will be illuminated with light, while you can take care of such luxury easily and naturally.

Children's, like the living room, you should not make pure white - but here bright, saturated colors are better suited as contrasts. Pink, blue, yellow, green, purple will create the right mood in the child's room.

If you want to have a snow-white interior - do not be afraid of the myths that add up about this color. Use it wisely and you will never regret your choice!