The Wow of White in Your Decor

What's this year's hottest decorating color? Benjamin Moore chose Simply White as Color of the Year. The color exemplifies a design trend that has been emerging over the past three years: a more simplified approach in interior design. Most certainly, white can be intriguing with subtle hues, from crisp white to warm shades of alabaster. White is never boring; when used with complementary colors, textures and accessories, it can make a dramatic statement to any room.
If you're thinking about decorating with a white theme but aren't sure how to begin, here are some ideas that should get your creative juices flowing.

Choosing the Right Shade of White

It's no secret that decorating with white walls is a popular choice. They provide a blank palette on which to express your personality, and depending on the hue, they can create an atmosphere that is either elegant and sophisticated or comfortable and inviting. Whites have underlying hints of color that make them either cool or warm, so it's always a good idea to get lots of paint chips and bring them home to see how the color reacts to the natural light in your space. A large, open concept with loft-style windows can be very compatible with an all-white decorating scheme, but a traditional room may be more suited to a warmer hue.

This stunning loft apartment showcases how well an all-white design approach can work without being sterile by adding touches of subtle color in browns and greys. Large faux cushions and throws, combined with a warm area rug, soften the expanse of white.

Here, a cool white hue is chosen to create a crisp and clean style for the bedroom and enhance the rich, dark wood of the classic furniture. The hue is carried through by adding a textured grey rug and linens. If you're starting from scratch, decide the type of feel you want the room to have, then choose the color scheme that will work well with it. A good guide to follow is choosing two neutrals and two hues.

Mixing It Up With Contrasting Colors

Decorating with white offers you a blank canvas on which to work with contrasting color schemes. By painting one accent wall or a divider an eye-catching color, such as black, blue or red as an example, you can add variation and give the space a "wow factor." Depending on your style, choose bright, fun colors; soft pastels; or even tone-on-tone whites. This enables you to develop depth and interest with a few choice matching throws, occasional chairs and cushions. Not everyone is in the position to purchase completely new furnishings, so think about your existing décor or about renting some separate pieces to help with a unified color palette.

For many of us, just the thought of red wine spilt on a beautiful white sofa is enough to make us cringe. However, white leather or high-quality faux leather are great choices if you want to add drama to your room. In fact, the trend toward faux leather has become increasingly more popular. It's animal-friendly, easy to clean, cheaper and can work well with any decorating theme. The great asset of white furniture is that you can create almost any interior design style around it. Keep it dramatic and sophisticated with dark walls and area rugs, or subtle and chic with shades of pale grey and brown.

Keep your white furniture dramatic with white walls and area rugs, or chic with grey and brown.

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Classic Black and White

Decorating with black and white is a timeless classic that can create a sense of chic sophistication all the way through to whimsical. In this room, the popular use of black-and-white-striped wallpaper, combined with geometric patterns on the floor mat, are just enough to set off the complementary furniture and accessories in this kitchen. Fabulous white leather chairs accented by black and white throw cushions are used to carry the theme throughout the apartment. To make things interesting, remember that white can be combined with varying shades of white, such as cream or alabaster, as seen here.

Artwork and Textures

If you love artwork, decorating with white is perfect to showcase your style and personality. Bold pieces of art and sculpture are attention-getters when placed on a white wall above a headboard or sofa. As the saying goes, sometimes less is more. Be selective with your pieces to create as much visual impact as possible. Work in complementary accessories, such as faux pillows and textured throws, to add pops of color and define the space.

Metallic Accents and Elements

Combining white, silver and gold hues is a design favorite for creating a modern, chic look. Mix elements of a similar palette, such as silver sculptures and wood vases. White orchids are the perfect plant for this type of design approach; they're elegant and bloom for months.
The perfect balance of a black and white print, whimsical acrylic table and chair, and a faux animal rug bring a touch of the unexpected. Don't be afraid to be original. Decorating with white is an open door to expressing who you are.

See white as a blank canvas and decorate accordingly.

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