Decorating with White
July 11, 2007 § 2 Comments
When it comes to color selection, remember white. Although it’s technically not a color, it certainly helps make colors “pop.” If you’re into lots of saturated color like you see in San Antonio, for example, with reds and yellows and oranges and purples on everything from textiles to houses, the addition of white will give your eye a place to rest. It also separates the colors so they don’t all run together. And in Florida, white makes all the pinks and blues and ocean greens look as fresh as a brand new box of Crayolas. Even in the garden, white flowers will bring out the richness of the other colors. You notice color more when there’s white nearby.
White can stand on its own as well. Many people like white rooms for their peacefulness and simplicity. Not everything in the room has to be super white. Off-whites, ivories, and icy pastels can all work together to make an “all-white” room. And if you like yard-sale antiques, whites will really set them off. The other nice feature to white is its versatility for decorating for the seasons. White also makes a great backdrop for adding color for holidays. The big tip to remember when decorating with whites is to add a variety of textures in your rugs, pillows, and accessories.
As a serial colorist, I now have a new appreciation for white.
Your Home & Color Coach 
Hello,
I’m going back and forth on painting my living room walls:
– all white (or off-white)
– accent wall (what color?)
– all walls something not white (what color?)
The living room is small (total area for the condo is ~640 sq ft) and I would like to get a lot of light in (no windows except for balcony sliding doors at the far end of the room) and make it feel open. The living room also shares the space where a small dining table will be.
To better illustrate, here is a picture:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mbautista/625ElDorado209000#5325556818586054050
The photo is a staged room (I haven’t moved in yet). I will be putting in lighter-colored bamboo floors. Thanks in advance!
Hi Mike,
If you haven’t already ordered the bamboo floors (uh-oh, this always happens), you might consider a darker color. Then go light with your walls and ceiling. Not white but a very neutral, light khaki or gray green, something that comes right out of your granite countertops. The darker floor adds elegance to the space and makes it more contemporary. (No big deal if you’ve gone ahead with the light bamboo — I just love a darker floor as it adds weight to the room, especially if it’s small). I would not bother with an accent wall although you can use colorful art to add color to the room. An accent wall may close the space in too much unless, again, it’s a color taken from your granite that will allow the eye to move around the room uninterrupted by any jarring color.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach