White color in the interior of various rooms

When you happened to be in a snow-white room, did you feel comfortable or, on the contrary, were timid and afraid to relax? White is one of those colors that many homeowners avoid because they fear that the room will not look cozy and welcoming. In fact, white is the most refreshing color. It makes the home clean and tidy and brings a touch of sophistication to the interior.

But the same white paint that makes one room seem magical will make another frighteningly cold. Like all other colors, white has its own temperature, mood, style. If you ignore this, your seemingly fresh, invigorating white paint can make the space completely “turn off”. But don’t worry. Often all that is required is just a small addition of a different color to warm or soften the white.

So, the topic of today's conversation is the white color in the interior. We will talk about all the subtleties and nuances of its use, share with you tips on how to achieve the effect when decorating a room exclusively in white, and demonstrate real examples of white interiors. You will be surprised at how harmonious the white color can be in the interior of your home or apartment.

Start with a white room, like a clean slate

Do not be afraid of white! Look at white as some kind of beginning, allowing you to do whatever you want and go wherever your creativity takes you! Does your window offer charming views of the ocean, forest, mountains or city? White is a canvas that can be used as a background for great perspectives. There is no better way to bring a fresh start to the interior of a house than to paint its walls white. This blank slate strategy is often used immediately after buying a new home.

Pay attention to the source of natural light.

Before you paint the room white, determine its orientation relative to the cardinal points. The rooms, which are facing away from the midday sun, acquire a gray-blue hue, which is perfect for a summer bedroom, gym or studio. White paint optimizes light in these spaces, while making rooms cool.

The same white color, however, will work very differently in the living room of a house somewhere in New England. The visual connection of white with snow and ice outside the windows will give rise to negative associations, even frighten off. Here it is worth trying to diversify the white color with red, yellow or orange inclusions.

Rooms that cannot be exposed to sunlight during the day are good candidates for white painted in warm colors. Colored pigments reproduce the thermal range of sunlight, as a result of which people present in this room increase their activity level and improve their mood.

Neurophysiologists using magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the physiological effect of color.Each of us can confirm the fact that warm colors make us feel warm. Artists are well aware of this, moreover, they not only know this, but have long and successfully used it in practice.

The rooms facing the south (we are talking about the northern hemisphere, in the southern - everything is exactly the opposite), are most insolated. In winter and summer, the part of your house that faces the sun will take on red-yellow hues on a clear day. White walls are an excellent choice for cooling these spaces, and the color of the paint can be adjusted to reflect the brightness of the light. For example, gray color softens the reflective qualities of white and helps to “soothe” a space in which there are large windows filling the living room with sunlight.

Of course, one color option cannot satisfy all daily or seasonal variations in illumination. But at certain times of the day and at certain times of the year, your room will look most attractive.

Use the color of the walls to enhance or reduce natural light. The Benjamin Moore Off-White Collection, which consists of 140 white colors, is organized in shades and can help you choose cool (with a blue, gray or green hue) or warm (with a red, orange or yellow hue) white. Other brands have different shades of white, too, so we recommend that you check the color fan each time to see the main shade for each option.

What is outside affects what is inside

Take a look at the window and decide if foliage, which prevents the passage of light, or vice versa, interferes with your perception of the interior. For example, a tree outside the kitchen or living room located on the south side of the house will condition the house year-round, restraining most of the sunlight in winter and creating a shadow in summer. If you wish, you can make "dirty white." For example, gray-green will decrease the brightness of sunlight in winter when the tree is leafless and the sun is low after the winter solstice. A pure white color would reflect too much the rays of the low winter sun.

Ocean view rooms are always amazing. The white walls of the summer residence can enhance the impression created by opening the house and as if bringing it closer to the cool water.

But in winter, in houses located on the coastline, white color enhances the feeling of chills created by the inhospitable sea behind the window panes. This is especially felt in places where the climate has strong seasonal temperature fluctuations. Some owners of houses located on the coast cover the windows with heavy curtains all winter to protect themselves and their loved ones from the gloom born of the winter ocean.

When we see something cold, we feel cold. A color that is associated with something famous, hot or cold, can make us feel it. This explains why we perceive colors according to their temperature, divide them into cold or warm. White is considered the coldest color (especially its blue, gray and green shades), because it reminds us of snow and ice. We see what we expect to see ...

But white can still be a solution for a house located on the seashore, where, on the one hand, a breathtaking view opens from the window all year round, and on the other, the climate is characterized by extreme temperature extremes. Choose a creamy white that has a small amount of yellow-orange pigment (such as California Paints ’DE6141 Salt Box). In the summer, when the tenants of the house are more often outside, soft vanilla will create a cool evening, when people return home from the beach to relax.

If you decide to paint the walls in the house, from the windows of which a breathtaking view opens up, in white, think about choosing the right shade. By choosing the right tone and eliminating the distinction between walls and wooden elements of decoration with white paint, you will allow the landscape to remain frameless, expand the presence of amazing pictures in your home.This strategy (painting both walls and decoration elements), used to screen out an architecture that impedes visibility, can be used with any color, but it is most effective with white because of its reflectivity.

Use white to expand your space.

Thanks to the amplification of the light, white-painted rooms appear larger. Shadows and edges are reduced in white space. When creating a palette for your home, try to keep this white feature in mind.

But remember that spatial perception improves when rooms located sequentially on the same floor have a subtle, without sharp contrast, shift in color. For example, the use of white, the shade of which deepens as the rooms become larger, will help visually reduce the variation in the size of the rooms.

Find the white you like on the color fan of the company whose products you prefer to use. The walls of the smallest room can be painted in this color. Then use the next darker shade for a larger room. Use colors that are different in brightness and saturation to increase or decrease the visual size of each room. Your guests will not notice the changes, moving from room to room, but will praise you for the calm and comfortable house that you created.

Add texture to whiteness to avoid a sterile look.

There is no bathroom or kitchen that does not seem cleaner due to white walls, countertops, cabinets or fixtures. White color is associated with cleanliness. This, by the way, can be used if you are preparing a house for sale and want to make a better impression on potential buyers.

However, white has some drawbacks. By limiting the color palette of a room to a single color, you can make it sterile and even boring. In this case, a simple addition of a textured surface to one of the walls will help to restore the lost interest in space.

Layering of white and close shades

If your room lacks individuality, consider layering white with similar shades - white, warm white, gray, warm gray, etc. Use different materials of the same white shades but different patterns and textures to create a room that has depth and is challenging interest. This works especially well in bedrooms. Textiles, headboard upholstery, window curtains and bedding can be harmoniously combined with each other and with the color of the walls, creating the effect of layering various shades of white in the interior.

Let art take center stage among white

Have you ever wondered why in art galleries the walls are usually painted in the same bright white color? This technique allows you to throw the architectural details of the room into the background, so that visitors could not stop focusing on the exhibited works.

If you can’t imagine your house without paintings, sculptures or any other works of art that attract attention, consider placing them on a white wall, on a white mantelpiece or above your snow-white bed. Do not doubt that the attention of your guests will be riveted precisely to your artistic values!

But if your house does not have a wonderful collection of works of art or a breathtaking view does not open from its window, the white color may be dead or at least uncomfortable, because it will become the backdrop for ordinary house clutter and chaos. Agree, not everyone wants to put on display all the imperfection of their daily lives.That is why young families often prefer to put aside the pure white color that they dream of, and instead choose hacks that can endure and hide everything.

Use white when decorating a modern or traditional kitchen

The beauty of white is multifaceted - from creamy white tones that go well with traditional and classic wooden kitchen cabinets with marble countertops, to the ultramodern snow-white color of minimalistic kitchens. Many homeowners love white in the kitchen, because the room therefore looks clean, and its style is as close as possible to the classic.

Add color to the snow-white room

The bathroom, whose color palette is limited to white, looks beautiful, but, alas, a little boring. A stunning color accent will help get rid of this sensation. A white bathtub, sink and floor will look striking against the background of any eye-catching color. Red mosaic, emerald and blue tiles or even monochrome metal covering one of the walls will make any snow-white bathroom sophisticated and refined!

Use white paint to enhance dressing room functionality.

Most dressing rooms lack windows. In addition, the idea of ​​the need to create full lighting in them very often comes too late, after the repair is completed. As a result, we have, to put it mildly, a poorly lit space where it is difficult to find the right thing or find outfit for a party.

You can maximize the look and functionality of the dressing room by painting all surfaces with reflective white paint. To know the reflective properties of your chosen white paint, carefully study the inscriptions on the can. The higher the LRV value (light reflectance), the more light will be reflected.

White emphasizes the other colors that it surrounds (which is why it is so often used in art galleries). This will allow you to understand the color combinations of the elements of clothing in which you plan to dress up.

It is not necessary that the interior of the dressing room match the color of the walls in the bedroom. Paint it white with a touch of the color of the walls of the bedroom.

Do not give up white upholstery

You might think that white furniture upholstery is harder to keep clean and will get dirty quickly. Of course, there is some truth in this, so it’s worth considering what type of fabric is best suited to this room. For example, for a living room, where quite a lot of people visit every day, it makes sense to choose faux leather or faux suede, as well as covers made from coarse cotton fabric. Similar options are ideal for a home in which there are pets or small children. Do not give up the white color, instead choose the right type of fabric correctly.

White color and metal - timeless combination

Have you noticed one of the latest trends in the world of interior design - the use of a neutral color (white, black, gray or brown) in combination with classic metallic colors? White is increasingly appearing in home interiors in combination with stainless steel, brass, copper or gold, and this couple gives rise to warmth and comfort. You can combine white with stainless steel appliances in the kitchen or with brass lights in your living room. The reflectivity of metals and the sharpness of white - what could be more interesting?

White color can make your interior versatile

White creates a canvas for you so that you can decorate your interior in different ways depending on the time of year. Whether you like autumn with its magnificent yellow and red tones or you like bright colors and pastels of spring, the white background gives you the flexibility, versatility to change the interior according to your mood! Create an all-season house, hospitable all year round - all you have to do is change the rugs, sofa pillows, curtains, bedding. In summer, the white interior gives coolness and freshness and does not need seasonal colors.

Use white to hide flaws

White color can work as an eraser in your interior. If a house has some architectural flaws, white will help disguise them.And vice versa: in old houses, the white color will emphasize the magnificent stucco molding, will highlight other man-made masterpieces of the masters of the past. Transform your home with white, and you will see how much your home has become more comfortable and cozy!

If you want - believe it or not - but there are hundreds of shades of white! Each color in the spectrum has a white version. White may have a faint hint of pink or yellow, green or purple. Look at kitchen cabinets and countertops, flooring, tiles in the bathroom, try to understand what color prevails in your interior, and with this in mind, choose the best shade of white. There are several “perfect whites” for every home.

20 best white paints according to top interior designers

Want to make sure the versatility of white color, the variety of its shades? Then we bring to your attention a list of the top 20 white paints according to top interior designers.

China White (Lead White) by Benajmin Moore

“This paint rarely fails me, no matter where I use it.. Neither green nor pink shades break through it. When placing the color next to pure white, you can notice a slight yellowish or grayish tint, but by itself it looks like true white. ” // Eric Cohler)

All White ("White") by Farrow & Ball

“This paint, as a good friend, is reliable and at the right time is nearby. And it makes you and all the things around look amazing. Color remains unchanged in any light, but in the afternoon the effect of "glow" may occur. // Brad Ford)

Cotton ("Cotton") by C2 Paint

“White is not at all timid and shy. He makes everything around him move forward with him. Cotton by C2 - the softest of whites, with a barely noticeable shade of yellow. This is an ideal background for a tree, emphasizing its appearance and enhancing the created effect. I especially like to use this color in bedrooms - it gives the skin a shine. ” // Elizabeth Martin)

Honeymilk ("Milk with Honey") by Valspar

“The choice of white paint is not an easy task. It is better to give preference to softer and warmer grayish or beige shades. Honeymilk is a soft white color that is great for walls. I used it to decorate many rooms and was never disappointed. ” // Elaine Griffin)

Lily of the Valley (Lily of the Valley) by Benjamin Moore

“I found this color more than 20 years ago, when I needed a really great warm shade of white for decoration. Since then, he has been my reliable support. It works well in very bright rooms, and in rooms where there is clearly not enough light. " // Alessandra Branca (Alessandra Branca)

Great White (Far White & Ball)

“This is a white color with character. It can be called anything, but not sterile. Great white Looks best in natural light, especially in the mornings when fresh warm tones are visible. During the day, it changes color slightly - from white to grayish. " // Kara Mann (Kara Mann)

Decorator's White (Benjamin Moore)

“I like to use this white color for painting ceilings and wood products, as well as in any other places where I want to achieve a bright, clear whiteness. It works well with any light source. Some white colors can be cool and slightly blue, while others have a cream or yellowish tint, but Decorator's White is real white - warm and modern. ” // Jeff Andrews)

Paper White (Pure White) by Benjamin Moore

I am using Paper White in kitchens and bathrooms, because it combines the gray tones of Carrara marble and the absolute whiteness of the sink and toilet". // Katie Ridder)

Pointing by Farrow & Ball

“This is the perfect ivory color, suitable for almost any occasion.” - not too bright and not too saturated. I really like this balance. This paint is well established. and in the sunlit living room of a country house, and in the small bedroom of a New York apartment. " // Anne Maxwell Foster) and Seisel de Pedro Cunningham) from Tilton Fenwick

White Wisp by Benjamin Moore

“It is tinted white with a shade of gray-green, but it looks bright white. I like to use it to create a cool shade on the walls.I quite often use wall coverings from hemp fabric and other natural materials. White Wisp makes many of these materials look crisp, fresh, invigorating. ” // Frank Roop)

Huntington White ("Huntington White") by Benjamin Moore

"His favorite paint - Huntington White - I discovered while working on the Benjamin Moore line - a long way full of trial and error. "It is very different from other white colors, which are unstable and change appearance depending on the time of day." // Darryl Carter)

Super White (Benjamin Moore)

“This is the purest expression of white without color shades. This color reminds me of galleries in the Gagosian Gallery. I am delighted that it makes your furniture look like a work of art. ” // John Call

Wimborne White ("Wimborne White") by Farrow & Ball

“Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball is a beautiful shade of white that has depth and dimension. The surfaces covered with this paint acquire luster and gloss without using varnish, which gives them a very chic and modern look. ” // Suzanne Kasler)

Winter Orchard ("Winter Garden") by Benjamin Moore

“I love Winter Orchard because it has a very subtle shade of gray. Thanks to this, it works well with any color. ” // Taniya Nayak)

Swiss Coffee (Dunn Edwards)

“Each house should have one comfortable room, such as a living room. In this space, I prefer to use white paint as a background for an amazing art collection that brings in bright splashes of color. For me, the ideal shade of white is not too yellow and not too pink - like Swiss Coffee by Dunn Edwards". // Trip Haenisch

Slipper Satin ("Atlas for shoes") from Farrow & Ball

“Slipper Satin is my commitment to revitalizing traditional rooms. This color soothes and gives a feeling of lightness and serenity. It is attractive and comfortable, but at the same time it works well in houses with rich architectural forms, as it helps to focus on the details. ” // Jeffrey Alan Marks)

White Dove (Benjamin Moore)

"White Dove has cream a shade that brings the desired warmth to the houses of megacities, as well as to houses located in areas where the climate does not indulge in sunny days, and a gray, cloudy sky usually extends overhead. However, traditionally White Dove it is positioned as a fresh and invigorating white color, while not being too cold or modern. ” // Emilie Munroe)

Historic White by Dunn Edwards

“The classic warm white color is suitable for any interior - as it was before, it will continue to be so. The premium paint from the DE Everest collections has a low odor and zero volatile organic matter, so it’s pleasant and safe to work with it indoors. ” // Sarah Barnard)

Acadia White (“Academic White”) by Benjamin Moore

“Acadia White by Benjamin Moore is my quest for balance, a middle ground. This perfect creamy white color, not too warm and not too cold - just right. ” // Patrick Ediger)

Chantilly Lace ("Chantilly Lace") by Benjamin Moore

"Chantilly Lace - the paint is lively and bright, with sufficient depth, and this is enough to avoid the sterile appearance of the premises. This white is in the cold range, but is able to bring warm tones. It will look great where the modern and the traditional meet. ” // Moises Esquenazi)

White color is simple and sophisticated. But dyeing a room or several rooms with this calm, peaceful color is like deciding to cut hair much shorter than usual. Be adventurous and do not give up the option of designing an apartment in white. Make a sure step towards a clean and luxurious new interior!

Photo: white color in the interior