We’ll tell you how to choose the right shade of white, how to break up the monochrome and what to look for when decorating a light-coloured bedroom.
White visually enhances space, fills it with light and air and, most importantly, doesn’t overpower. It is suitable for any size room and blends seamlessly into any style. In this article, we will tell you what you need to consider when decorating a white bedroom, and look at real projects.
Designing a white bedroom
The colour white is a real all-rounder. Scandinavian style, classic, minimalist, provincial – it lives equally well in any style. At the same time, it fulfils several useful functions: it makes a room lighter and more spacious and visually “raises” the ceiling. The Achromat shrinks the boundaries of space, balancing the proportions, emphasises the lines of contrasting elements, ‘lighting up’ them, like in a picture gallery. It is also a discreet background for other colours in the room.
At first glance, white seems harmless and easy to use, but this colour has many opponents in the interior. The main argument against it is that it is too boring, ‘hospital-like’. You can avoid this effect by choosing the right shade and diluting the solid white space with coloured accents. As with any monochrome interior, the lack of colour is compensated for by a variety of textures and attention to form.
Designing a white bedroom
White is a real all-rounder. Scandinavian, classic, minimalist, provincial – it is equally at home in every style. At the same time, it fulfils several useful functions: it makes a room lighter and more spacious and visually “raises” ceilings. The Achromat shrinks the boundaries of space, balancing the proportions, emphasises the lines of contrasting elements, ‘lighting up’ them, like in a picture gallery. It is also a discreet background for other colours in the room.
At first glance, white seems harmless and easy to use, but this colour has many opponents in the interior. The main argument against it is that it is too boring, ‘hospital-like’. You can avoid this effect by choosing the right shade and diluting the solid white space with coloured accents. As with any monochrome interior, the lack of colour is compensated for by a variety of textures and attention to form.
How to choose the right white?
When choosing white for walls, it is important to choose the right tone. If you simply buy any light paint in the shop, there is a risk that the pure colour will be too intense and will evoke that hospital room feeling for which total white interiors are scolded.
What needs to be done:
- Determine the lighting parameters. If the windows face north, there is not enough light, you need to choose warm shades. If the room is flooded with light all the time, the windows are big and there’s a lot of free space, you can experiment with cooler tones.
- Order colour palettes from several manufacturers. This is usually a free service. Catalogues with paint samples are brought to you, and at the first stage you can select several shades you like, compare them to each other and “try on” in your future room environment.
- Paint samples. This is relevant if you’re decorating your walls with paint. This is the most important point, because on paper, or a picture on the internet, paint always looks different than in reality. You can order small cans from a manufacturer or from a hardware shop. Then paint a section of your wall (preferably at least one metre by one metre). This way you can see how the colour behaves in particular light conditions, at different times of the day, in the sun and with the lights on. You can also paint in several shades to see in practice which one suits your room best.
With what to combine
The achromatic tone blends well with other colours. Its classic companions are black, grey and beige.
The combination with natural shades, complemented by natural materials and living plants, gives a cosy feeling. The monochrome palette can also be diluted with brighter colours.
These could be:
Muted shades of blue, green, pastel tones – suitable both for decor or textiles as well as larger objects (e.g. bed base, wall panels or chest of drawers).
Wine, brick, sapphire blue, emerald, olive, lemon yellow, coral, terracotta, periwinkle, pink
– These and other saturated shades are good for local accents.
Decorating a bedroom in white
Let’s take a closer look at how to decorate your bedroom with white furniture, trim or accessories.
Finish
A popular solution when decorating a bright bedroom is white walls and ceiling plus a contrasting floor. A classic combination of wood and every shade of white. The floor is a boundary and can be the only accent colour in a snow-white room – a technique that is often used by European designers. If the upper, bright part of the room would still like to be diluted with darker elements, the wood floor can be supported by decorative panels on the walls or beams on the ceiling. Stone and marble also work well with white, but they are less common in the lounge area.
The walls can be painted, plastered, wallpapered or clad with a material such as painted light brick. When choosing a paint or wallpaper, imagine the whole bedroom environment in white: what fractions and materials it will have, what shades of furniture, fabrics, flooring and skirting boards. At this stage, it is important to choose a sub-tone of white so that the finish harmonises with the rest of the palette and enhances all elements of the interior.
The ceiling is usually painted to match the walls. This makes the room seem higher and more spacious. Depending on the style, the ceiling can either be plain or with an additional decorative finish. For classic and neoclassical ceilings, for example, bas-reliefs, medallions and mouldings are a must.
Furniture
There are two ways of matching furniture to a light-coloured interior. The first is to use it to create extra contrast. The second is to choose furniture in light colours to support the overall palette.
The main character in the bedroom is the bed. You can draw attention to it with colour, unusual shape or some contrasting element. The win-win option would be a textured headboard made of wood or marble paneling which would be eye-catching and make the bed the focal point of the interior.
Whatever the style, a bedroom with white furniture will look great in any style. So that the design does not seem flat and monotonous, be sure to put accents. Compensate for the discreet colour scheme with layered textiles, different shades of grey and beige and self-sufficient materials like gold, brass, marble, wood, concrete or brick.
Decor and textiles
These finishing touches are especially important when decorating the seating area.
Textiles made from quality natural materials (linen, cotton, wool) will make the interior warm and cosy. The curtains can be either a contrast or a continuation of the light decoration. If the room is small, preference should be given to light curtains made of light fabric, or tulle alone.
The decor in the room for rest and sleep should not be excessive. The less distracting details, the better. However, you can not do without accessories at all – they play the role of accent points and enliven the design of the bedroom with white furniture. The minimum set: a mirror, a bedside table and a lamp. A few photos or a painting can be hung on the wall, and small decorations such as candles, figurines or clocks can be placed on a table or chest of drawers.
White bedroom with bright accents
In this guest bedroom we see several bright accents at once. The blue bed in the company of coloured bed linen and gold-toned bedside tables dilute the white surfaces and echo the decor. A picture on the floor without a frame is a tribute to the modern style. The handle-less wardrobe in the tone of the finish is perceived as an extension of the wall, not cluttering the space. The mirrors on either side of the bed provide additional volume.
