READING TIME: 8 MINS
WHITE HOME
“The first of all single colours is white. We shall set down white for the representative of light, without which no colour can be seen.”
Timeless chic. White, the perfect blank canvas for creating a striking space that never ages.
Timeless and endlessly versatile, all-white interiors have been ever so popular throughout the years – from period property interiors through to contemporary architectural spaces and Scandinavian minimalist design. White interiors are timeless, serene, sophisticated, and in a way, uncomplicated. As they say … “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
White is the lightest colour and is achromatic, which means it is a colour without a hue. The colour has the property of bringing calm and comfort into a home; it is illuminating and helps our minds to focus.
THE White Home
In feng-shui (a system of arranging an environment to create balance and harmony), white invites the qualities of cleanliness, purity and clarity. The colour white can literally brighten, and even visually and energetically expand a space. The best thing about white is that the colour works in all types of spaces, decor and interior styles. The absence of colour makes a space feel more timeless, sophisticated, effortlessly chic, airy and fresh. Sticking to the white colour palette allows to effortlessly mix furniture styles — from contemporary pieces to mid-century modern classics, vintage and antiques. And not to mention that an all-white interior works just as well for minimalists or maximalists. White brings a purity to a space.
Be it bone white, chalk white, or ivory, I have to confess, I have a deep love affair with all-white designs and neutrals. In my opinion, it is the epitome of the perfect blank canvas. In fact, texture-rich and ‘white-on-white’ is one of my signature aesthetics when it comes to my interior styling techniques. White homes are pretty magical. The key is to make white work using texture, pattern and definition, and thus avoiding to create a ‘white box’.
shades of white
Not all whites are made the same. All white paints have an underlying colour with various different undertones such as bluish, greyish, reddish, yellowish, or even greenish. Generally speaking, there are two ‘categories’ of white: warm whites and cool whites.
Warm Whites
Warm whites often carry subtle peach, pink, or yellow undertones. These variations invite a relaxed warmth into a home. Warmer whites tend to soften a space. They also accentuate architectural details, often found in more traditional spaces.
Cool Whites
Cool whites are great for adding a modern or minimalist edge to a space. They often carry blue or grey undertones and are useful in tempering bright light. Cool whites are often used within interior spaces that get a lot of sunshine. They are softer to the eye and will give you a feeling of a larger space. Cool whites are also quite suitable if you tend to gravitate towards a blue colour palette.
Shades of white are colours that differ only slightly from pure white.
Hex triplet: White (#FFFFFF)
sRGBB (r, g, b): White (255, 255, 255)
HSV (h, s, v): White (0°, 0%, 100%)
There are hundreds of shades of white! And, choosing the perfect white is not that easy. Vivid White™, Natural White™, White on White™, Whisper White, Terrace White, Lexicon®, or White Duck just to name a few shades from the Dulux palette. Not even to mention all the variations by different manufacturers with over twenty shades of white to choose from Farrow & Ball alone such as Shaded White, Lime White, Old White or New White — and the list goes on…
worth knowing
// The Blackest Black
The darkest shade of black isn’t actually a pigment but a material called Vantablack which is produced by Surrey NanoSystems. The coating known just as Vantablack® is a super-black coating that holds the independently verified world record as the darkest man-made substance.
Vantablack coatings are used for applications such as deep space imaging, automotive sensing, optical systems, art and aesthetics.
// The Whitest White
And… there is a newcomer on the block: Vantablack’s white equivalent, which they say is the “whitest paint on record”. According to Dezeen, the ultra-white paint reflects 98.1% of sunlight!
It was developed by engineers at Purdue University in Indiana. The paint is made with a barite-derived pigment called barium sulfate which is often found in cosmetics and paper, which deflects infrared heat from the surface on which the white paint is applied.
According to CNN, “this ultra-white paint could cool buildings, cutting the need for air conditioning” and even reduce carbon emissions. Whereas regular paint will absorb between 10% and 20% of sunlight, the new paint takes on just 1.9%
The ultra-white paint could be on the market in 1-2 years for a comparable price to conventional paint, Purdue University told the Guardian.
“We believe the real beauty of white is that whoever we are, whatever our style, wherever we are from, there’s a place in everyone’s life for white.”
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SHADE OF WHITE
It is not just about choosing a shade of white that you might like the look of, but the right shade needs to be tailored to your space. Take a colour swatch of your desired shade of white and you will soon notice that the same shade looks very different depending on where you place it. There are some general rules to consider:
__
NORTH-FACING SPACES
It is best to avoid shades of whites that have cool blue or green undertones as these can make a space feel ‘cold’. Instead, consider whites with a gentle red or yellow undertone to lend some warmth to the room.
__
SOUTH-FACING SPACES
In south-facing spaces which are blessed with warmer natural light anyway, you can work with cooler undertones or warmer shades.
__
MIXING COOL AND WHITE SHADES
I recommend not to mix warm whites with cool shades, as the latter can indeed make the former look dirty and creamy tones can make the cool ones look a bit clinical. I tend to follow the rule that if a space has warm accents, I use a warmer white; and the same holds true for cool whites. Often, I also incorporate other tonal neutrals to help mix the various white shades together; it not only creates a very classic and timeless look but also creates a gentle flow and really increases the feeling of serenity.
__
COORDINATING WHITES
Consider how natural and artificial light affect the appearance of the colour. I coordinate whites with the direction that a room faces (north/south-facing), as well as the colour undertones of the furniture, flooring, fixtures, architectural details, wood or stone.
Examples:
Crisp cool whites are great to use for kitchen and bathroom joinery. Green based whites complement so many other colours and are quite neutral. As the white tones get ‘darker’, they resemble the colour of stone, a great option for exteriors. Yellow based whites give that creamy look which works well in a country style setting. Pink based whites are very soft, ideal in a child's bedroom.
__
Colour Strengths
One more thing… Many paint manufacturers also offer their whites in varying degrees of strength. I tend to follow my rule of thumb: use a full strength of your chosen white on walls, a half strength on trims and internal doors and quarter strength on ceilings/cornices. Interestingly, whites appear twice as dark when they are on ceilings, so maybe opt for a quarter strength on horizontals.
Read on…
how to bring a white interior to life, add character + warmth
“There is an art to making the all-white look stylish and effortless. The ultimate goal is to make the space look lived-in, not perfectly styled. Remember, your interior style is a reflection of your inner-self, and your story. This is really what makes a home a home. ”
Creating a White Home
It is important to bring a white interior to life by mixing materials and textures, this adds character and warmth. Here are some creative ways to achieve this.
__
Texture
Texture is everything in an all-white interior. Texture adds depth to an otherwise monochromatic design. A space without texture can easily lack personality. The remedy: bring texture and different shadows to the space. Incorporate a variety of fabrics and patterns for visual interest. This establishes a softer and more nuanced feel. Examples: (1) textured wallpaper can add subtle variation to a wall surface; (2) textured tiles are an interesting way to add variation and shadows; (3) a tongue-and-groove or shiplap wall can add another dimension to a space when painted white and works especially well in the coastal interior style; (4) weathered, bleached and whitewashed finishes are a definite nod to the coastal vibe.
__
Natural Materials
To avoid an all-white interior to feel cold and stark, add natural materials like wood, stone, marble, rattan, cotton, wool, natural linen, leather, cowhides, sheepskin and faux furs. Natural timber and white work so well together; especially blonde wood is an easy way to instantly warm up a white space whilst adding a layer of depth without complicating the colour palette.
Natural materials can be added into the design in various ways including furniture pieces, chairs, tabletops, work surfaces, textured cushions and throws, storage baskets or plant pots. Carefully layered, these elements combined make a space feel alive. There really are infinite ways to elevate an all-white design with a natural look.
__
Styling
An all-white interior truly has the ability to showcase striking wall art, sculptures, ornaments or any elements that create interest, without them having to compete with the colour on the walls, the decor or other furnishings. Styling is a great way to add visual interest to a space, examples include: driftwood, shells, feathers, pottery, tinted glassware, a hanging straw hat or a woven wall hanging — they can all add texture and interest in a white space. It is a play with light, texture, and proportion. I also love to mix metal finishes of aged brass or patinated steel, hints of copper or bronze. These accents look amazing with whites.
Placing iconic furniture, like a Barcelona Chair or a Wassily Chair creates a contemporary twist to the design of the room. Choosing pieces that display clean lines with hard corners, and materials like metal will give the space more of a contemporary look and feel. Adding a Moroccan pouf, the iconic Safari Chair or a Malawi Chair adds an exotic and authentic styling flavour.
Collect items you love and those that have meaning. Transform and restore - give something a whole new lease on life and let some wabi-sabi into your home; let it wear and live a little :) Lived in, weathered and just plain old can be just beautiful and full of charm and character.
__
Accent colour
Introduce colour ever so carefully. I stay away from primaries with white, but that is just my personal preference and often introduce touches of neutrals or pastels. This approach is softer on the eye and allows to introduce spots of colour subtly and elegantly.
Alternatively, combining black elements in a white interior creates contrast. Black and white is always a timeless option that brings elegance to a room.
__
Greenery
Flowers and greenery add life and colour; and give elegance to any space. Biophilic design can transform a white space.
“White interiors make my design heart burst every time... Creating a textural and layered look in an all-white interior is part of my signature style.”
I simply adore serene, timeless and sophisticated white interiors. The white on white style has very much become my signature aesthetic. The beauty of the white home is that it creates the foundation for any mood or style, be it coastal, country, modern or neutral.