White Room Ideas

White room ideas that buck the trends. Living rooms, bedrooms and more from the archive that are both pale and interesting

The white room - almost ubiquitous now thanks to a cornucopia of factors, not limited to but including - Marie Condo, Instagram and Kinfolk. As Grace Bonney from Apartment Therapy writes, the last 5 years have seen a proliferation of that look - 'Kilim rugs, lots of house plants and a carefully curated selection of found/salvaged objects.'  So how to steer clear of the monotony and create white rooms that won't end up looking like a decorative cliché? We found lots of wonderful examples in our archive; from the central London flat of landscape architect Kim Wilkie, whose white walls and uncurtained windows give a sense tranquillity that is weighted by dark Arts and Crafts furniture, to the interior designer Harriet Anstruther's Sussex farmhouse, where neutral paint feels at once modern and cozy, without detracting from the cottage's higgledy-piggeldy charm. 

In small spaces white paint can make a room feel bigger and brighter - especially when cleverly paired with mirror. In large or open plan rooms, use white in different tones to create optical illusons that subtly make proportions feel more friendly (see our guide on how to use white paint for more on this). Another preconception is that a white room spells minimalism (which, of course, it can) but a white base also allows you to use multicoloured fabric on upholstery and curtains with wild abandon. Plus, it's a fabulous backdrop for hanging art - there's a reason why galleries use it, after all. Buck the trends and learn to use white paint with personality.

  • Small White Attic Bedoom

    Small White Attic Bedoom

  • White Twin Bedroom Beach House

    White Twin Bedroom Beach House

  • White Back Porch

    White Back Porch

  • Understated chic

    Understated chic

  • Shaded White Dining Area With Framed Linocuts

    Shaded White Dining Area With Framed Linocuts

  • White Farmhouse Kitchen

    White Farmhouse Kitchen

  • White & Turquoise Kitchen

    White & Turquoise Kitchen

  • The Drawing Room

    The Drawing Room

  • White & Grey Living Room

    White & Grey Living Room

  • The Spare Room

    The Spare Room

  • Coloured Upholstery & Pop Art

    Coloured Upholstery & Pop Art

  • Small Artist

    Small Artist's Studio

  • Porcelain Wall

    Porcelain Wall

  • Picture Perfect

    Picture Perfect

  • Calm and bright

    Calm and bright

  • Into the woods

    Into the woods

  • natural light

    natural light

  • Edwardian Elegance

    Edwardian Elegance

  • stripped back

    stripped back

  • Electric Blue

    Electric Blue

  • Smooth Operator

    Smooth Operator

  • Silver Linings

    Silver Linings

  • Original Charm

    Original Charm

  • White Country Bedroom

    White Country Bedroom

  • Linen Panel

    Linen Panel

  • Built-in bed

    Built-in bed

  • Rise Up

    Rise Up

  • bright and beautiful

    bright and beautiful

  • Dinner Whites

    Dinner Whites

  • Soft Focus

    Soft Focus



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