Bright, light whites and creams bring to mind feelings of purity, cleanliness, and airiness. These tones are often lovely for pairing with a bold accent colour or black for a modern feel, or touches of browns or other natural tones for a subdued and elegant look. Shared spaces like living rooms can be made to feel larger and roomier by playing with these psychological effects of the colour white.
Here we address the tonal qualities of white to give you eleven ways to use white soft-furnishings in your room.
1. Snow White for Children’s Rooms
This crisp, clean white gives the purity of the colour a cold backdrop. The colour snow white as a subtle hint of blue in it, so beware of using snow white in a north facing room or one with very few windows. You may add an unwanted chill which could make the room feel unwelcoming.
The colour works well in children’s rooms when paired with pastels, which appear to pop when placed next to snow white. It can be remarkable practical for curtains in a child’s room by providing a constant neutral backdrop when the décor in the room is updated as the child grows. However, teaming white curtains with blackout blinds is highly recommended, if you want to get any sleep!
2. Arctic White in a study
The deep blue tones in arctic white give it a clean crisp finish. The colour is great when used as a neutral when a modern minimalist finish is desired. And ideal when used with black. If arctic white is overused it can give the feeling of ‘snow blindness’ making a room appear featureless and dull. Layer the colour with tonal whites for a more homely look or contrast starkly with a strong colour for impact.
Arctic white roman blinds are ideal in an office or study. They serve to keep the room fresh and light, while shielding the worst of the glare of the sun from screens.
3. Ivory for classy living rooms
Warm tonal shades of white, such as ivory are great for living rooms and communal spaces. The use of a light colour lifts the energy in the room and gives a far more uplifting neutral than beige. Installing Ivory coloured curtains and an ivory sofa allows the savvy homeowner to make the room work year round. Introducing new accessories each season - even moving the furniture - makes the décor in the room as varied and interesting as modern life.
Don’t be afraid of the practicalities of using white in such a busy space. Modern fabrics are easy to clean and the shabby-chic look relaxes the rules when it comes to perfect white.
4. White in dining rooms
Think crisp white linen; think sheer white curtains and white folded napkins. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two or using all the spare chairs in the house on Christmas Day white can unify any space to create a stunning dining room.
If the flooring in your kitchen differs from your dining room, you can unify the two spaces by using white linen and soft furnishings. And white goes with anything! So, whether you’re using the best china or plastic picnic plates you’ll be able to create the perfect atmosphere for your dining room with white curtains, blonds and table linen.
5. Chrystal white for bathrooms
Where else do we classically see white but in the bathroom? It is a classic look for a reason. It works. The more turquoise blue in crystal lends itself to the watery world of bathrooms. When you want a room to appear clean and fresh there is no better colour than chrystal white.
White blinds and soft, sheer curtains soften the light in a bathroom making the first glance in the mirror on a cold winters morning that little bit easier.
Often the smallest room in a house, using white in a bathroom can often make it appear more spacious, especially with added mirrors. This gives you an ideal backdrop to accessories in line with the personality of your home.
6. Chalk white in hallways
With a warm tone, chalk white can open up cramped hallways without making them feel cold. Corridors and passages seem to have more space with the light reflecting qualities of chalk white. And what nicer way to welcome someone to your home? Entrances and landings suit the white treatment.
Chalk white never seems boring like beige, yet it can be used in all the same ways. Used in a hallway it has the ability to co-ordinate with all the coloured rooms which open onto it, unifying them. The ultimate in versatility.
7. Textured fabrics in white
Where white can be stark and cold, a white textured fabric helps to overcome this. Softening the appearance with the tonal effects of texture printed or woven into a fabric can give a luxurious, opulent look to a home.
Take care when mixing textures as well as colours. When done well a pair of white curtains with a contrasting blind can look amazing.
8. Go dotty for spots on white blinds
The upbeat tend for spots, particularly in kitchens, allows the designer to add colour, with the open space of white. Spots can be in a single colour matched with co-ordinating block colours or choose a curtain fabric which brings your room together with multi-coloured spots on a white background. Most of all – have fun!9. Formal stripes
Stripes have added impact when they include white. The contrast allows the colours to sing. Whether bold bright or calming pastels, there are some fabulous fabrics which make use of stripes and white to great effect.
Vertical stripes add height to a room; making a large window into a striking feature. Horizontal stripes are used to declare bands of colour – often ringing a room together. Beware when buying horizontal striped curtains that the stripes exactly match when the curtains are closed.
10.Checks and gingham
Whether contemporary or classic, checks are synonymous with style and so easy to use. Checked curtains instantly give a room status. We often see them in hotels and castles where their timeless quality adds to the atmosphere.
Make sure to pattern match your checks along the seams of your soft furnishings. A mis-match is particularly noticeable when the curtains are drawn or when lengths are joined in large windows.
11.Whites and florals
Nothing says summer more than floral white curtains blowing in a gentle breeze. And when it is not sunny outside, remind yourself of hazy, lazy days with summer blooms all year round. Using white a a background to your floral curtains allows the fabric to co-ordinate with the rest of the room.
Beware of using busy floral fabrics in a room which has other fussy features – stick with a dainty design. Colour match your binds, curtains, tie-backs and cushions by purchasing them from the same supplier.
Spring is in the air, and after a long dark winter most of us feel energised by the sunny days and like to clean our curtains at this time of year. Heavy curtains, as a general rule, should be dry cleaned periodically or washed according to the label sewn into the lining. But if you are short on time here are a couple of different ways to spruce up your windows this spring.