We used to consider all-white palettes for home decor to be only suited for the very rich or the very childless. Because only those two groups would ever have the ability to keep the rooms clean. Or we might have considered them too bland to ever make a statement. But today, that’s no longer the case. Thanks to a few interior design secrets, anyone can rock an all-white palette and give it a lot of personality. Here are 4 tips for making it work:

1. Vary the Whites

Some people believe that a white room is washed out and boring. And if you drenched a room in the same paint top to bottom, it would be. But there are over 100 shades of white, and that makes it a magical color. White can make a room seem larger or taller. It can add warmth to a north-facing room that doesn’t get light. It can cool a room that gets a lot of sun. The key is to vary the shades you use. You might want a cooler white on the walls and then a brighter white for the trim. You can even use a stark white on the ceiling to make the room seem airier. And you can try different finishes like eggshell on the walls and high-gloss on trim. Experiment with paint samples to get the look you want.

2. Use Texture & Tech

White can also be thought of as cold and impractical, but not when you use texture to vary the landscape. A smooth lamp base, a soft headboard, cool and crisp sheets - they all provide visual and tactile interest that is warm and inviting. And today’s fabrics are incredibly high-tech, offering stain resistance that will keep those whites looking fabulous.

3. Make Metal a Thing

I love the classic beauty of an all-white kitchen. But if that’s too cool for you, warm it up with the glow of metal. In the kitchen above, I used a burnished range hood to thaw any arctic chill. And then that lovely hardware also heats up the design for a look that’s far from chilly.

4. Use Wood as a “Color”

Wood tones can add quiet color to an all-white space, which breaks up the overall visual. The dining room above has white walls, a white rug, white upholstery, and creamy lampshades. But the sideboard not only showcases the warmth of wood, it also highlights the texture. One key to really making this work is to be sure the wood piece is beautiful. It will become the focal point of the room, so it needs to be worthy of the spotlight.

Try these tips for an all-white look - or if you need help, you can always reach out to my team!

All the best,

Kara