Definition & DECORATION
The loveliest thing about white is the way it brings space into a room, reflecting light into the darkest corners and letting you accent the areas you want. Think of how the white walls of a gallery create a perfect backdrop for paintings and sculpture, and how classic white linens spread an air of refreshing calm over a bedroom. However much you love colour, houses need an absence of it here and there, to vary the mood and dilute more intense shades. Even the colour-master Henri Matisse scattered white cut-outs amid the bold blues and yellows of his art. It’s just a question of adding the right quantity of white in the right places.
1 REFLECT LIGHT INTO A ROOM WITH MIRRORS TO BRIGHTEN DARK CORNERS. THIS CHALK-WHITE GROOVED MIRROR IS FROM NORDIC HOUSE, £195.
2 START WITH PAINTED WOODWORK – THE LINES OF A FIREPLACE OR SASH WINDOW – TO GIVE THE ROOM A SENSE OF STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IF IT CONTRASTS WITH DEEPER TONES. FARROW & BALL HAS A GREAT SELECTION OF WHITES AND OFFWHITES – THIS IS BLACKENED, WITH A HINT OF GREY, £27/750ML ESTATE EGGSHELL.
3 USE CONTRASTING PRINTS TO INTRODUCE MORE DEFINITION. THIS COULD BE IN MONOCHROME FABRICS, WALLPAPERS OR A GALLERY OF BLACKAND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS. FLORAISON SOOT DOORSTOP, £28, PILLO LONDON.
4 LOOK FOR SHAPE AND FORM IN SCULPTURES AND OBJECTS, WHICH CAN HOLD YOUR ATTENTION WITH THE DESIGN, TEXTURE OR HISTORY. LOOK FOR RELIEFMOULDED PLAQUES IN PLASTER OR STONE, VINTAGE SYLVAC VASES OR INK BOTTLES, OR MODERN PIECES SUCH AS THIS PORCELAIN BIRD, £33.95 (PAIR), NORDIC HOUSE.
5 GO FOR GREY ON WALLS AND FLOORS AS A STYLISH BACKDROP FOR WHITE. SYLVAN CHIC WOOL-MIX CARPET IN MOON SHIMMER, FROM £69.99 SQ M, COUNTRY LIVING COLLECTION BY CARPETRIGHT.
6 DEEP BELFAST OR BUTLER’S SINKS AND SANITARYWARE PROVIDE LARGER BLOCKS OF WHITE TO BREAK UP AREAS OF COLOUR OR PLAIN WOOD.
7 BALANCE TONES USING A PALETTE OF WARM OR COOLER SHADES TOGETHER. HERE, WARM BROWNS AND TAUPE ARE USED WITH ACCENTS OF WHITE. MANY WHITES HAVE SUBTLE UNDERTONES OF PINK, YELLOW, BROWN AND SO ON.