Decorating with White — Designers Share How to Create Sophisticated and Welcoming Spaces
Make white rooms inviting, full of decorative interest, and easy to maintain with these easy expert tips


Decorating with white promises rooms that feel pristine and sophisticated as well as spacious and airy. But they equally risk feeling one-note and cold when they’re not well executed.
If you’re decorating a room with white walls, it can act as a foundation for the design; a canvas upon which other features pop. But use the color all over, however, in your palette, furnishings, and styling, and all the while elements much combine beautifully for a room that remains decoratively rich. Sounds simple, but it's not.
So, whether you’re starting from scratch in decorating with white, or rescuing a white room that seems to have fallen flat, below, we've shared designer secrets that will show you the way to success.
1. Choose the shade with care
The immediate challenge of choosing to decorate with white is that there isn’t just one white.
“White isn’t a one-size-fits-all color, especially when it comes to paint,” explains interior designer Philippa Radon, color and design expert at luxury handcrafted paint company C2 Paint. “There is an infinite scale of whites — from pure white to those with an undertone of some kind.”
The undertones influence how a white appears. Undertones of red, orange or yellow make whites warmer, while those with undertones of blue, green or violet are cooler and, in turn, this produces different effects.
As for how to choose the right white? “Warmer whites, whether for fabrics or paint, create a cozy and inviting feel whereas cooler whites feel crisp and modern,” says Los Angeles based interior designer Victoria Holly.
2. Factor in the room’s orientation
It’s not only the shade of white that counts when decorating with white. “The right shade can vary dramatically depending primarily on the natural light in the room,” says Philippa Radon.
Warmer whites are preferable in north-facing rooms where the light tends to bring out cooler tones. For a south-facing room, cooler whites are possibilities.
Either way, testing colors is the way to finding the right white. “Pick a few options and see how they read and feel on your walls at different times of the day,” Philippa advises. This is particularly important in east and west-facing rooms where the light is brightest in the morning and evening respectively.
3. Consider the mood
Color influences mood — for instance there are colors that make you feel happy and energetic. But despite the fact that white is often considered as decorating’s blank canvas, it’s no exception.
“White of any shade will always hold a level of sophistication and can have a powerful effect on mood,” says Philippa Radon. “It’s known for evoking feelings of peace and serenity, and is often chosen for its ability to allow spaces to appear larger and more open.”
But balance is also important and elements like wool, linen, metal and wood, and incorporating greenery can help create this within the space, she suggests.
4. Select the right lighting
Testing white paints in the natural light in your room is worthwhile, but it’s also crucial to plan artificial lighting that complements a white design perfectly.
Feng shui expert and architect Anjie Cho, co-author of the book Mindful Living (available from Amazon), suggests 2700K warm white lighting temperatures.
“I think it’s essential to have warm lighting with white spaces,” she says.
5. Factor in fabric maintenance
White fabrics have a luxurious look — but only if they stay white, so consider their care needs. (Which are generally quite high.) Yes, bouclé is a stylish fabric choice for a sofa, but do you know how to clean bouclé fabric?
“Ultimately the color (or lack of!) doesn’t matter as much as the material and content make of the fabric,” says Victoria Holly. “Fabrics made with acrylic, polyester, and nylon will be easier to clean than cotton or linen as their fibers are smoother so it makes it harder for stains to adhere. In regards to material, smooth fabrics such as velvets also are easier to clean.”
You might look at performance fabrics, too. Modern versions don’t make their easy-care nature apparent, but they tend to be the most low maintenance couch material.
6. Create variation
Choosing to decorate with a restrained palette doesn’t mean you can’t combine — but with a white design, that means layering together different whites, which can be tricky.
“You can easily layer different whites if you are careful with tone,” says Victoria Holly. “Be careful not to pair a warm white with a cool white when you aren’t balancing out those whites anywhere else.”
And it's important to contrast textures, too. “Layering textures — like soft linens, cozy throws, and natural wood accents — helps prevent a stark or sterile feel,” she adds.
White is often characterised as the quiet backdrop but the variety of its shades provides plenty to work with in creating inviting as well as sophisticated white room designs.
Careful choices mean a room can appear spacious and airy as well as warm and welcoming — and still easy to maintain.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletters are your inside source for what’s shaping interiors now - and what’s next. Discover trend forecasts, smart style ideas, and curated shopping inspiration that brings design to life. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the curve.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously Executive Editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 25 years. She’s written for websites including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers including The Guardian; and brands including Future’s Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, and Period Living, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator.
-
Okay, We're In — Anthropologie Is Doing 'Tomato Girl Summer' Again This Year, so We Are Too
From garden-party table fare to sun-ripened scents, here’s everything a fictional Italian villa dweller would already have in her cart
-
How to Plan An Outdoor Kitchen — 5 Things to Do to Nail Down Effortless Entertaining
From location and layout, to budgets and design details, bring your outdoor kitchen to life with this expert advice
-
What Are the Best Paint Colors for East-Facing Rooms? Choose These to Balance the Morning Sun and Afternoon Light, Just Right
Color experts share the five shades you need to know when painting east-facing rooms
-
The 10 Secrets Behind 'Biophilic Colors' That Bring Nature's Power Into Your Home — And It's Not All Just About Green
There are certain colors that can blur the line between indoors and out, and their impact on space can be transformative
-
So Long White; Goodbye Royal Blue — These Are The Sofa Colors Going Out of Style in 2025, and What To Replace Them With
Not all sofa colors are timeless — it's time we retire these five say interior design experts
-
What Are the Best Lick Colors? 10 Designers Swear By From the Upstart Paint Brand
From colors inspired by cars spotted in Rome, to the most sought-after shade of red, these are the best Lick paint colors to style in your home
-
The 10 Best Little Greene Paint Colors For Your Home, as Chosen by Interior Designers
If you’re planning on giving your home a face lift, these are the designer-approved colors to do it with
-
I'm a 'Color Forecaster', Here's What That Actually Means, and How I Predict the Future of How You'll Decorate Your Home
Working with Pantone and WGSN, Jane Boddy has helped divine the trends in color that end up as the wall colors we paint with, the sofas we sit on, and more. Here's how
-
5 Power Colors That Can Completely Shift the Way You See and Feel in Your Home
Power colors in interior design aren't just about being loud and dominating, they're about empowering you to express your true self
-
10 Ways You Can Go Wrong When You're Decorating Your Home With Green — And What to Do to Get It Right
From failing to consider natural lighting to getting the balance or shade completely wrong, designers warn about working with green