For the love of WHITE!

When we ask clients about their colour preference for their residential interior white is a common response. As designers, we are intrigued to understand why. Is it because white is thought to be the safest colour option? Do some clients feel intimidated by the question for fear that it may expose that they don't know what colours they like or why? Do some people consider white to be the simplest, cheapest option? Or perhaps they just like the crisp freshness of the white palettes they have seen on home renovation shows or in home decorating magazines. The truth is, when it comes to white, creating the right white colour scheme can be a real challenge.  In fact, it is one of the hardest 'colours' (pure white is not actually a colour) to get right on your own.

When you look closer at published interiors that are identified as 'white', you would find that most have one or more of the following elements:

• Numerous textural layers,
• An abundance of ornamentation,
• A variety of tones,
• Only a moderate saturation of white.

If you see an interior featured in a high-end magazine that is classified as being 'pure white', you will find it is characterised by the opposite of the list above, namely minimal material options, more control over tone and a highly engineered construction detail. These interiors are generally reserved for the purists and come at a high cost because of the complexity involved in achieving them.

Be open minded when choosing the right paint for your white colour scheme. All white paints have an underlying colour. This is best seen by holding a sample of white paint against a pure white background, like a piece of printer paper.  Any very light colour, even softer versions of primary and secondary colours, look white when juxtaposed against darker, stronger colours. Consider introducing alternative colours and darker tones, which create a distraction. That way the eye doesn't notice all the variations of white in the room. This has the added benefit of allowing you to source more affordable materials, fittings and finishes for your interior.

Let go of the idea that the colour of all surfaces in your home have to be selected from a white palette, even if you are aiming for a Hamptons theme, where white (or a version of white) is dominant. It is far more practical to select a darker colour for high foot traffic surfaces. A darker shade on the floor will also enhance the crispness of your 'white' walls and accessories.

When working with a white colour scheme, we recommend using many layers of texture and pattern. This results in more affordable construction details and a more pleasing form of depth variation, which adds visual distraction to extend the life of a product.