How to make white walls stay that way for as long as possible

Advantages and disadvantages

White is universal - it can be the main, background, complementary and accent color, suitable for ornate rococo, luxurious classics and simple minimalism. It harmoniously combines with any shades, expands the space and serves as an excellent backdrop for a variety of textures and contrasts.

White color has a lot of halftones that you can play with in the interior. It will suit any style and performs a wide variety of tasks: it emphasizes the shape of contrasting silhouettes and complex decorative elements, reveals the complexity of other colors, in addition, it is an excellent connecting element.

The only negative that can be noted is its impracticality, but this drawback is completely offset by modern finishing materials - washable paint, dust-repellent materials. Many people believe that snow-white brings some hospital sterility and lifelessness to the interior, but this does not happen if it is harmoniously diluted with other colors, bright accents and contrasts.

Benefits of white walls

1. White color is associated with minimalism and modernity.
2. When decorating rooms, a snow-white surface will become a good backdrop for furniture, creating a large, bright space.
3. White goes well with many colors and offers a huge field for arranging rooms, using different color schemes and combinations.
4. Light colors are relevant for architectural and economic reasons - apartments are expensive, forcing them to save on square footage. Nobody wants to feel uncomfortable due to the small area of ​​their rooms, so people are looking for solutions that optically increase their living space. Light walls, glossy furniture facades, and proper lighting perfectly visually expand the space.

White color is simply irreplaceable in many cases, it is part of the design in a modern minimalist style and stylish, cozy Scandinavian designs. White is an excellent background for a number of spatial forms; it makes the room visually more spacious, bright, and fresh.

Shades

White has a huge number of shades, all of which are actively used by designers to create fashionable and cozy interiors. Let's look at several groups of shades:

• cold shades - snowy, frosty, sterile, porcelain, opal are best suited for creating bold, contrasting interiors in combination with black and its derivatives. Cool tones are very easy to recognize - they give off blue or gray;
• smoky is a mixture of white, gray and a little beige shades. The smoky atmosphere is nobility and peace;
• floral white is a shade of a flower bud, a symbol of purity and freshness. These include numerous warm tones - ivory, milky undertones, the color of baked milk. These combinations are leaders in creating a soft atmosphere in a living room;
• sea ​​shades - pearl (slightly grayish color with a matte sheen) and sea foam (beige-white, lighter than cream);
• linen, coconut, moonlight, white chocolate - warm colors against which any bright accents will acquire the status of conceptual dominant things.

Choosing a style that goes with white walls in the interior of the apartment

If you need to decorate the interior from scratch, first choose a style, only then begin to think about the color direction: what the decoration and pieces of furniture will be like. Therefore, having chosen the style of the room, it is worth relating it to the white walls.

White walls help bring together seemingly incompatible interior items

Loft style

White walls in the interior of an apartment with a loft orientation give the space an airiness and add spaciousness. In such industrial-type dwellings, a light background is very important, when an unobtrusive light finish balances the introduced roughness of the filling in the decoration and furniture.

An example of successful design of a living room-office in a bright loft

Minimalism

Its features are deservedly called conciseness and simplicity. The style is designed to create a harmonious aura and fill the house with tranquility. Often, minimalist design uses light colors directly. And greater illumination in the space will be ensured by the absence of unnecessary clutter.

Laconic living room interior in a minimalist style, based on a combination of white and gray shades

Classic

Snow-white walls will add nobility to this style in combination with luxury furnishings, rich textures, and stucco decorations on the ceiling.

In a classic interior, milky shades must be combined with wooden textures

Country

Identity is important here. First of all, this:

• rural simplicity;
• environmental friendliness;
• traditions of antiquity;
• closeness to nature.

In fact, it is necessary to create an image of a village house with all its components.

To create a rustic style, wooden furniture with deliberately rough surfaces is used.

Art Deco

It is expressive and elegant, contrasting and intense. It looks elegant and rich. And exclusively snow-white, clean planes are definitely not about art deco. Therefore, it is better if the walls are painted milky or “clad” in mother-of-pearl. And you can “outline” them with profile strips of simple shapes.

Art Deco, even in white, looks luxurious and expensive

Neoclassical

This is a modern alternative to the classics. This style is the middle between extremes; it represents the triumph of a measured life, tranquility, and family comfort. And it assumes either monochrome or exactly one additional color scheme.

Neoclassical style is the golden mean between classic and modern

And other options

Scandinavian style and white walls are a successful union and a harmonious combination. Such surfaces can be called the calling card of this style in the interior.

Wooden floors highlight the features of a Scandinavian interior

And they support the given direction:

• decorative elements made with your own hands;
• home flower garden;
• cozy textiles;
• budget furniture items.

A milky shade remains a constant favorite for a shabby chic home. The style is especially appreciated by romantic individuals. The room is furnished with antique furniture and light textiles. The presence of fresh flowers will add a lived-in and airy feel to the space.

White tone is the main one when decorating a room in a shabby chic style.

Snow-white walls in the high-tech style are especially in demand today. Thanks to multi-colored “illumination”, a white room changes its appearance. And here, of course, it all depends on what the needs of the home owner are.

The photo shows a white kitchen-living room, decorated in high-tech style

Functions and meaning

White color is the choice of people who are independent, free and liberated. Having seen the interior of the apartment with a predominance of white, we can safely say that the owner of the apartment is a confident, successful and neat person. After a hard day at work, white will help restore strength, calm down, and relieve stress. It even restores the structure of brain activity.

In color therapy, white has a positive effect on mood. All experiences, anxieties and fears go with him. It stimulates the functioning of the endocrine system and organs of vision. The perception of color also occurs through the skin, so in color therapy it is used to treat certain dermatological diseases.

The fundamental quality of white is equality, since it contains all colors equally. He always inspires - creative people love him. However, if there is a lot of it, negative characteristics can gain strength. Due to its physical properties, white has a unique ability to expand space. A white ceiling in the interior will look higher, the walls will look wider, and the interior elements will appear larger.

White is a good backdrop for bright accents, enhancing them and drawing attention to them. A black table on a white floor will look more impressive and elegant, as will beautiful curtains with large red flowers in a white kitchen. In addition, in interior solutions it is used to neutralize the contrast between two colors. Black-red-white kitchens or black-white-green kitchens are becoming increasingly popular in interiors.

Advantages and disadvantages of white walls in an apartment

Each color in the interior has its own advantages and disadvantages. White has the ability to highlight and enhance colors and objects. Things that are not visible with another design will gain brightness and volume.

Also, the advantages of apartment design with white walls include:

1. Positive influence of color on the psyche. At the same time, you should not be too zealous with light colors. It is better to dilute it with other colors.
2. Excellent compatibility with other tones and multi-colored accessories. This property is used to create interiors of different styles.
3. White wall decoration visually increases the volume of the room. This property determines the use of light shades in small apartments.
4. The white color of the walls adds light to the room. It is readily used when there are windows facing north or when the view from them is blocked by tall, spreading trees.
5. When using white walls in the interior, the important thing is that the design can be changed as often as you want. Any furniture upholstery will suit such walls. It is not necessary to do cosmetic repairs every time.
6. A positive role is played by the fact that it is possible to use any accessories in the room to complete the design. Often one wall is painted in a light tone, and patterns are stenciled on it.

A room with white walls also has disadvantages:

1. The similarity of the premises to an operating room or government premises speaks against it. The use of colored furniture and bright decorative items will make up for this minus.
2. The impracticality of decorating walls in light colors is another disadvantage. If small children and animals operate in the apartment, such rooms will quickly become dirty. It is necessary to finish vertical surfaces with washable types of materials.

Do not overuse white shades. A large amount of this range creates a feeling of stuffiness. There is also an opinion that it harms vision. You can avoid this danger by using other light colors in the decoration of rooms.

Use in different rooms

White has firmly entered modern interiors. Light colors for the walls in the room:

• visually increase the space;
• combine with any furniture;
• improve room illumination;
• are the best background for decoration.

However, so that snow-white does not seem official and the color of sterility, you should pay attention to the lighting of the room - only bright light in large quantities will give it the opportunity to sparkle in all its splendor. If the room has small windows or simply faces the north side, it is better to opt for shades. Interiors using ivory or beige colors are very cozy and fresh.

In the living room

When choosing white as the main color for decorating a living room, a person wants to get a bright, spacious, light room, the whole atmosphere of which will be conducive to relaxing with the family. For small living rooms and asymmetrical rooms, all shades of this color are practically the only way to smooth out the unevenness of the room.

A white living room can be designed in any stylistic direction - from retro and classic to ultra-technological high-tech. You can change the mood of the living room simply by changing the accents - different decor or textiles will radically transform the interior against a light background. An accent wall made of photo wallpaper would look good here. In the loft there is a white brick wall in a light interior or a brown one. A floor made of dark wood or a floor covering that imitates it would be ideally harmonious for creating the interior of a white room.

To diversify the color palette of a snow-white living room, you can choose one or two bright colors. Any color will go with white: from orange to turquoise. The role of color contrast can be played by bright furniture upholstery, carpeting, curtains, lampshades or paintings.

In the kitchen and dining room

The white kitchen is practically the embodiment of the perfection of harmony. White color is ideal for the kitchen. It combines rigor, accuracy and restraint. Color partners will help to slightly enliven the immaculate interior. Since it goes perfectly with literally all colors and shades, you can choose your color preferences according to your desires.

Want speakers? Red facades will add expression. Do you miss techno? Gray countertops and a stainless steel kitchen splashback will remind you of the world of technological discoveries. Does your soul crave peace and comfort? Green upholstery on the chairs and green throws combined with a short kitchen curtain will make the interior warm and natural.

Of course, one cannot say nothing about the unconditional hit of recent years - the black and white kitchen. This is the choice of calm and balanced people. Black glossy facades, snow-white stretch ceilings, geometric two-color patterns on textiles and decor are an excellent choice for modern interiors.

In the bedroom

The white bedroom is filled with light and space. It can be embodied in any style: from rustic Provence to Japanese laconicism, from thoughtful shabby chic to rough loft. By combining numerous shades of white you can avoid the feeling of oversaturation.

For a comfortable perception of a monochrome bedroom, you can introduce warm shades into the interior - for example, a wooden floor. Wood looks great in combination with white and gives the room a certain geometric outline. If you increase the amount of wood in the interior: put a wooden bedside table, bench, table or chairs, then the style will smoothly flow into country or Provence. Add indoor flowers to the walls and windowsill, curtains with a small floral print, a picture with lavender fields - and enjoy the simplicity of country music.

Wallpaper with two different textures will help to revive the interior. Wallpaper with a soft pattern, embossing or print can be used on one wall at the head of the bed. The bedroom interior will be more harmonious if the texture or shade of the accent wall can be used in other decorative items.

In the nursery

The use of white as a dominant color in a nursery is considered inappropriate by child psychologists. It is believed that a child develops better and faster if he is surrounded by a variety of bright colors. A light background of some white shade will look good - it will create a feeling of freedom and freshness in the nursery, but it will definitely have to be diluted with bright furniture, warm floors, and practical colored carpeting.

In the hallway and corridor

The hallway is traditionally considered in our country to be a place even dirtier than the kitchen. Therefore, few people would agree to have a white corridor - a source of headache for any housewife. Still, this color is worth paying attention to if the hallway is very small. The combination of light walls, a glossy ceiling, a mirror on a light wardrobe and good lighting will help visually expand a small corridor and give it a feeling of spaciousness.

In the hallway you can also create an interior with additional colors to suit any style. The combination of white and black is usual for minimalism, brown and green for natural eco-style, acidic shades will help bring cheeky pop art into your hallway. Combinations of white/beige, gray, and wood will simply look stylish.

In the bathroom

White itself is the color of purity and freshness, so it will come in handy in the bathroom. Combinations with other colors look great in bathrooms - for example, the traditional blue and white sea combination. If the white and blue bathroom seems a little cold, you can replace the blue color with warm beige, coffee, cream, etc. You can dilute the color with mosaics or colored panels.

If you don’t want to separate the colors with inserts of other colors, you can focus on the features of the texture. Finishing stores widely offer lines of glazed tiles or tiles that imitate any texture, including wood and stone.

Style secrets

Brickwork is a distinctive feature of various style trends.

1. Loft. The style plays on the urbanism of attic and industrial premises adapted for housing. Having turned out to be the “godfather” of the popularity of brick in the interior (after all, utility/warehouse/factory premises were not often decorated with plaster over a brick base), loft is a leader among other styles in the use of masonry elements. White brick walls favorably highlight the original designer furniture, modern household appliances and decorative elements characteristic of the loft.
2. English interior. Design with brickwork as a distinctive stylistic feature of the premises (red or white brick not only on the outside, but also partially on the inside).
3. Provence. The white brick wall in the interior focuses on the charm of the French provincial style and serves as a backdrop:

   
   This solution is suitable for a loft-style interior

• characteristic pastel colors;
• Provençal textiles;
• other decorative elements.

1. Country. In a rustic interior, not only the stove, hearth, fireplace, but also the walls of the house are made of brick. Against the background of white brick walls, the obligatory wooden furniture looks very organic.
2. Gothic style (neo-Gothic). Also uses brickwork motifs as medieval replicas.
3. High tech. Organically combines elements of an original brick wall with modern glass and metal products.
4. Scandinavian style. Another (after the loft) leader of brick interior aesthetics. A white brick wall or part of a wall with masonry fits organically into its format. Being laconic, Scandinavian interior design is simple and natural. Not replete with luxury, it is distinguished by its use in the interior:

   
   This solution is suitable for many interior styles

• eco-design elements;
• natural materials;
• pastel colors;
• minimum amount of decor;
• white as a base (in northern countries there is so little sun, so a light background is out of competition).

Using decorative bricks you can create an accent wall

Use in different stylistic directions

All shades of white in the interior were popularized by America and Europe in the 20s and 30s. In that era, this color was a symbol of aristocracy and prosperity, a sign of luxury and wealth. In the emerging minimalist interiors of the 60s, it was used in a different capacity - emphasizing the laconicism and functionality of spacious spaces in rooms with a minimum amount of furniture. This color is an expression of comfort and naturalness.

Scandinavian style is unthinkable without white. Coming from cold Scandinavia, where there is night more often than day, Scandinavian style carries light shades like a dream of light.

Minimalism is the aesthetics of laconic contrast with black. Straight strict lines, a minimum of decor, a minimum of design - white perfectly copes with the tasks assigned to it.

White copes well with the role of forming a single space in modernity. In this direction it is necessary to combine several dynamic, deep, saturated colors, and without it it can be difficult to do this.

White will be the ideal backdrop for modern contemporary art. Cheerful, without strict restrictions and rules, contemporary music burst into our lives just a few years ago. Elements of all styles are perfectly combined here and only harmony, comfort and functionality are important.

White will soften the realm of metal and glass in high-tech and industrial. Light blinds and decorative elements will bring comfort to the technical style.

The versatility of white in combination with others

It is impossible to suspect white color of any color preferences. It goes equally well with all colors and shades. Moreover, it has the ability to enhance brightness:

• with black is a classic of contrasts, which sometimes needs accent dilution. In almost 90% of interiors, white in this combination plays the role of a background;

• with gray is the calling card of techno. Metallic gray, steel gray, graphite gray - almost all shades of gray in combination with snow-white - the new aristocracy of modern fashion. White color with light gray forms a soft combination, and with rich gray tones - options of varying degrees of contrast.

• Black, white and gray interiors are common in minimalism; you can also find these top three in the Scandinavian style;

• tandem with red is a catchy, bold and effective combination that will be appropriate in both the living room and the kitchen. Deep rich red (dark cherry, burgundy) in this tandem will be good for classics, oriental style, and catchy modern.

• A duet with blue looks catchy and festive, and with rich blue it looks solemn and strict. Adherents of Scandinavian and Mediterranean interiors love such combinations; they are also found in classics;

• white is the best pair for brown. When creating a white and brown interior, you need to take into account that real white looks harmonious only with cold shades of brown. And warm brown goes optimally with milky or sheep's wool;

• with green - a source of cheerfulness and optimism. White with light green shades will make a great design for Provence and country, and a combination with rich green will look good in classic and oriental interiors.

Proper wall care

It should be remembered that white walls do not get dirty more often than surfaces painted in other colors, and their care requires exactly the same chemicals. Regular wet cleaning using special washing powders can save walls from premature painting. However, in this case, you should be guided by one rule: if a stain appears, it should be removed immediately. Otherwise, it may be permanently absorbed into the paint.

Bright accents

The design style of any room, made in white tones, dictates its accent preferences. In the kitchen, a rich monochrome will be diluted by a curtain on the window or blinds that echo the color of the skin. A contrasting wall with photo wallpaper or carpet will look good in the living room. In the bedroom, bed textiles with drapes or curtains can act as a duet with it. In bright modern and contemporary interiors, the participation of two additional colors is acceptable.

White brick wall

A white brick wall is traditionally an element of the design of industrial styles - loft, industrial, but this does not limit its scope. In the kitchen, a brick wall above the work area can perfectly coexist with rustic and even romantic styles. In the room, white brick framing the doorway and fireplace will be the final element of the classic, Victorian and even chalet style in combination with logs and beams.

White design secrets

Living room

In the case of a non-standard room layout and remembering the use of only one plane with a brick surface, try to make it the most bizarrely shaped wall (with protrusions, niches, recesses). In this case, masonry under white brick will adequately emphasize its individuality. If the shape of the living room is standard rectangular, then the main decorative element will help determine the “necessary” surface: it will be placed on it.

The recreation area will also be located along such a wall. If there is a fireplace in the living room, then the question of choosing a surface for decoration disappears, since the area of ​​the hearth and fireplace is always highlighted by masonry elements.

A brick wall for the living room will be an excellent solution

Bedroom

A white brick wall in the bedroom is an excellent design solution. The seemingly rough white brick accentuates the comfort and softness of textiles: blankets and pillows. Decorative elements will successfully appear against its background: panels, paintings, mirrors, wall lamps.

The advantage of the decorated area is that, despite all the “flatness” of the pure, white, “sterile medical” color, such a surface is not uniform, but is embossed and textured.

White brick wall in the bedroom is an excellent design solution

Kitchen

Decorating its interior with masonry is used for the following purposes.

1. Installation of a kitchen apron. The main requirement (besides design aesthetics) is increased functionality, moisture and heat resistance. Therefore, white clinker tiles are an excellent choice for the kitchen.
2. Kitchen zoning. Highlighting the dining area, the white background of the wall will favorably emphasize the bright colors of individual decorative elements.
3. Installation of a bar counter or kitchen island (if space allows).

When choosing decorative bricks for your kitchen, you should take into account all the nuances of the room.