We LOVE an all-white space just as much as the next person, but we hear you when those worries arise about too much white feeling sterile and cold. Lucky for us, our expert contributor Prudence Bailey of Prudence Home + Design is an expert with the color white, and she’s sharing her tips on how to use it to its full potential to create a space that feels warm and inviting. But we’ll let her do the talking…

I have a reputation… I love color and I love white! Well, the rumors are true and I am going to help you understand why both can live harmoniously. White is such a misunderstood color. I often hear people say it’s sterile, boring, cold, or the easiest paint choice—the list goes on. But, in reality, white is none of these things.

Ironically, I don’t know anyone who isn’t wowed by a beautiful white room. There is something about the fresh and clean feeling white embodies that’s magical, yet sophisticated and complicated at the same time. Not all whites are created equal so choosing the right one to put on your walls is critical. When creating a design plan that has white walls, I typically choose all the fabrics, textures and furniture in the room first and then layer in the paint colors. Due to the undertones found in white paint, I will choose a very specific white for the room that best pairs with the fabric colors and captures the feeling I am trying to achieve: sophisticated fun, casually elegant, cozy, or a serene sanctuary.

My three go-to whites are Benjamin Moore Decorators White, Chantilly Lace and White Dove. These whites best suit the interiors and the colors I use in the designs for my clients and are always fresh and inviting. I love Decorators White when using lots of navy blue and pops of color. I use Chantilly lace when I am mixing in darker colors like black and dark greens or deep pinks, and White Dove when the vibe is more understated elegance with soft blues, greens, pinks or even varying grays.

Varying the finishes of the same color of white paint in a room immediately adds dimension and warmth. For instance, I am a huge fan of matte walls with high gloss trim throughout a home. High gloss trim is so gorgeous and dazzling against matte finish walls; it’s casually sophisticated and unexpected. Don’t want the cost investment of high gloss? Go with satin finish. I never use semi-gloss on trim simply because if you're going to gloss, “Go big or go home,” as they say.

Now that you have painted your walls and trim white in different finishes, follow these 5 tips to get a finished space that wows and invites you every time!

1. Lighting

Lighting is so integral to a space that I am putting that at the top of my list. Often, my clients don’t realize how important it is to light your space properly as this is often the key ingredient to an inviting room. Recessed lighting is a must if you can add it, but if you don’t have it or don’t want to put in, add a ceiling accent light at the very least. Make sure any overhead lighting is on a dimmer! This is so important to creating a warm and cozy room so you can control the level of light you want. Many light fixtures now come with integrated LED bulbs so you can even choose the tone you want the bulb to emit. Brilliant! Add your beautiful accent table lamps and floor lamps and don’t forget the candle! Burning a candle day or night instantly draws you into a room.


2. Layer Various Fabric Textures

Just like the paint, layering fabric textures is important in creating a cozy and stylish room. Slubby velvet, mohair or tweed fabrics mixed with embroidery, fabrics with sheen, or linens are combinations I tend to gravitate towards. When putting different fabric textures together, think about the story you are trying to tell in the room and it will help you narrow it down.

3. Clear Color Palette

Since so many of my clients love blue and white, you see a lot of that combination in my designs. I absolutely love it too. I grew up in a home predominantly with blues, greens, yellows and whites so I might possibly be recreating my childhood home again and again! The use of “clear” colors is my go-to: navy blue, kelly greens, coral, pink, etc. If you are wanting color pops, then stay away from muted tones which have grey mixed in.


4. It’s All About the Mix

Just like in fashion, the “art of the mix” applies to just about everything to make a room feel warm and inviting. Here are my three favorite things to mix…

Mix high and low—it’s so fun to find that perfect inexpensive (think vintage or HomeGoods, CB2, etc.) accessory or furniture piece that pairs so well with your gorgeous bespoke furniture. No one will know it was a bargain, yet it may just complete the space.

Mix metals. Just go for it and mix brass with chrome, or aged iron with brass. Mixing metals against white is a classic combination that never disappoints and always makes a room feel more inviting!

Lastly, mix patterns. Mixing fabric and rug patterns is always a great way to dazzle the eye and have your room feel fresh against a white backdrop. Follow these simple steps for great accent fabric mixing: large floral or other multicolor print, stripes and geometrics and a small scale print or solid. These marry every time, flawlessly! If I am using a bold rug print, then I tend to keep everything else pretty simple. Think solids with welting and pillows with fretwork tape. I will usually layer in one or two additional patterns with a bold rug so it feels fun but not busy!

5. Simple Yet Impactful Styling

Accessorizing your space is key to creating warmth, plus it highlights the people living there. Having white walls to showcase colorful accessories allows you to incorporate colors beyond the scheme of the fabrics and rugs. There is a reason art galleries choose white paint—all the different colors of art will still look beautiful even though they may not match as they fill the gallery. So layer in your beautifully colored art and family photographs, ginger jars, objects, kids art, treasures from travels and anything else that speaks to you. Lastly, don’t forget to bring nature indoors with plants, florals and branches, as nothing feels more inviting then beautiful greens in your room!

Stick to these simple tips and you will find yourself perfecting the art of living in white, in a warm and inviting way!

What’s your favorite way to do white interiors?

To see more where this came from, make sure to give Prudence a follow on Instagram and check out her website.

Xx Team GM

Photos: Julia D’Agostino