31.03.2021
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White walls are versatile, so they can be a suitable backdrop for spaces that reflect the character and interests of their owners. Regardless of the interior style, white works well if you choose the right shade and combination with furnishings. Most museums have walls painted this color for a reason. Works of art look great against their background. And all attention is focused on them, and not on the paint underneath them. Therefore, in recent years, the white gallery background has migrated from exhibition halls to living spaces. Spectacular photographs of rooms with white walls flash across social media feeds every day. But there are no fewer opponents of this design decision than fans. Moreover, what some consider advantages, others call disadvantages. So, is white boring or clean? Facelessness or the basis for creating a light, spacious and unique home?
Advantages and disadvantages of light shades
The photo of light-colored interiors shows that furniture is often bought in such colors. This choice will have its pros and cons.
Advantages:
- It will visually enlarge the room, expanding its boundaries;
- It will fit into any style, all that remains is to choose the design and implementation;
- Pastel colors will create a compact effect on even the largest sofa;
- Along with such furniture, it will be possible to use bright decor, which can be changed at any time, thereby updating the interior at no cost;
- Dust will be less visible on such a surface;
- Bright walls and pastel colors will emphasize the style and elegance of the room;
- In hot weather, the room will not heat up because the walls reflect the rays.
Unfortunately, along with the advantages, there will also be disadvantages. But for some they will seem insignificant, so it’s up to you to decide whether these should be considered disadvantages:
- Quite impractical furniture, because it gets dirty quickly and all the imperfections will be more visible;
- High cost compared to dark-colored furniture.
It’s up to you to decide whether to refuse or agree to purchase such furniture.
Materials for creating an apartment design with white walls
Wallpaper
A few years ago, creating an apartment design with white walls was not difficult, but bringing it to life is already problematic due to the lack of necessary materials. Today this problem does not exist. Let's talk about what materials are used for finishing and decorating apartments with white walls.
- Wallpaper. Ecological, natural. There are single-layer (simplex) and double-layer (duplex).
- Non-woven wallpaper. It is based on cellulose and synthetic fiber. The figure is three-dimensional.
- Vinyl wallpapers. Otherwise, they are called paintable wallpaper. Synthetic base.
- Metal wallpaper. They consist of a base and a film layer. The film performs two tasks: it dampens radiation from electrical appliances and power lines, and also visually increases the area of the room.
- Fiberglass wallpaper. Particularly wear-resistant, resistant to multiple paints.
- Textile wallpaper. They consist of two layers: paper and fabric, linen or cotton.
Decorative plaster
The design of an apartment with white walls often involves the use of decorative plaster. This finishing material looks stylish and modern, and in addition has a number of undeniable functional advantages:
- can be used to level the wall after initial finishing;
- plaster plays the role of an insulator and soundproofer;
- special plaster protects walls from fungus and mold;
- It is easy to repair a plastered wall with your own hands if the coating is damaged.
When decorating an apartment with white walls, experts use decorative plaster. There are several varieties.
- Structured plaster. Used to create volume. Plastic. If desired, you can choose plaster that imitates natural materials.
- Structural plaster. After drying, “antique” plaster forms pores, unevenness and roughness.
- Bayramik. Plaster with the addition of marble chips. Long service life and high quality.
- Venetian plaster. It can make any apartment project with white walls unique.
- Liquid wallpaper. An easy to apply material that even a non-professional can handle.
Tile
This finishing material is traditionally used in wet areas of a house or apartment, for example, in the kitchen or bathroom. The choice of tiles today is unlimited; you can buy both economy and premium class materials. Different types of tiles differ in quality and number of pieces per square meter of surface. When choosing tiles, remember:
- for rooms less than four square meters it is better to choose light shades;
- high-quality tiles are smooth, proportional, with clear edges;
- glue must be selected for each specific type of tile.
Drywall
Drywall is a material for rough finishing of premises. The design of apartments with white walls begins with leveling the walls with plasterboard, which has a number of advantages:
- minimum effort during work and excellent results;
- fast production of frames, simple operating technology;
- drywall allows you to hide communications - pipes, cables;
- you can work with drywall yourself, saving the labor costs of the construction finishing team;
- It’s not difficult to make decorative elements from plasterboard with your own hands.
In the design of apartments with white walls, one of the following types of plasterboard can be used:
- Ordinary. Suitable for finishing living rooms, bedrooms, children's and other dry heated rooms.
- Moisture resistant. They are used for covering rooms with high humidity - kitchens, bathrooms.
- Fire resistant. For rooms with increased fire hazard.
Wall panels
Wall panels: can be made from synthetic or natural raw materials. The undeniable advantage of wall panels is a large selection of colors and textures. Like tiles, they differ in the number of parts per square meter of area and, in addition, in the material.
- Natural wood. Wood finishes never go out of style. A room design with white walls and a wooden wall looks elegant, luxurious, and cozy.
- Chipboard. Most often used for finishing corridors. The main advantage is their relatively low price, and they are also easy to use.
- Fiberboard is suitable for use in dry conditions and comes in a wide range of colours.
- MDF is suitable for any environment, insulates sound well and retains heat.
- PVC panels. Made from synthetic materials, thanks to which they are durable and resistant to moisture.
- Cup. They are not suitable for finishing walls; partitions are erected on them.
- Plaster vinyl. The base is plasterboard, the outer layer is plain vinyl or vinyl with a pattern. Suitable for studio decoration.
Decorative rock
Initially, decorative stone was used for exterior decoration of houses, but recently it is increasingly used indoors, including when decorating apartments with white walls. When using stone, the main rule is not to overdo it, so that the room does not become cold and uncomfortable.
The advantages of artificial stone include its durability, strength, resistance to moisture and heat, ease of maintenance, and ease of processing the material at the installation stage. Combines perfectly with other finishing materials such as plaster and wallpaper. In case of mechanical damage, one part can be easily replaced with a similar one.
Painting
Using paint in the design of apartments with white walls is the cheapest renovation option. The paint is easily applied to any surface, so anyone can make repairs with their own hands. All paints are divided into several types:
- based on drying oil (oil) - drying oil is used in breeding. The paint has a specific smell; a respirator must be used when working. Disadvantages: long drying time;
- based on paints (enamel) - diluted with special means. Dries relatively quickly - about 4 hours;
- based on aqueous solutions of polymers (adhesive);
- based on aqueous polymer dispersions (water-based). Quick-drying paints do not cause allergic reactions and have an almost unlimited range of colors due to the possibility of using dyes.
Disadvantages of paint include the formation of drops during operation. Therefore, before work, it is necessary to prepare both the walls and the room as a whole: remove furniture or cover it with film/cloth, lay the floor. The walls also need to be treated before painting, and the technology depends on how long the house has been in use:
- in a new house, before painting, the walls are puttied, treated with sandpaper and coated with a primer;
- in an old house, the walls are cleared of previous finishing, washed, puttied, sanded and primed.
Painting the walls of your apartment is the easiest way to change the design and style of your rooms in the shortest possible time.
How to decorate a bright interior
The light color of the walls in the interior allows you to fill even the darkest room with light. It will look good if there is little sunlight entering the room. This will happen due to the fact that light will flow onto the walls and be reflected from them.
Of course, a monochromatic option will not look advantageous. It is best to combine several identical tones or dilute the atmosphere with bright accessories.
A room decorated in similar colors will not only have a relaxing effect, but will also give it even more energy and strength. In addition, waking up in such an environment will be more pleasant.
Now they are making very compact housing for young families, so small rooms are quite common. It is in such cases that a light range will come to the rescue. It will expand the space and give the apartment a solemn look.
Loggia
Recently, the use of a loggia as a living space has been gaining popularity. For the decor of this room, a light background is the best option.
This space is used for a daytime siesta, evening gatherings or as a place for tea. To create a fresh and relaxing atmosphere in the loggia, use a large amount of white in combination with all shades of green. You can lay a long-pile rug on the floor and add a composition with a soft sofa with pillows. Or buy wicker rocking chairs and complement the idea with a small glass table. In any case, light colors should be used for decoration. Since the loggia is equipped with a large number of windows, it will look even larger, creating the ideal mood for relaxation and work.
Flowers on the loggia will perfectly complement the interior
You can put sofas on the loggia and spend your free time there
See alsoTips for choosing the design of a one-room apartment
Drawings in a bright room
The interior of the bedroom in a light color, as in the other room, can be diluted with drawings or ornaments. Abstract patterns in the form of stripes, circles, rings, spots without clear boundaries are well suited.
It is best to use the ornament on the walls. Additionally, it can be reflected on pillows, bedspreads or furniture.
- If the drawings are not identical, then it is imperative to use one common element. For example, if there are flowers on the wall, then the additional pattern should contain their center. This will be a good combination.
- If you decide to choose three drawings, then take into account that they can only harmonize successfully at once; if you exclude any of them, all the beauty will be lost. See which element is leading.
A small pattern will fit well into any room, but a large one will be appropriate only in large spaces, because it visually makes the room smaller. But you don’t have to give up such a big picture, even if the room is small.
One has only to lengthen the wall in a clever way: using an ornament with vertical stripes or horizontal stripes. If the pattern is vertical, the wall will become taller; if it is horizontal, it will be longer.
How to decorate a kitchen
A light-colored kitchen in the interior is an all-time classic. A light tone will give it grace and luxury. You just need to think about how to care for such a surface, because it is in this space that there is always increased impact and a lot of splashes when cooking.
- If the kitchen is modular, this is a doubly winning solution. Modules can be moved and rearranged as desired. In this case, the interior will change, and there will be no additional costs.
- Against such a background, figurines, vases and other decor in red or black will look good. If possible, it is better to make the facades glossy; they will additionally visually enlarge the room with colors.
For which rooms is white color appropriate?
White parts and surfaces are used as the main ones:
- in the living room to create a spotless and tidy space for relaxing in the evenings and entertaining guests. Options - Provence using white-gray or white-blue tones, references to marine or folk motifs, vintage with several contrasting colors;
- in the kitchen to visually enlarge the often small spaces reserved for food preparation. Alternatives - eco with natural finishes, Provence with gray-blue, smoky motifs, hi-tech;
- in the bathroom, where by definition it should be clean and comfortable. Options - classic in white-blue, marine variations;
- in the bedroom to calm and relax you after a busy day.
How to decorate a bedroom
Light and pastel colors will help create a calm and peaceful environment. It is in this room that it will be easy for a person to relax and unwind after a working day. You will sleep better. You can use light green in the interior, because this shade has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
If you plan to use white, it is better not to take it in its pure form, but to use halftones. Sand, beige, cream, pale yellow, light lilac, blue - this is how you can combine shades to dilute the pure white color.
Children's
Walls and cabinets in unobtrusive shades create conditions of psychological comfort for the baby and normalize the overly dynamic mental processes inherent in a young age. Against the backdrop of a bright environment, it is easier to recreate the atmosphere for fruitful developmental activities. A small child will not be distracted by too bright details. However, this advice is relevant only for the younger group up to three years old; as the child gets older, he will need a cheerful, colorful environment, which can be easily achieved by adding little things to an existing neutral background. Since psychologists advise not to oversaturate the children's room with intense colors, a light interior will dilute the variety of colors of toys. The sleeping area should be discreet so that the child can fall asleep easily.
How to decorate a living room
No one can imagine this room without a good sofa. This piece of furniture should not only be spacious, but also comfortable for all guests.
This is especially true when choosing a sofa made of soft light leather.
- When furnishing a room with such furniture, it is better to listen to the advice of experts.
- Designers advise: Before purchasing, be sure to make sure that the shades of the walls and pieces of furniture will not merge.
- You can make a difference of several tones so that there is at least a slight contrast. Ideal - a white sofa, sand-colored wallpaper or caramel sofa and alabaster walls.
- It is better to choose practical upholstery for the sofa; nevertheless, not only family members, but also guests will sit on it.
- Of course, the ideal option is leather, but this is not a cheap solution. You can replace the material with jacquard or suede. They will be cheaper, but will look no worse.
If in your apartment the hall and kitchen are a single whole, that is, a living room, then it is better to place all light-colored objects as far as possible from the cooking area.
Also consider where the room's windows face. If you go north, it is better to choose warm shades. If you are in the south, then feel free to choose cold ones.
For the floor, you can choose a light color, which will be the background, and make the baseboards a little darker, then they will frame it.
