Courtesy of Tessa Neustadt for Emily Henderson Designs
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White walls always look clean and classic, but without the right styling, it can get boring, fast. Whether your design aesthetic is coastal, boho, or minimalist, we've got ideas (from products to inspo) for how you can make an all-white space have serious swoon-factor.
1
Create Contrast
Matthew Millman
While designing a Hawaii vacation home for a pair of self-professed minimalists, Catherine Kwong used the same white backdrop (Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee) in every room. Graphic black-and-white art and charcoal accessories add contrast.
Ask any designer—it's virtually impossible to go wrong with black-and-white photography.
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3
Au Naturel
Francesco Lagnese
One easy way to make white feel fresh? Mix it up with natural materials. Here, Dan Mazzarini combined a sleek whitewashed coffee table with a plush wool rug and woven pendant lights for a Connecticut family’s cozy family room.
Don't let the color scare you: this double-sided pillow—woven stripes on the front, plush velvet on the back—is made from Perennials performance fabric, so you won't have to worry about spills, stains or even sun and rain.
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5
Beam Me Up
DAVID A. LAND
Rough-hewn beams make a bold statement against the white walls and ceiling of the formal living room in an 18th-century Nantucket home designed by Elizabeth Georgantas.
Saddle leather accents will lend instant richness to any white interior.
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7
Paint Your Floors
Paul Raeside
One of our favorite designer hacks for freshening up creaky old floors: just add a coat of white paint! (And don't worry about cracks—they add character.) Andrew Flesher used Benjamin Moore’s Super White in his 300-year-old Westchester home.
Add bright accents to graphic black-and-white bedding for a burst of morning energy.
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9
Strike the Right Tone
Joe Schmelzer
White millwork, tone-on-tone wallpaper by Marthe Armitage, a classic Saarinen table and pale wood accents makes this breakfast room designed by Los Angeles’s Cuffhome feel extra ethereal.
A cane side chair is always a classic—the white-painted frame makes it feel extra Scandi-chic.
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11
Mouldings Matter
Christian Harder
An all-white kitchen doesn’t need to be boring—Alison Victoria integrated whimsical architectural details, like a pair of corbels sourced from a Paris flea market, to add personality to hers.
If a trip to the Paris flea markets isn't in the cards, look for mouldings that have a lived-in look.
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13
Show Off Your Collection
Francesco Lagnese
There’s a reason it’s called “gallery white”—stark white walls are naturally suited to showing off an art collection. We love the way Mary Douglas Drysdale used bright, modern art along with an assortment of antique furniture.
An occasional chair that works anywhere—perfect for when guests come to visit.
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15
Accent With Black
LAURA RESEN
Is there anything sexier than a black and white combo? If it's a small space, keep it mostly white to make the room feel more spacious, then accent with black.
The tassel trim and block print make this shower curtain look like a designer find.
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17
Wood-Paneled Everything
Mali Azima
Between the pale oak floors and butcher block counters, this Florida kitchen embraces an informal yet cozy aesthetic. Black latches on plank cabinetry lend extra vintage charm.