Ways to Make a White Room With White Furniture Look Nice

Texture

• A room with a variety of texture encourages people to experience the room on not only a visual level, but a tactile one. When you introduce textures to a white-on-white room, make sure you add them throughout the room. Bringing texture into a space is simple. For example, throw a woven rug on the floor, add a knitted afghan to the back of the couch, put vases of dried flowers on the coffee table or mantel, or put some twig baskets near the fireplace.

Candles and Mirrors

• One advantage your white room has is that it appears to be larger than it actually is, as light colors make a room seem more spacious. You can compound this effect by bringing decorative elements such as candle sconces and mirrors into the room. These elements add areas of color and light to the white walls. Choose sconces that have colored glass bulbs. Position the sconces right below the mirror so the color and the light from the burning candle sconces reflect in the mirror. Hang these items up in places such as the area above the fireplace. A fireplace already serves as a room focal point, and candles and mirrors reinforce that.

Patterns

• Bringing patterns into a white space adds visual interest because patterns draw the eye's attention. One way to do this is to choose accent pieces that feature a color you like. For example, if you've chosen red and yellow as the accent colors for your white furniture and walls, look for throw pillows featuring various patterns such as paisley, stripes or fleur-de-lis. Make sure these patterns include your colors; the colors function as a visual tie between pieces.

Artwork and Tapestries

• Artwork and tapestries allow you to cover large areas of the walls quickly and with a lot of color. As you look for artwork, think about how all the pieces on the walls work together to bring more vibrancy to the room. For example, choose pieces of art with common colors or visual themes. Display a series of photographs that tells a visual story. Buy a series of watercolor paintings of a local point of interest. For a more dramatic look, frame some black-and-white photos in red or cobalt-blue frames and hang them in the hall or above the fireplace mantel.