A white bedroom can feel sterile and boring. While white walls and bedding provide a blank canvas, the room needs pops of color, texture, and personality. With some simple upgrades, you can easily transform your all-white bedroom into a stylish, inviting space.
Add Colorful Accents
Introduce color through accent decor and furnishings. Consider adding bright pillows, a patterned area rug, vibrant artwork, and fresh flowers. Focus on one or two colors to keep the room from feeling busy. For example, add pops of teal and yellow with pillows, a rug, and vase of sunflowers. Or create a serene blue and green oasis with accents in those cool, calming shades.
Paint or stain your existing wood furniture in a fun, glossy hue like emerald or sapphire. Switch out your previous white bedding for a lively duvet cover and shams. Hang colorful curtains or switch your current white drapes for ones in a bold print or dynamic color like fuchsia or lime. Add whimsy with a patterned headboard.
Place decorative storage boxes, baskets, and trays throughout the room in different colors and materials. Vibrant hues like turquoise or bright floral patterns add striking visual interest. Mix colors and patterns for an eclectic, collected look.
Incorporate Natural Wood Finishes
The warm look of natural wood provides cozy contrast to crisp white walls. If your existing furniture has an unfinished, light wood tone, consider restaining it in a richer walnut or espresso color. Or search secondhand stores and online marketplaces for charming vintage nightstands or dressers with a darker wood finish.
Paint or seal the original wood flooring if you have it. The natural grain and hue adds depth. Or install new hardwood flooring in a dynamic tone like hickory or maple.
Use wood-framed mirrors and artwork to bring natural texture into the room. Hang a large round mirror above the dresser to amplify light. Lean pieces of driftwood against the wall for organic interest.
Add in wood accent tables, cabinets, or shelves. Place potted plants on the shelves or use them to display books, photos, and collectibles. Wooden ladder shelves mounted to the wall also work well for decoration and storage. For the bed, consider a headboard with wood accents or a live edge wood design.
Layer in Textures
Move beyond plain white bedding by mixing in textured linens and materials. Pair a fluffy white duvet insert with a woven cotton or linen duvet cover. Top it off with pillows in various fabrics like velvet, corduroy, or textured cotton. The contrast of materials adds cozy depth and visual appeal.
Hang up textured curtains in a natural material like linen, cotton, or jute. Or opt for drapes with interesting embroidered or printed patterns. Include a plush area rug with cotton woven texture or shag pile. Layer it on top of a sisal or jute rug for even more depth underfoot.
Incorporate tactile accessories like ceramic table lamps, woven baskets, nubby throw blankets, and linen poufs or ottomans. Place a woven laundry hamper beside the closet rather than a plain white one. Choose bedside tables with an interesting material mix like rattan and antique brass.
Add shelving and wall storage with texture. Floating wood shelves, woven baskets, concrete brackets, and metal utility racks all provide visual and tactile contrast on the walls and surfaces.
Create Designated Spaces
Make distinct spaces in an open white bedroom by defining specific zones. For example:
- Reading nook with an armchair, floor lamp, and bookshelf
- Work-from-home office area with a desk, chair, and storage
- Vanity space with a dressing table, stool, and mirror
- Lounge area with two chairs and an accent table
Use area rugs, lighting, furniture arrangement, and privacy screens to delineate individual spaces within the larger room. The divisions allow you to customize each zone with colors, textures, and accessories that reflect their purpose.
Introduce Metallic Accents
The sheen of metallic finishes instantly livens up an all-white space. Incorporate metal and brass details through lighting, furniture, decor, and accessories:
- Gold, brass, or silver table lamps
- Metal nightstands or console table
- Acrylic chairs with gold legs
- Mirrored furniture like a vanity or dresser
- Metallic photo frames, vases, jewelry tray
- Gold, silver, or copper throw pillows
Search for unique nightstands or furniture with hammered brass, silver leaf, or champagne gold finishes. Lean a large mirror atop the dresser to double the light and metallic shimmer. Add glamour with a crystal chandelier or mirror-based sconces.
For bedding, opt for shimmery pillows or blankets in silver, gold, or copper tones. Place sequined accent pillows against crisp white ones and sheets for striking contrast.
Display Artwork
Make blank white walls more interesting by decorating with colorful artwork and wall accents. Choices include:
- Framed prints, paintings, or photographs
- Wall mirrors
- Wall shelves for books, plants, and collectibles
- Wall tapestries or macrame wall hangings
- Floating ledges for accessories
- Patterned or decorative wallpaper inside a headboard or accent wall
Group similarly colored or themed pieces together for a gallery wall effect. Hang artwork above the bed, beside nightstands, and on the largest empty walls. Opt for bright, colorful pieces that complement your accent colors.
In addition to wall art, place sculptures, vases, and tabletop frames throughout the room. Change them out seasonally to keep the room feeling fresh.
Upgrade the Lighting
Harsh overhead lights won’t do your stylish white bedroom any favors. Consider new lighting options like:
- Dimmable table lamps for nightstands
- Wall sconces
- Pendant lights or chandeliers
- Rope lights framing the bed or windows
- Strips of LED lights behind the headboard
- Floor lamps in a reading nook
Combine ambient lighting from overhead and table sources with task lighting like adjustable-arm lamps by the bed. Install dimmers so you can control the mood and brightness.
For table lamps, look for ones with colorful bases or lampshades to complement your accents. Opt for smart bulbs you can adjust to warmer hues at night. Place lighting in areas without overhead fixtures to spread ambient light throughout the space.
Add Houseplants
Liven up sterile white walls by bringing the outdoors inside. Potted houseplants add natural color, texture, and freshness to bedroom decor. Opt for low-maintenance plants that can thrive indoors with minimal sunlight:
| Plant | Features |
|---|---|
| Snake plant | Purifies air, low light |
| Pothos | Trailing vines, low light |
| Peace lily | Low light, flowers |
| Bromeliad | Tropical look, low care |
| ZZ plant | Low light, simple care |
| Aglaonema | Colorful foliage, low maintenance |
Group a few potted plants together on a dresser, console table, or plant stand. Place them in pretty ceramic planters for a decorative boost. Let them trail over floating shelves or set a large statement plant in a woven basket in the corner.
Add greenery to your nightstands with mini cactuses, succulents, or air plants in tiny planters. Consider a hanging plant like ivy or spider plant above the bed. Plants bring a refreshing, natural element to white decor.
Conclusion
With creativity and smart enhancements, it’s easy to turn a plain white bedroom into a stylish personal oasis. Accentuate white walls and bedding with bold punches of color, warm natural wood tones, interesting textures, defined spaces, glimmering metallics, inspiring artwork, cozy lighting, and lively greenery. The result is a welcoming, multi-dimensional room you’ll be excited to spend time in.