Décor for Apartments and Dorms: Plain White Walls Don’t Have to Be Blasé
Posted By Mary Freeland on July 20, 2009
Contrary to popular opinion, white walls don’t have to be boring or blah. If you’re living in a space with white walls–and painting them isn’t an option, for whatever reason–you don’t have to resign yourself to mind-numbing décor. The right wall art, colorful furniture, and cozy lighting can make your white space look fabulous!
Perfect for all those college students headed for the dorms this fall and apartment dwellers whose landlords won’t let them paint the walls, here are a couple of quick and affordable ideas for dressing up your white walls:
Pick the right art. Large, ornate wall décor can make your white walls fade into the background, making the accent piece the center of attention, not the starkness of the walls. In fact, for intricately detailed openwork like filigree and scrolling, the plain backdrop of the wall color can actually be an asset, helping highlight the facets of the piece. For a sophisticated look, opt for architectural pieces rather than posters.
Add color where you can. Who ever said the walls had to have all the fun! Color can go anywhere in a room, so if you aren’t permitted to paint the walls, why not choose bright tones for your furnishings. Everything from colorful bed linens to painted furniture can help move your room away from that institutional feel and toward a cozy atmosphere. Pick a few key colors (green and red are both hot this year) and try to stay within that color palette to keep your space from getting clownish.
Tone down the lights. Harsh, bright light is only going to make your white walls seem even more glaring. Instead of using overhead fixtures, especially fluorescents, use lamps. By scattering several table lamps and floor lamps throughout your space you can achieve adequate lighting levels without making the light too intense.
Don’t let the confines of 4 white walls keep your decorating style in the boring category. Take control of the whiteness with art, colorful furniture, and soft lighting. By the time you’re through, you’ll barely notice the pale walls!
For accents, furnishings, and just the right lighting, check out Just What I Want. You’ll find everything you need to transform your white dorm room or apartment from stark to stylish (and more!) at our online site.
Mary
On a recent biz trip I was able to stay over at a close friend’s home. She and her family lived in a luxury apartment. She also does interior design. When I walked in, I was speechless. She had the most beautifully decorated apartment I’d ever seen. If I had been brought to her home blindfolded, I wouldn’t even have realized it was an apartment (except for the size). The walls weren’t painted, but had great pics on them. She had beautiful furniture and lamps. Needless to say reading your post reminded me of her home. She used every technique you discussed in this post and it was stunning! It inspired me when I got home to do a better job of decorating. Thanks for these great insights for those of us who want our homes to look and feel inviting, but aren’t always sure how to go about it.