by Simon Temprell

Created on: May 01, 2008

I have always been baffled by the common misconception that white is the safest option when choosing a paint colour for your walls. Admittedly the ghastly builder's white' that is so ubiquitous across America is not really white at all but a kind of dingy, nondescript yellowish-beige. In England we call that institutional shade Magnolia' and it can be found in just about every bedsit and rental apartment across the world. In my opinion pure, simple white is so much better than the nicotine-stained sadness of Antique White/Barely Beige/Ivory.

But white is not as companionable as one might imagine. Yes, it is about as neutral as a colour can be but it isn't always easy to live with unless treated with respect. It can be clinical, sterile and downright boring if it isn't used in conjunction with the right furnishings and accessories.

Use the whitest-white that your paint manufacturer has to offer and transform your room in to a crisp, unblemished slate ready to be drawn-upon. An all-white room can be very difficult (and impractical) to live with but if you have a seldom-used guest room where kids, pets and messy guests rarely visit then you might like to experiment with texture rather than colour. A monochromatic colour-scheme needs texture like bread needs yeast. Without texture your all-white room will end up looking like an operating theatre or, worse-yet, a morgue. And yet white rooms can be opulent and relaxing in the same way that a spa environment can clear your head of stress and outside interference.

Try pairing your white walls with a charcoal Gray carpet; still neutral but infinitely more practical than white and it will ground' your room without conflicting with the simplicity. White bed-linens are essential in any room but make sure you pump-up the luxury quota with high thread-count sheets, feather beds and piles of pillows in everything from silk and linen to fake-fur and chenille. Lighting becomes even more important in a room without colour so make sure that you have various sources of ambient lighting as well as candles and dimmer switches on everything.

Artwork can be anything from simple, graphic black and white framed photography to over-sized abstract canvases in riotous splashes of primary colour. But you might also consider textural artwork in chalky whites and grays; sculptural pieces with a degree of relief to them or even a collection of shadow-boxes containing simple, organic items such as leaves or feathers or seashells. But, above all, a white room should be simple and not cluttered; less is more. Imagine yourself propped-up against a mound of pillows, surrounded by serenity and peace with nothing to trouble your mind but the luxury of a good night's sleep and the sweetest of monochromatic dreams.

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