When I was young, the color white was a choice of color rarely used in my wardrobe. Most likely due to my mother who just knew that any article of clothing to leave her house white, would return home unrecognizable. Hairbows, shirts, skirts, shorts, shoelaces, you name it. We stayed away from white, because we knew it would get dirty.
When discussing design, many people are made to believe this as well: if you opt for white, it WILL get dirty, so just stay away. Well if white is subject to stains, aren’t all other colors? What’s that you say? Yes, but you can’t see the stains? Well, I think it’s okay to see your dirt. This will prompt you to take quicker action in cleaning away your dirt. This leads me to our final post in the misfit series on breaking design rules.
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Let’s tackle white on white interiors.
So many people are afraid of white rooms because they are afraid it will get dirty, they’re also afraid their efforts to clean will prove unsuccessful. With a plethora of information on cleaning at our fingertips, I believe any stain can be removed if treated in proper time, and using the right product.
I’ll link some stain removal and easy cleaning tips later for you. I also think there are certain rooms that fair better than others with an all white design. Read on for a breakdown.
Sitting room/Formal room
Sitting rooms are great for white on white interiors because they are for, well – sitting. Light entertainment occurs in these rooms such as chatting with friends over tea or wine (preferably white). One may also choose to read in a sitting room. They’re also used to show off your knack for design and sense of style. They may not be the most practical rooms, but they sure look good.
Bedroom
I know the bedroom is the last place you’d think could and should be all white. You sleep in it every night for goodness sake. Well if you’re anything like me, the bedroom is your retreat away from all of life’s craziness, therefore filth and dirt have no place in your space of peace and serenity. I am a stickler for keeping items that have seen the outside world, away from my inside retreat. For example, clothes that have been worn outside, to work, etc. are reserved for just that. And clothes that are worn inside remain inside, such as sweat pants, yoga pants, pajamas. Sitting on my bed in jeans is a no no – getting my point? This way, sheets, pillows, and the like stay cleaner longer.
This also brings me back to the benefit of being able to see your dirt, prompting you to wash and clean quicker than you normally would had the dirt been masked by darker colors. After all, you want to rest your head and lounge in areas that are as clean as possible right?
In addition to all of this, bedrooms have more practical cleaning solutions as white on white interiors than say a family room. Sheets and pillowcases can be thrown into the wash quicker than having a couch cleaned. Which leads me to the suggestion of utilizing a white duvet in your all-white bedroom design, as they are much easier to clean. I also keep food far far away from my bed. Some people have a “no food in the bedroom” rule. Get my drift on this white bedroom thing? Also, white bedrooms can be as glamorous or as functional as you’d like. Check out these beautiful designs.
Office
For obvious reasons white designs work well in office spaces. Offices are all about organization, and most likely do not see a great deal of foot traffic. Not much entertaining is going on in this space. Unless of course you host regular Mad Men soirees. In addition, not many items will need to be washed. Just a little dusting and you’re good to go. White won’t hide dirt, but will hide dust, so make sure you set aside time to do this regularly.
Laundry Room
Laundry rooms are all about clean right? Why not deck it out in all white? White laundry rooms also have a sparkle about them, from the tile to the machines to the flooring. A sparkling room is a motivator to clean. When it comes to doing and folding laundry, I’ll take whatever motivation I can get.
Now of course, being the Chic Misfit that you are, you may design any room of your house using multiple whites. The above are just my suggestions for ease of use and practicality, while still achieving a clean look.
Although you now have tips on where white designs might best be used and how to keep those areas clean, stains do happen. Check out the following articles on how to get rid of stubborn stains:
Red Wine stain removal, Apartment Therapy
Lipstick stain removal, Moore Than A Housewife
Pet stain removal, One Good Thing by Jillee
Carpet stain removal, Creekline House
Other common household stains, Greatist
I hope I’ve boosted your confidence in creating your own white interior space. I am of course a hardcore promoter of the use of color in your interiors. The same goes for white on white. Don’t be afraid. If color intimidates you, white designs give the ability to explore multiple textures and materials. What fun that would be! Cotton, ceramic, glass, linen, etc. Layer it all. The possibilities are endless. What white rooms are you considering?
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