White walls are the vanilla ice cream of apartment design—they’re better than many of the alternatives, but they generally aren’t something to get excited about. And, given the impermanence of most rental contracts, many renters are hesitant to drop money into redesigning a space that they’ll likely have to leave behind before too long. Add to that the fact that any drastic changes might actually end up costing the renter his or her security deposit, and you can see why many renters choose to just leave well enough alone. After all, there are worse things than having an apartment with plain white walls, right?
Absolutely. On the other hand, there are a number of ways to spruce up your white walls, without having to spend a lot of time, money, or effort, or risking the wrath of your property manager.
So why not turn those white walls into a canvas on which to showcase your own unique personality? Here are five of our favorite white-wall decorating tips, sure to turn any vanilla apartment into a rainbow-sherbet feast for the senses:
- Go all out. If you feel like your white walls are out of place, you can fix all that without even touching them… just as long as you don’t mind touching everything else. White furniture, accents, and fixtures, can help bring a minimalist uniformity to your all-white space. Of course, purchasing all new couches, chairs, tables, etc. is an expensive prospect, so be willing to improvise. A coat of white paint over a wooden coffee table, or a white couch cover can give your room the appearance of harmony, without the associated cost. If windows are available, be sure to take advantage of any and all natural light, as this will make the room feel more open, and will also provide your space with a feeling of depth. Lastly, add a few non-white elements (a rug, a painting, a houseplant, some throw pillows, etc.) to help capture the eye. These variations will stand out brilliantly against the otherwise uniform backdrop. This particular tip is one of our favorite decorating ideas for living rooms with white walls, because it results in a space that looks clean, inviting, and perfect for entertaining guests.
- Add some books. If your white walls are driving you mad, you might try to compensate for their lack of chroma by implementing as many different colors, hues, and tints as possible. Unfortunately, this often results in a living space that looks cluttered. To capture a variety of colors in a way that retains your room’s dignity, consider instead relying on books. By adding standing book shelves, or by installing floating shelves, you can incorporate a myriad of colors into your otherwise white design. Just gather together your favorite books, and arrange them on your shelves in a way that best fits your personality. Even if you are not much of a reader, you can stop by your local second-hand store and purchase a large number of books at extremely low cost, and use them to fill out your shelf space.
- Show off your art. Earlier, we compared white walls to a canvas. Take this comparison a step further, by using them to display your favorite works of art. Be they original canvas paintings, mass-produced prints, framed photographs, or even three-dimensional sculptures, the white backdrop offered by your walls will help the art really stand out. And, if ‘art’ isn’t your thing, how about displaying a collection? Many personal collections are uniquely suited to being incorporated into home design, and benefit just as much from a bright, solid-color background as any painting, and are especially impressive when used in a living room. In fact, as far as white living room decorating ideas are concerned, there are few techniques that are as personally gratifying as being able to show off your own interests in a way that adds to your apartment’s overall design.
- Play with light. The color of your apartment doesn’t have to depend solely on the hue of the paint on your walls, or on the shade of your furniture. Instead, consider using colored lighting to spruce up your white-walled living space. Naturally, you probably wouldn’t want to replace all of your regular bulbs with colored versions, but using spot lighting, either in the form of hanging fixtures or free-standing lamps, in conjunction with more common white lighting, can create a fun splash of color on otherwise drab surfaces. And, if you’d like a bit more freedom and flexibility in the color of your lighting, switch out those conventional bulbs with new, programmable LED bulbs. Programmable LEDs can be set to shine in any color in the spectrum, and can be dimmed or brightened to suit your mood. On top of that, programmable LEDs can be controlled remotely, or even set to respond to other digital factors (such as by briefly flickering when you receive an email, or being set to gradually brighten as the sun sets). Of course, high-quality programmable LEDs can run a little expensive, but the fact that they use less energy and last significantly longer than conventional bulbs means that you’ll be able to earn back that investment in the long run. For a more simple light-centered solution, purchase various kinds of string lights. These can be draped along the wall, and used to draw attention to certain features, for a fun, carefree take on modern apartment design.
- Keep it monochromatic. You can spend a lot of time and effort trying to add color to your white-walled apartments, but in the end you might find that it’s a better idea to stick with black and white. The high contrast between white walls and black accents will give your apartment an elegant—yet simple—look, for the perfect combination of interesting and relaxing. Choose black picture frames, and hang stylish black and white photos on the walls. Install black shelves. Use black furniture covers with white throw pillows. Choose a favorite saying or design, and apply removable black vinyl lettering as a way of showcasing your own personal values. Alternate between black and white as you add new details, and you’ll end up with an intriguing theme that will never go out of style.
However you decide to dress up your white walls, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Plan it out beforehand. One of the worst experiences in design is getting halfway through a project, only to realize that, for whatever reason, it’s not going to work. Don’t skimp out on the planning stages, or you might find yourself painted into a corner (literally).
Avoid permanence. Rental agreements don’t last forever, and eventually, you’re probably going to find yourself in the market for a new place to call home. When this happens, your property manager is going to be expecting you to return your apartment in the same condition it was in when you signed your contract. When decorating your place, try to stick with additions that can be easily removed. Likewise, anything that you can take down and bring with you to your new home will give you a head start on your next decorating project.
Stick with a single style. Feel free to try out a number of possible design styles for your apartment, but whatever you choose, try to keep it consistent. Too many conflicting styles (especially in a single room), will make your space feel cluttered and uninviting.
Always get permission. It may be your apartment, but the property itself belongs to someone else. So, before you go making any additions, improvements, or changes, contact your property manager. If he or she is not willing to give you permission to proceed, then you’d be better off trying something else.
Be true to yourself. In the end, your apartment should reflect your personality, and provide you with a space that feels like home. As such, you should be willing to listen to your heart. If you get an ida for a new design, then give it a try. Who knows? You might just stumble upon the perfect addition to your apartment decor, whether it incorporates your white walls, or not.
White walls may seem boring, but they don’t have to be. By taking advantage of the unique opportunities offered by plain white walls, you’ll be able to design a space that is fun, fresh, and fascinating. After all, every work of art requires room to create, and your white walls may just be the canvas on which you explore your masterpiece.