The one reason your white (or light coloured) room isn't working and how to fix it - DIY home decor

White (and pale neutrals) are the most popular colours in interiors for good reason. This is likely even more true if your style leans towards warm minimalism or Scandi style interiors. Regardless though, white and very light neutral interiors are loved because they are timeless and calming.

That said, what if your white interior feels a little flat or just doesn’t come together — that is a common problem with white rooms but there is an easy fix that isn’t talked about often enough: adding HIGH CONTRAST.

Contrast can refer to many things within home decor but the one that makes the most difference and is least mentioned is dark colour contrast. Specifically, adding very dark colour accents to pale or white interiors, especially black accents but there are other dark colours that work too.

Adding high contrast to a white or pale neutral interior can be transformative as you can see from all the pics. It can take your space from looking bland to looking like it’s intentionally designed.

Here’s what adding contrast to a white space will do:

It adds depth and dimension (so the room doesn’t look flat or one dimensional)
It makes a room look intentional and designed (rather than looking like it’s missing something)
It adds warmth (without it white rooms can look cold)
It adds focal points (without these a white/light coloured room will just look incomplete)

Quick ways to embrace the power of contrast in your white room:

This isn’t an exhaustive list, just some ideas to get you thinking about how you can do this in your home:

add a dark coloured cushion/s to a white sofa (dark brown, deep burgundy, deep green)
pair a white sofa with a black or dark wood coffee table
opt for two-toned furniture like a white or light wood table with black legs
frame art in black or dark wood frames or go for dark coloured art
use matt black door knobs on white doors
add a black floor lamp, table lamp or pendant light to any white space
pair white furniture with dark furniture e.g. add a dark armchair to a white living room or dark dining chairs to a white dining table
paint the radiators black (this is bolder but it works)
add decorations like vases, candle holders or books in dark tones
place plants in dark coloured pots
decorate with dark green plants
decorate with a large piece of dark wood furniture like a media console or a cabinet

While I always recommend having some black accents in a white room, you don’t have to use only black. Any dark tones will work, including a combination of tones. But if you prefer sticking to just black and white, that looks stunning too. Tip: try adding some dark green plants to a black and white interior to add even more visual interest while still keeping a monochrome look.

The amount of dark accents comes down to personal preference and your space — sometimes even the smallest dark accent can make all the difference. Generally speaking though, pale neutral rooms (say light beige or light grey) will need fewer accents than all white rooms.

The best way to get the balance right is by experimenting. Add one or two accents to start with and see how your room looks and build it up from there.

Adding high contrast to a white room is a quick and easy way to make your room look striking. Many white rooms can look flat and look like they’re missing something but just by adding dark accents you can transform the space in to a warm and visually interesting room.

Try it and you’ll see what a huge difference it can make.