When I tell people that my house's walls are entirely white, I imagine they picture my home as an ultra-minimalist or even cold space. But that's not the case. I chose to paint white walls because I find them soothing to look at and because they afford me tons of freedom when it comes to decorating. Here, I'd like to share how I made my house feel warm with only white walls as the canvas.
Inviting the outdoors in
The fireplace area
In my home, the fireplace area is where I go to catch my breath, refuel, play with my daughters, or relax and sip some coffee. What I love about this space most are all its natural accents. Depending on what season it is, I decorate the fireplace with plants, flowers, and even vegetables like squashes to create a unique aesthetic. These green touches help refresh the room and make it instantly inviting. I always find that the fireplace area never feels stark when I incorporate plants into space. I think that plants add a lot of texture, colour and life to the room, giving it its calming and peaceful vibe.
For the love of light
The dining room
I'm very inspired by Scandinavian design. I appreciate the simplicity of this aesthetic, especially when I've filled the room with plants and as much natural light as possible. These types of details have a way of leaving me feeling at ease in an instant. I'm lucky that my dining room gets a lot of natural light, so it made it easy to add a few different touches here and there to create a friendlier atmosphere. I'll always have candles on my kitchen shelf—not only do they fill the room with beautiful scents, but they are individual sources of life that help accentuate specific areas of the room. Their flames create a kind of warm constellation. I'll sometimes light a trail of small candles in the evening, creating an intimate setting for gathering around a good meal.
My personal art gallery
The bedroom
My bedroom is where I keep most of my art collection. I have several pieces of art on my wall, and when I look at them, I always feel a spark of creativity. Surrounding myself with works by artists who inspire me is a true joy. I sometimes like to rearrange my artwork differently—it all depends on what I've newly acquired or what's most influential to me at the moment. I like to create a mosaic of contrasts, featuring different sizes and frame shapes. I always try to form one unique piece of art from a collection of parts. Visually, it gives my room character. Boring? Not these walls!
When I chose white as the backdrop for my home, I knew I could decorate my place in a way that wouldn't feel severe or cold. When you style your space with items you love, it's impossible for it not to feel warm, like home. Nature, light, and art are the three elements I relied on, and if I continue to stick to this formula, I'll continue to find inspiration here for a long time to come. I don't see myself becoming tired of white walls any time soon because they go with any style of décor. So while these three elements may change over time, sticking to this principle will always be everything I need to ensure my home is warm, comfortable, and inviting.
