Decorating A White Living Room

If you're looking for white bedroom ideas then you've certainly come to the right place. A white bedroom is a classic choice, and an enduring favourite for both minimalists and colour-lovers alike. White is just so a versatile colour to decorate with, it's great if you want to create a clean, neutral space but also the perfect canvas for brighter colour schemes. Plus, it's the ideal colour for smaller rooms too (interior design 101) that need that brightness to feel more light and airy.

Be inspired by these white bedroom decorating ideas to kickstart your new colour scheme and you can find more bedroom ideas in our gallery. Starting from scratch? Perfect your bedroom design using our practical guide.

1. Choose Scandi style a white bedroom that never dates

The Scandis have got it just right: white bedrooms that feel cosy and welcoming. Looking for an easy formula for your own bedroom? Choose white-painted wall panelling, a deep pile rug or two and plenty of light-reflecting furniture. It's a practical, easy to keep clean look, too, making it ideal for teen bedrooms as well as adult ones.

For more Scandinavian bedroom ideas, see our gallery.

2. Add warmth in a to white bedroom with fabrics

If your bedroom is north- or east-facing, it won't get that much warm light. That's not necessarily a problem if you're up and out with the lark, but if you tend to spend time in your bedroom, especially at the weekend, you'll want it to feel warmer and welcoming. You can do this by layering your white bedroom colour scheme with warm pastel tones in fabrics and upholstery.

For more tips on pastel decorating ideas, see our gallery; for advice on how to make a dark room brighter, don't miss our guide.

3. Tone down a bright room with an off-grey white

Grey and white bedroom with gallery wall by Furniture Choice

Grey is the must-have colour scheme of this year and next, but if you want a room that's light and bright, going for the palest of shades – in other words, one that's just off-white – will enhance your space most. Warm it up with chunky knit throws and cushions and bags of natural texture.

For more grey bedroom ideas, don't miss our gallery.

4. Stretch space with white walls and mirrors

White bedroom with gallery wall of mirrors

Whether your room is small, light-starved or just lacks eye-catching period or architectural features, adding a gallery wall will up the interest in a white bedroom. Here, mirrors perform both a practical and decorative role, reflecting light while making a fabulous focal point.

Find out more gallery wall ideas in our feature.

5. Add comfort to a white bedroom with texture

Sisal flooring in a white bedroom by Alternative Flooring

If you're going for an all white bedroom, texture is a must. You can introduce it in a number of easy ways: with natural flooring (which also adds nice, warm tones); with wall panelling (which is perfect for adding interest to a boxy, featureless room); and with bedding in a touchable, stroke-able material.

Read more about how to choose natural flooring in our advice guide; find out more about wall panelling in our advice feature.

6. Make ceilings feel higher with a statement headboard

Here's a good trick: vertical stripes can make a room with a low ceiling feel taller. Don't want striped wallpaper? You can achieve the effect with an upholstered or painted headboard. Clever.

Need a good looking headboard and more storage space? Check out our clever storage headboard ideas.

7. Create a focal point with a white wallpaper

A white bedroom in a converted loft with a white and grey colour scheme

If you're set on an all-white bedroom scheme but really want to add interest and focus, you can achieve that with a white on off-white wallpaper. Photo-realistic ones that mimic bricks, panelling and fabrics will give you a contemporary feel, but traditional designs will look beautiful, too.

See our white wallpaper ideas gallery for more ideas.

8. Pile on the comfort (and colour) with cushions

White bedroom with throw cushions and houseplants

If you are easily bored by colour schemes, a white bedroom is the way to go, because it's such an easy colour to update, merely by swapping cushions and throws from one room to another... which makes it a great choice for anyone on a budget, too. Can't beat a bit of home swapping.

9. Decorate a white bedroom with gold

Glamorous grey, gold and white bedroom by Luxxu

If you want a glamorous boudoir more than a run-of-the-mill bedroom, matching white bedroom decor with gold is an easy option. But be cautious – the odd mirror or picture frame, a lamp or two, or a gilded ornament is enough; this is a look that's easy to go overboard on.

10. Mix patterns and plains for interest

White bedroom with white shutters and bright patterned bedding

Want a country style bedroom that's packed with interest? You can achieve it easily with an all-white bedroom scheme by mixing patterns and prints – find out how in our guide.

11. Choose a statement bed in a white bedroom

With white bedroom decoration, it's easy for there to be a lack of focus, which is where your bed comes in. Choose a statement bed, whether for its shape, headboard, upholstery or frame colour and the room will have a focal feature.

12. Combine with greys for a contemporary appeal

White bedroom with blue cushions by Neptune

If yours is a bright, south- or west-facing bedroom (lucky you), you might want to tone down the daylight in your bedroom. You can do this with deep, contemporary greys; add a touch of petrol blue for a smart finish.

13. Add a splash of colour with bright bedlinen

Bedlinen in a white bedroom by George Home

Remember what we said about white bedroom ideas being easy to change up on a regular basis? You can do it with bedlinen: simply choose three sets that are utterly different from each other and you have a new bedroom every week...

Find more of the best bedding in our buyer's guide.

14. Make a focal point of the bed with a coronet

Looking for white bedroom ideas that will suit a traditional style? A period-style bedroom really suits a warmer white that can tone beautifully with cream furnishings. Adding a coronet above the bed will give the space grandeur, too, but the swathes of fabric will take it from stately to cosy, too – just what you want in a bedroom.

Find more small bedroom ideas in our design gallery.

15. Combine with a bold primary for kids' rooms

White kid's bedroom with a mural wall by Studio Sirio

Children's bedrooms are perfect for a white colour scheme – easy to keep the walls clean, and so simple to brighten up with the odd splash of bold colour, whether in painted mouldings or in furniture or bedding.

See more kids' room ideas for inspiration.

16. Paint an exposed brick wall

White bedroom with exposed brick wall and fairy lights

If you are lucky enough to be blessed with an exposed brick wall in you bedroom, try painting it white. The texture of the brick will add load of interest to an otherwise all white bedroom. If your bedroom doesn't come with a conveniently already exposed brick wall, you can create on yourself, with time and patience, just have a read of our guide to exposed brick walls to learn how.

17. Soften the look of a white bedroom with pastels and cream

White bedroom by The French bedroom Company with duck egg throw and cream cushions

White and cream must never be seen right? Wrong, actually. We think when done in the right way these two colours actually work really well together – the more yellowy tones add a warmth to an all white room with out interrupting the overall white bedroom colour scheme. Mix in some really pale pastels too just to add a touch of contrast.

18. Decorate a small white bedroom with a peg rail

Danielle and Andy Lisle transformed her old teenage home in Gateshead so it was perfect for modern family life

Looking for white bedroom ideas for a small room? It can be tricky to get decoration into a small room because you feel like everything has to be functional. That's what we love about peg rails though they are pretty and they are practical. In this bedroom shelf is used to create a feature wall of prints and decoration and then the pegs are used to hang bags, which also add some nice colour and texture to the space.

More bedroom ideas:

Really love white? Don't miss our white living room design ideas
White kitchen design ideas will brighten your cook space, too