How to Decorate White Walls

It can be really exciting moving into your new apartment - but what do you do with those white walls? You can work with them and try a modern or shabby chic look to incorporate the white walls into your decor. Or you can try to add some color to your walls (without paint) for a totally new look for your apartment.

Here are some tips on decorating white walls no matter what style you choose:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Modern Art works well with a white backdrop

   If you like a modern, sleek look, just work with your white walls as a backdrop for great piece of modern art. Wall art does not have to be expensive. You can purchase a large blank canvas at any craft store and paint it with the colors you will use in your room. You could even staple fabric to a canvas, and voila, instant art on a budget.

2. 
    
   Beach Cottage Style also works well with white walls

   Another style that works well with white walls is Shabby Chic or Beach Cottage Chic. With this look, you can bring color into the room with painted furniture and colorful fabrics and accents, although those colors are usually muted and pastel, not bright. Another great reason to use this look in your rented home is that 'anything goes', meaning, you can mix and match your furniture pieces, dinner ware, everything ... and that is very easy on the budget!

3. 
    
   Bring in color with scrapbook paper

   Are you tired of looking at white walls and not a big fan of modern or shabby styles? Well, then it's time to start thinking of ways to camouflage the white walls, without paint. One way to accomplish this is purchase inexpensive, assemble yourself bookshelves. Get at least 2 tall ones, more if you can afford them. Next, line the back of the shelves with scrapbook paper. I would just tape them on with as little tape as possible. You could use the same color or print on all shelves or mix and match it up a little bit. You can also change out the colors very easily and at a very low cost. Next, add some lighting to those shelves with under cabinet lighting (as much as you can afford). Then decorate the shelves (less is more). This will make a focal point in your room and also bring some color and personality into the room, detracting from the stark white walls.

4. 
    
   Curtains can conceal a white wall

   Another way to cover up a white wall is with curtains. You can usually find inexpensive drapes at TJMaxx, Marshall's or Big Lots. You can treat the wall as one big window and hang the curtains, ceiling to floor as if you were covering a window. Or you could even hang them from the ceiling. Just make sure to patch up the holes in the walls before you move out so that you do not have to pay for the damages out of your security deposit.

5. 
    
   Wall Decals bring instant color to a room

   Finally, you could use those stick on - peel off wall decals for a pop of color on your white wall. You can purchase them online or at home improvement or decor stores.

Resources

• Bella Casa - Decorating on a Budget (Darnit!)
• How to NOT Paint Stripes on a Wall
• Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions
• Wall Pops Wallpaper Stickers - Flora Blox

[slphilbrick]

on 5/23/2009 Excellent ! White walls don't have to be boring !

[jujudy]

on 5/4/2009 Great tips on decorating white walls! 5*s

[veryirie]

on 4/29/2009 I really love the idea of using the vinyl wall decals to decorate with. Good ideas here!

[practicalmagic]

on 4/27/2009 This is such a good idea! I am always too afraid to paint in an apartment for fear of not getting my deposit back, but this way I can have a cute apartnet and my deposit!Thanks for sharing what you know!