How to Decorate a Small Living Room With White Walls

A few large pieces of solid-colored upholstered furniture is a start.

Decorating a tiny space that must serve as somewhere to relax, as well as a welcoming place for entertaining guests, takes careful planning. With walls painted a neutral white, as they are in most rental units, you need to think of the project as a blank-slate challenge, one that maximizes the appearance of space and expresses your personality.

Instructions

1. Analyze the shade of white your walls are painted. If you don't have the paint can, visit a paint store and bring home a variety of white paint chips. Hold these up to your wall and determine the closest match. By doing this you should be able to tell if the white has a touch of blue, green, yellow, pink, grey or other color. If you need help, take the chip to the paint store and ask what color was mixed in to create that particular shade of white.

2. Decide on an accent color based on the shade of white the room is painted and your personal preferences. Repeat one accent color in a variety of ways to create a sense of drama.

3. Select fewer, larger pieces of furniture rather than more pieces of small furniture. A sofa and one comfortable chair, for example, will make the room appear larger than a love seat and three or four side chairs. Choose upholstery in solid colors rather than prints.

4. Make a statement with one large piece of artwork. Find items that reinforce your chosen color scheme. For example, if you love the outdoors and are using colors from a brown spectrum, bring in twigs to display in a tall glass vase, seashells and stones, or fill a ceramic dish.

5. Create window treatments that let in the most possible light. Hang window coverings so they completely clear the glass when they are open.

Tips & Warnings

• One way to unify small items not related to your color scheme is to install bookcases painted the same white as your walls and display the items on the shelves in baskets, some painted in your accent color.

References

• "500 Ideas for Small Spaces: Easy Solutions for Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less"; Kimberley Seldon; 2007
• The Inspired Room: Favorite Antique White Paint

Resources

• Sideroad: Decorate White Walls