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White Done Right: Contemporary Style

By Jennifer Nelson, special to HGTV.com
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Out Like a Light
Previous: Finish Line
Since white reflects light back, pay attention to how light enters a room, and when natural light is present, like in this bedroom by designer Van Tullis. The kind of light bulbs used have a considerable effect on a white palette because incandescent bulbs contain more of a yellow cast, where fluorescents often emit either a pink or blue hue. "I personally like a halogen bulb over an incandescent bulb; it’s a little bit more pure light, more like natural light," says Heldenbrand. Natural light provides a warmer spectrum. Since walls absorb various shades based on light conditions, Heldenbrand recommends experimenting with three two foot by two foot panels of white wall coloring to see how various light hit them at all hours. "By the next day, you’ll have eliminated two of those colors, just because you don’t like how several of them look."


Complement With Color

What's Underfoot

Finish Line

Out Like a Light

Window Dressing



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Window Dressing
Previous: Out Like a Light
A contemporary window is dictated by whether you want coverings to offer decoration or light control. A solid fawn pull shade, beige blinds or sand color sheers, as seen in this dining room by designer Andreas Charalambous, are excellent choices. Unless a window is a stunning focal point in the room, it should be minimized.

Mistake to Avoid: Not Balancing a Space
If you employ color as a focal point with artwork or pillows on a sofa, you shouldn’t have one piece of art on a far left wall, and nothing on an adjacent wall, or bold pillows on one chair but not on the opposite one. "Anything you do different from the white, needs to be in balance and make sense," says Heldenbrand. Tying everything together is even more important in the starkness of an all white room because you don’t have other colors to distract the eye.



Complement With Color

What's Underfoot

Finish Line

Out Like a Light

Window Dressing



Jennifer Nelson writes about health, fitness, lifestyle and home. Her work also appears in Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Cooking Light and O, The Oprah Magazine.
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