(Photo: Unsplash / Bailey Alexander)
White is an all-time favorite color because it is effective in arranging spaces with less emphasis on color and more focus on simplicity, akin to purity. Nonetheless, white, if used with other colors, have to be used carefully, as interior designers will confirm, since some of them tend to ruin a room's elegance.
Here are five colors that experts advise against pairing with white in interior design, along with their insights on creating harmonious color schemes:
Pastels:
Soft and delicate in its tranquility, pastel plays a game with white that's rather delicate, and while generally, variations of pastels are quite safe, choosing the wrong undertone might send you straight to hell. It's always important to match warm or cool tones of neighboring pastel shades with a similar underlying undertone in white paint. As Trish Knight of Knight Varga Interiors stated, this is also okay because pastel paints warm-cool balance should be mirrored in both the pastel shades and the white background tone.
White on White:
Using various tones of white creates dimension and feels more elegant in space, but choosing whites with different undertones to each other can lead to a story look. Whites with relatively low or high warm or cool ratings are best used to complement each other for a more coordinated look. Kathy Kuo, an interior designer, noted there is a danger of thinking that all white colors are equal because the tones play a role in the complete appearance of the rooms.
Red:
Highly saturated colors like tomato red can create a stark contrast when paired with white, resulting in an intense and overwhelming look. Opting for softer off-whites instead of bright whites can help tone down the intensity of red in a space. According to designer Brandon Lange of BZ Interiors, pairing bright reds or oranges with white can be challenging to balance without feeling overwhelming, making it a color combination to avoid.
Also Read: TikTok's Viral "Unexpected Red" Theory Shaping Interior Design Trends
Neon:
Using neon colors, which are as bright as white, can appear sufficient and even slightly harsh. For instance, rather than making neon the main color in a room, it can be utilized as the highlight color, meaning less of it is used, but it serves as a strong contrast to the other colors used in the room. Key takeaways from this interview includes the following insights from Interior designer Nadia Watts: According to her bright neon hues requires white as the neutral background, they may be intense so moderation is key when using neon accents.
Black:
As for colors, black and white are the simplest, but they may overpower when in contact due to the extreme contrast. Selecting off-black hues like navy will create a deeper contrast that is more inviting, or going for softer modes will also make more dramatic lighting. If real black is feared too much, it is possible to add a little less ominous solution that is still deep and handsome: for instance, Railings with a blueish undertone offered by Farrow & Ball.
Subsequently, white can blend well with various colors, and homeowners should keep an eye on the undertones while choosing suitable colors to harmonize with white to make a stunning visual impact.
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