The dos and don’ts of white space and colour

The dos and don’ts of white space and colour – how to nail these styles for optimal staging 

While there’s certainly been a shift in preference for using white space within home interiors, over the use of bold colour – there are pros and cons to each technique. Both styles can be effectively used to convey an appealing aesthetic to potential buyers – and get them over the line when it comes to putting in an offer. All-white spaces have the benefit of looking timeless and appealing to a broad range of the market, however they run the risk looking sterile if not styled correctly. The use of colour on the other hand needs to be done with strategy and finesse to ensure colours are complementary and not too distracting. When using colours, you want them to evoke feelings of calm rather than chaos.  

In today’s blog – we will discuss the dos and don’ts of home staging with white space, and what to take note of when it comes to styling with colour. 

WHITE SPACE 

DO

• Research tones - not all whites are the same:
  Do your research to ensure you choose the right type of white shades for your home. If you aren’t sure which white, purchase a few test spots, paint patches in different parts of your home & view those patches at different times of day. You may find that white you love doesn’t look great at night.

  There are so many variations of this tone – the key thing to remember here is that you may need to work with a couple of variants of this hue to achieve your desired aesthetic. If you have chosen a warm white for your walls – stick to using other whites within the warm spectrum for your furnishings. Same goes if you have opted for a cooler white – by sticking to cooler tones within the white family, you ensure the space remains consistent and there is no clashing of grey or yellow undertones.
  

• Introduce an array of textures:
  To avoid an all-white space becoming bland and sterile, textures in the form of rugs, linen cushions, bed linen & knitted throws can be added to create a sense of warmth. These elements quickly add a tactile functionality to any white space. You could even introduce planter stands and some greenery to further add textural layers to an all-white interior.
  

• Add metallic or wooden elements:
  Brass finishes within the bathroom or kitchen can really help to elevate an all-white space. These finishes work as small statement pieces within a predominantly neutral environment. Wooden décor choices also add another layer of texture without being too bold or colourful. In fact, introducing these natural elements can help to add warmth to a white-washed room.

DON’T

• Showcase an all-white interior if your buyer will likely have kids, pets or messy visitors:
  Potential buyers will want to envisage their lifestyle within the space you are trying to sell – and if their lifestyle consists of accidental red wine spills, children painting on the walls and pets bringing in muddy paw prints – then perhaps an all-white interior isn’t the best option to display your property. Maintenance for such a space can be difficult but if you do want to go down this route – make functional choices such as washable paint, durable fabrics and slip covers for sofas. Oh and definitely don’t go for an all-white rug!
  

• Fall into perfectionism:

  By no means should your styling be uptight – the key with all-white styling is to be informal and playful. Your furnishing and décor pieces should reflect relaxation and gentleness to avoid an all-white space seeming too serious or clinical.
  

COLOUR  

DO

• Stick to the 60-30-10 rule:
  When choosing to work with colour in your space – you can use this rule as a guide for your choices. This rule will help to ensure your colour palette stays balanced. Simply, choose three colours – (Example: White, Black, Mustard).
  
  Pick one shade to be your dominant colour and take up approximately 60 percent of the room. Normally this is a neutral tone so the space won’t feel overwhelming. Let’s say, you pick white for this colour and your walls and sofa will be this shade.

  Next, your secondary colour which is a little bolder and takes 30 percent of the space – let’s say black. This could come in the form of a rug, bookshelf, cushions etc. 

  Lastly, your remaining accent colour (mustard) takes 10 percent of the space and might look like a couple of cushions, a throw or some flowers. 

• Understand the basics of the colour wheel:
  To make your life so much easier when staging your home with colourful pieces in order to sell – it helps to understand the basics of the colour wheel. There are so many articles online to help guide you with this – but the basics are simple!
  
  Your three primary colours are red, blue and yellow.
  Secondary colours are orange, purple and green.
  Tertiary colours are made by mixing primary and secondary colours. And these tertiary colours can toned, tinted or shaded by adding black or white hues.
  
  Once you understand these basics you’re ready to up-level your design choices and make informed selections about the colours you’re working with.
  

• Introduce wall accents:
  Pops of colour are our favourite way to add a little vibrancy into a space. We love introducing colour via artwork which is why many of our bedroom packages contain colourful pieces to draw the eye and add an interesting focal point. Feel free to get creative here and tie the colours of the artwork in with your chosen décor and soft furnishings.

Image Credit: Kit Goldsworthy

DON’T

• Use warm or cool colours in the wrong rooms:
  Both warm and cool tones affect the energy of a space in different ways. Traditionally warm tones have been considered to be reds, oranges and yellows – but neutrals such as tan and brown can also be added to this mix. Cool hues are considered to be your blues, greens, purples and even grey.

  Due to the upbeat vibrancy of warm colours, they are best used in entertaining spaces such as the dining room, living area and kitchen. The cooler tones are best left for bedrooms, office spaces and bathrooms where a calming atmosphere is required. 

• Overdo the colour:

  We recommend working with colours that are known as analogous – meaning they appear next to each other on the colour wheel. Rather than working with complete opposite colours such as purple and yellow (which are very contrasting within the one space) – stick to varying shades of purple (example: burgundy, lavender and violet.) Remember, you can always balance things out with your neutral tones. 

There are few considerations to take note of when we are deciding to stage a home with white space or with colour. Both styling techniques serve different purposes, and of course attract varying buyers. We can assist you to get clarification on all of these things during one of our consults. Be sure to get in touch for more information.