Learn How to Decorate a Room with White Walls

White walls will never go out of style. Whether you’re looking to spruce up the white walls of a rental, or you want to accentuate the light, bright, minimalist look, we’ve got your back. We’ve selected the best wall art ideas to enhance your white interior. From trendy prints to creative decorating concepts, there are tons of ways to make the most of a white space. Keep it classic, or go for something more contemporary. The possibilities are never-ending, and we’ve collected the top expert tips to get you started.

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Decorating White Walls: A Bright Contrast

White Wall Décor Ideas & Color Schemes

Selecting Wall Art: Shapes & Layouts

The Ultimate Wall Art Size Guide

White Living Room Wall Décor

White Geometric Wall Art Ideas

Trending Wall Art Topics

Decorating White Walls: A Bright Contrast

The best way to decorate white walls is with a pop of contrast! Add a piece of striking décor that adds visual dimension to your space. Warm colors like yellow and orange are perfect for adding a vibrant (albeit cozy) touch to your white walls. Try hanging a piece of wall art with bright yellow details. You can still experiment with minimalist artwork as long as you don’t skimp on color. Whether you’re looking to elevate a bedroom or living room with white walls, any area of your home can benefit from a brightly colored canvas print. There are endless ways to decorate a white wall, but you can’t beat a vivid piece of artwork. Yellow is a hot color for 2024, so don’t’ be afraid to explore this sunny trend!

Expert Wall Art Tips

Our art director, Tirzah Goodman, has highlighted inspirational typography as one of the top trends for 2024. Hang a piece of artwork with vibrant colors and a motivational message. If you really want your space to look contemporary, opt for a two-panel print. The symmetrical, split-panel print is perfect for a modern interior. When working with white walls, you can’t go wrong with contemporary and current details. A piece of wall art that combines bright colors, typography, and a modern layout is the perfect all-around solution. Don’t be afraid to go big with your wall art, especially on a large, blank wall! Oversized artwork will fill your space without crowding it – it’s a win-win! Pair your massive modern print with natural elements like live greenery for a chic, organic touch.

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White Wall Décor Ideas & Color Schemes

The beauty of white is that you can pair it with practically any color! While you can certainly use white as a base for a colorful interior, we’re going to focus specifically on using white as a major part of the color scheme. Hang a piece of wall art with a white base and a few splashes of delicate shades. Hues like dusty rose, grass green, golden yellow, and sky blue are a perfect way to complement white without overwhelming your space.

White & Blue Wall Art

White and blue are a timeless pairing. There are countless shades of blue to choose from, and almost all of them look perfect with a bright white wall. Accentuate the cool colors with splashes of gold and bronze for a classy contrast.

Expert Tips

When it comes to working with a white interior, follow these trendy tips from our resident designer, Elimar Lobo Sáenz:

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our daily life has had a dramatic shift indoors. This transition has fueled the revival of Scandinavian décor and Nordic design. “Hygge” is all about meshing coziness with practicality and a harmonious flow. Comfort should be valued above all else when it comes to a Scandinavian space. Consider light-toned wood and subtle pops of color for a light, welcoming space.

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Selecting Wall Art: Shapes & Layouts

When it comes to selecting wall art for your white walls, you can choose between a wide variety of shapes and layouts. Consider a trendy multi-panel print for a modern twist that will balance your white-toned space. You can also opt for a single-panel canvas if you want to keep things classic.

If you decide on a multi-panel print (like our trendy two and three panel sets), follow this expert advice from our guide on how to hang multi-panel pieces of wall art:

“Width: No matter which layout you select, we recommend leaving 1" space between each panel when hung, for the best airy but cohesive look! If the gap is too large or too narrow, you will lose the contemporary effect of the split canvas.”

If you really want a professional look, don’t miss this tip from our article on hanging any wall art like a pro:

“Another frequent mistake by amateur designers is not hanging the artwork completely flush with the wall. A canvas that sticks out too far can cheapen the overall look of your space. Attention to detail is essential when creating a well-curated interior. If your nail is sticking out and causing a gap between your canvas and the wall, it can be distracting to onlookers and houseguests. A flush frame or canvas is especially important when creating a gallery wall or hanging a multi-panel piece.”

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The Ultimate Wall Art Size Guide

If you have an all-white space, it’s especially important to pay attention to the small details. Because everything is highly visible on a white background, select décor with the right proportions using these tricks from our Ultimate Wall Art Size Guide:

“Your wall art should take up around 60% to 75% of the available empty wall space, meaning, the portion not covered by moldings or any furniture. The first step is to measure the height and width of the wall. After you have your measurements, multiply each by both 0.6 and 0.75. As a result, you will get the range of canvas print sizes to best suit the space.

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For example, if your blank wall is 9 feet tall and 5 feet wide, multiply 9 by 0.6 to get the low end of the ideal height range. Then, multiply 9 by 0.75 to get the high end of the ideal height range. Do the same for your wall's 5 feet width. The perfect height of the canvas would be 5.4 - 6.75, and the perfect width would be 3 feet - 3.75 feet.”

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White Living Room Wall Décor

Your living room is the most communal space in your home, which means you should focus on creating a space that blends comfort with style. Even a monochromatic space can have character. Follow these trendy tips from our design expert Elimar Lobo Sáenz:

“Monochrome doesn’t mean boring. Determining which style you want to achieve is the best way to start your neutral color palette. Decide between a modern, minimalistic look with splashes of black, charcoal, and grey, or go with a more traditional pop of vibrant color. Add dimension to your predominantly white color palette with different materials or textiles. A few popular trends include white distressed floor boards, industrial accessories, and contrasting dark furniture. White, as a color, will never go out of style, and this classic shade is full of possibilities.”

Consider softening your white walls with off-white shades like beige and ivory. While these shades may not exactly be true whites, even off-white shades appear bright white on walls.

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decorate with white walls

White Geometric Wall Art Ideas

One of our top trending collection is our brand-new “Geometric Canvas Sets” catalog. Curated by our art director, Tirzah Goodman, this handpicked selection of modern prints is full of exciting shapes and color schemes. Geometric wall art is the perfect way to add depth and dimension to a minimalist, white-based space.

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Trending Wall Art Topics

White walls are timeless, and wall art can be swapped out according to the changing trends. This makes wall art a low-cost, low-commitment option for enhancing your white interior. For more trendy and affordable décor ideas, take a look at our inspiration blog.

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