Learn how to achieve the “monochromatic” interiors trend of 2023 with white furniture and decor items from 1StopBedrooms
Many of 2020s most popular and enduring interior design trends have focused around texture and color. This year, monochrome rooms are all the rage, explain Lucia Tonelli and Kelley Carter in their article “The Top Design Trends in 2020, According to Designers” for Elle Decor. Quotes Julie Massucco Kleiner and Melissa Warner Rothblum of Massucco Warner, a chic design partnership who works across the country on incredible projects tying together “vintage finds, custom gilded hand-embroidered wallpaper, timeless well-made furniture in all shapes and sizes.” Kleiner and Rothblum note that “washing a room in one paint color” is a huge trend for 2020, as “‘when you’re contending with lots of millwork, coating the walls, ceiling and trim all in the same shade makes the room feel chic and enveloping.’” Create a white chic bedroom with touches of gold in the hardware of cabinets and the rivets of your bed frame.
Rooms decorated in all white shift seamlessly across seasons, perfect for both the winter and the summer seasons, as well as everything in-between. White is also all over the Colors of the Year paint palettes released by major coatings manufacturers this year. To complement their Color of the Year 2020 - “Back to Nature” - which is a shade of sage green, Behr released “Painter’s White” as part of their 2020 palette while Benjamin Moore included “White Heron” as a complement to their Color of the Year 2020 - a pale pink in “First Light. Follow below for more tips on how to create the perfect white-walled and all-white decorated bedroom - whether the design you seek is timeless or trendy.
White Bedroom Furniture
Start off your white bedroom by seeking out neutral furniture, either completely white or with accents of colors like beige and gray or materials like gold, aluminum, or wood. The article “Top 15 Interior Design Trends for 2020” for Collected Interior explains that “neutrals come in pretty classic and serene shades, and most importantly, they’re not super busy.” As such, an all white or all-neutral bedroom can handle more decor objects, furnishings, and intriguing textures. Goes on to explain that interior decorators, designers, and homeowners should never “underestimate the power of neutral decor either as it’ll make an excellent choice for your walls… and great options for furniture including sofas and bedding”.
Bedroom Sets
In her article “2020 Master Bedroom Furniture & Design Trends” for Hayneedle, interiors writer Tara Bantam announces “minimalist appeal” as the primary trend surrounding bedroom sets this year. She explains that “an understated bedroom can help calm your mind” and encourages decorators to “stick to the basics with straight lines, natural materials, and a muted color palette.” Bantam recommends “customizing the less-is-more aesthetic with personal touches and comfy accents for a space that helps your cares melt away.” Bantam continues on to note that the biggest color trends for bedrooms this year include primarily whites and neutrals; she explains that “today’s bedrooms take on a spa-like quality… with crisp white walls...neutral bedding and furniture… and monochromatic with white on white.”
Beds
In her article “Top Bedroom Decorating Trends Making Early Waves in 2020: 25 Ideas, Inspirations” for Decoist, interiors writer Sherry Nothingham notes that this year’s interior design trends for bedrooms “present a delightful mix of different things ranging from enchanting bohemian charm that takes you back in time to the popular wood and white movement that seems to be the path towards a more relaxing future.” Capitalize on this trend by choosing a two-toned bed frame that is mostly white, with accents of wood grain. Organic materials - like wood, wool, linen, rattan, and wicker - can add to the feelings of peace and serenity that have already been achieved by creating an all-white bedroom because they encourage a connection with nature and a view to the natural world that is often lacking in indoor spaces.
Storage
In his article “7 Sizzling Hot Design Trends to Ramp up Your Storage Spaces in 2018” for Innovate Home, interiors writer Mike Foti announced a trend in home storage that has continued from the date of the article (posted in 2018) to today in 2020. Foti noted a shift from traditional storage to more minimalist, streamlined cabinetry, expecting “clean simple lines to overtake...intricate and ornate.” Foti writes that throughout the home, “contemporary storage with its simple lines is easier to maintain (there are no small nooks and crannies which are painful to dust) and that its design simplicity makes drawer fronts and crown molding not only less complex...but less costly”.
A contemporary take can be achieved in an all-white bedroom even if “ultra-modern is not your vibe,” writes Foti, as Mid-Century Modern design is just as in and is much more of a constant than high-design contemporary. Foti recommends dressing up an all-white bedroom by adding a bit of pizazz to storage units with fancy hardware of “brushed brass (or even a brushed rose gold) tones” without overwhelming the space with punchy colors or patterns. Foti suggests choosing “subtle, elegant and not in your face” pieces that will add character, texture, and light to your bedroom without detracting from the simplicity of the decor.
Vanity Sets
Whether your all-white bedroom is classic, glamorous, or antiqued, a white bedroom vanity will add to the theme while offering a functional and fashionable place to sit while applying makeup, trying on jewelry, or applying moisturizer before bed. A vanity with a built-in mirror will also help bounce light around the room, making it feel even airier and more open. To maximize the light that pours into your bedroom outdoors, position your white vanity nearby your bedroom window. In her article “6 clever ways to use mirrors to make your home feel bigger and brighter” for Country Living, Emma-Louise Pritchard recommends “placing a mirror in the correct place in a room...to optimise natural light.
By “placing the mirror adjacent to a window you can perfectly catch the angle of light and bounce it throughout the room.” Pritchard explains that vanity mirrors can also be used to “create textural and spatial illusions and highlight your favourite accessories and ornaments by reflecting them into your vision from different angles”.
Benches
The perfect bench is a bedroom necessity, no matter how large or small the space is. Bedroom benches allow for easy lounging, a convenient place to try on or take off shoes, and the perfect spot to lay out tomorrow’s outfit. They can also be used to add texture and personality to a bedroom while providing a necessary function. Consider putting a slender bedroom bench in your walk-in closet (if you have the space) to help with putting on shoes, organizing freshly cleaned laundry, or giving children or friends a place to hang out while you prepare for a special night out. Consider a velvet or suede bench to add contrast in a room filled with pale woods or a shag-upholstered bench to play up a bedroom dedicated to over-the-top glamour.
Nightstands
The perfect white bedroom nightstand will offer a coated surface that will not easily scratch or abrade when the many items stored on top are moved around. The white nightstands you choose for your bedroom should also be large enough to accommodate all the necessities you require nearby, either for reading late into the night (e.g., a nightlight or bookmark) or for an unexpected emergency (e.g., a flashlight). Joybird’s article “The Top Nightstand Essentials We Can't Sleep Without” recommends choosing nightstands with a couple drawers and a wide tabletop to ensure you can fit “a funky lamp, great reading material, a plant to liven things up, and a candle or two.” You will likely also need to fit a glass of water, reading glasses, and possibly a midnight snack.
Accents for White Bedroom Designs
Mirrors
Finding the perfect mirror for your bedroom can be a daunting task, but it does not have to be. A white-framed bedroom mirror will bounce plenty of light around, making the room appear larger and placing more emphasis on interesting decor objects without detracting from the all-white theme. Consider an oval or undulating silhouette for a coastal-inspired bedroom, a jewel-fitted frame for a glamorous bedroom, or a carved wooden frame for a farmhouse or rustic-inspired bedroom.
Lights
Emphasize the simultaneous brightness and softness of an all-white bedroom by bringing in the perfect white bedroom lamps with nightstand lights, floor lights, and task lights. Accent your bedroom’s white desk with a bright white task lamp, your nightstands with a smaller table lamp, and your corners with the perfect freestanding floor lamp. Flood the entire room with dimmable light through the addition of a pendant light. The Sinkler Floor Lamp by ACME is another great addition, as it contributes a stunning bit of sparkle to any bedroom. The Glass and Natural Wood Pendant Light is a pseudo-white bedroom chandelier perfect for a white Bohemian bedroom, while the Sinkler Floor Lamp best befits a luxury white bedroom.
Rugs
Add texture and personality to your bedroom with a shag or hand-woven area rug, especially if your bedroom floor is made from wood, linoleum, or tile and easily gets cold as the seasons change. Take this opportunity to add in a few other neutrals that compliment the all-white decor of your bedroom or to add interest with an organically shaped piece.
Styles
Mid-Century Modern
Decorate your bedroom in one of the twentieth century's most exciting and innovative interior design styles that remains enduringly popular today. Achieve a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic in your all-white or off-white bedroom by adding touches of the dark wood and brass detailing common to the style. Choose organic shapes and sharp angles to add dimension and intrigue to the space. While it can be challenging to juxtapose drama and nature familiar to Mid-Century Modern design in an all-white space, the pieces pictured above strike that balance perfectly while sticking to the monochromatic style trend.
Scandinavian Cottage Style
Play up the popular Scandinavian interior design trend with cottage-style elements. Choose pieces like those pictured above, rich in texture and emphasizing softness and coziness. Choose natural materials that bring to mind the outdoors while maintaining an atmosphere of comfort and intimacy. Add a bit of pink, beige, and light gray to your white Scandinavian cottage-style bedroom to complete the look.
French Provincial or Rustic
Create an all-white bedroom reminiscent of the stunning landscapes of Provincial France, the softly rolling hills of a rustic Irish cottage, or the lush meadows of an American East Coast farmhouse with 1StopBedrooms classic but decidedly organic farmhouse-inspired pieces. Achieve the theme by choosing pieces from the collage featured above, all available through 1StopBedrooms, and by a selection of premier designers.
Color Solutions
All White
All-white bedrooms offer a classic style that is rarely achieved in other monochromatic rooms. Some worry that the depth and intrigue of a white bedroom can be lost through a lack of variety. Playing up different textures - like those found in white-painted rattan or wicker, white-painted woods, brushed aluminum (which appears almost white), and trendy clear plastic or glass (which also appears almost white and will reflect or show off other white objects), can each elevate an all-white bedroom. Consider all white bedroom decor objects like sculptures, ceramics, and macrame wall-hangings to add interest where needed.
Mixed
If you would rather create an all-neutral bedroom than an all-white one, consider adding a few pastel or organic colors to achieve different effects. You can also add darker colors to play up a theme or add drama. For example, white and gold bedrooms are instantly chic and elegant. In contrast, purple and white bedrooms can come off as either frilly and feminine or powerful, depending on the intensity of the color purple. Yellow, gray, and white bedrooms are perfect for nurseries and young children's bedrooms as the color combination is soothing and calming, while brown and white are more suitable for a Mid-Century Modern or Scandinavian-inspired bedroom. Furthermore, cream and white bedroom can feel cozy and soft while not feeling too stark as an all-white bedroom can, and a navy and white bedroom can strike a nautical note without being too thematic.
Materials and Textures
Play with different materials and textures to ensure your all-white bedroom decor does not fall flat. Include a white leather bedroom set in a glamorous or chic all-white bedroom or a white wood bedroom set in your all-white farmhouse-inspired room. Consider white-lacquered furniture for a high-contrast effect that can be achieved only with high-gloss paints or metals for a luxury atmosphere, or pick out a few white wicker bedroom items to add to a coastal feel. Tufted furniture will make any room feel cozier, so consider tufted all-white bedroom ottomans, rocking chairs, headboards, or cushions for a relaxing respite.
