It’ll be all-white. A guide to white bathrooms and kitchens.

One of the most common colours in nature (and a combination of all the colours of the spectrum, as you’ll no doubt remember from your school science lessons), white is a paradox all of its own.

Powerful yet subtle, but not particularly bold or particularly weak, white is certainly one of the most versatile colours you can use for your interiors, and is especially good at creating a calming and relaxed atmosphere.

So if you’re still unsure about letting loose with that tin of emulsion, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can make white work in your bathroom or kitchen.

Cleaning and maintenance

The main issue many people have with white when it comes to virtually anything, is the way it shows up dirt. In kitchens, coffee stains and grubby hand prints can become a bit of an issue. This is where your choice of surface comes into play. Look for easy-wipe surfaces like high gloss MDF, to make maintenance easier.

Whilst kitchens tend to come in a range of different finishes, modern bathrooms are dominated by just one colour. The days of the avocado bathroom suite are long gone, with the overwhelming majority of toilets and basins being produced in white. Thankfully, these high glaze ceramics are easy to wipe clean and a wide range of white bathroom furniture units are also available. With contemporary, minimalist styles proving highly popular, white is by far and away the dominant shade.

When it comes to cleaning, white venetian blinds are ideal. With aluminium slats that take seconds to wipe down, plus matching top and bottom rails that blend in perfectly, you’ll get a great style that’s easy to maintain.

Sympathetic finishes

Setting out to achieve an all-white colour scheme shouldn’t restrict the types of materials you choose for your bathroom or kitchen. White flooring and wall coverings are very common and can be found in a variety of styles.

You can use pale coloured wood finishes in tables, work surfaces or units, such as beech, pine or maple. Plus, you could also add in white marble effect tiles or on-trend metro tiles, for a stunning effect.

When it comes to your window dressings, you don’t need to just stick to venetian blinds in white. Wood effect venetian blinds can also be used to complement this style, with a limed oak venetian blind offering a nice subtle shade, giving you the look of natural wood, but without being overly obtrusive.

Protection from sunlight

White units, especially those with a high gloss finish, are great at reflecting light around your room, making it feel larger than it actually is.

However, if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, white furniture and units can start yellowing and end up looking tired and worn.

Whilst choosing furniture units that have been UV treated is one way of dealing with this problem, the best solution is to invest in a good quality set of venetian blinds, allowing you to filter out strong sunlight.