Hotel Review: Strand Palace, London
The Strand Palace offers a good place to rest your head after a night out on London town.
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White kitchen ideas – 27 sensational schemes that are clean, bright and won’t ever date
Quite simply, white kitchen ideas will always be best sellers thanks to their timeless appeal. The choice of white cabinetry provides a crisp, smart look for a new modern kitchen or a classic backdrop for a country kitchen – classic white is a practical choice for all settings.
Choosing a white kitchen could be the best decision you’ll ever make. It can add brightness to your cooking and dining space, or it can act as a blank canvas onto which you can add splashes of colour in the form of decorative plates, soft furnishings and artwork.
White kitchen ideas
Although white is sometimes considered to be a safe option where wall colour (or lack of it) is concerned, white cabinetry is a stylish and fashion-forward kitchen idea.
White is a winning colour choice for kitchens, from cabinets and floor tiles, to white walls and accessories it offers a contemporary, clean and crisp design that never dates. Meaning essentially that white is a safe investment to consider for the long term, as it’s a colour that will always be on-trend and sellable.
1. Choose open shelving
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brett Charles
Choose white to open up a narrow gallery kitchen, to make the space feel airy and bright. Rather than choosing bulky wall cabinets on all walls you might choose to feature open shelves to keep a more open-plan feel to the layout. Paint the floating shelves in the same shade of white to that of the walls, so they ‘disappear’ into the wall.
Be sure to keep the stored items minimalist in design, simple white crockery and glassware, to avoid defeating the object of making the pace feel less cluttered.
2. Create a contemporary vision with all-white
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
From floors to walls, to cabinets and appliances, a bold all-white kitchen colour scheme creates a stunning contemporary look. Simple chrome handles and sockets are enough to add a hint of colour without breaking out of the ‘colourless’ scheme.
All-white everything is ideal for making the space feel bright, airy and gleamingly clean, making it a popular choice for the modern home.
3. Add interest with a patterned floor
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Break up an all white colour scheme by using an alternative colour with white on the floor. This zig zag patterned tile example shows how the use of white on the floor is broken up with strips of wood-effect colour to add depth to the colour scheme.
The pattern is subtle enough that it doesn’t distract from the serene colour scheme, but prominent enough that it adds a layer of interest to the design. The block of white from the kitchen island is grounded thanks to the interesting floor, thanks to the continuation of white it feels cohesive – not jarring.
4. Welcome warmth with exposed brickwork
Image credit: Future PLC/ Brent Darby
Welcome a backdrop of exposed brickwork to give your white kitchen idea a contemporary industrial edge. The natural shade of the brick adds an element of warmth to the white colour scheme. Stainless steel or concrete worktops will enhance the vibe of this modern-meets-rustic style.
Imperfectly painted white floorboards helps to anchor the colour scheme from floor to ceiling, perfectly framing the characterful brick detailing.
5. Divide the colour scheme
Image credit: Future PLC/ James French
Go for a white kitchen in essence, but add a bolder colour on the bottom half of the room. In this compact kitchen space the walls and the top row of cabinets is bright white to open up the space, while the base cabinets are painted in a striking gunmetal grey. This is a great alternative to an all grey kitchen idea, that could overwhelm the small space.
The darker tone on the lower kitchen cabinets and the walnut wood flooring help to anchor the decorating colour, almost pushing the white walls away – to create a sense of space.
6. Keep the look bright and airy
Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles
White is the ideal colour if you’re looking for small kitchen ideas, especially where windows providing natural light may be sparse. An all-white colour scheme illuminates, helping to make the space feel bigger by bouncing light around.
Skylights are a fabulous option to flood the room with light and enhance the white. But if your kitchen layout or budget don’t allow for skylights, use strong overhead lighting to help make the white walls and cabinets shine bright.
7. Mix old with new for an eclectic finish
Image credit: Future PLC/ James French
To prevent your white kitchen from looking too pristine and polished, add elements of vintage design. Industrial-style kitchen lighting and distressed ceramics can help to inject a hint of timeless vintage style to a modern finish.
The elements are still white, to keep the look cohesive, but thanks to the heritage feel of such pieces the space retains an air of eclecticism.
8. Take a tonal approach
Image credit: Future PLC/Veronica Rodriguez
Smart grey kitchen ideas, such as the coloured walls and flooring shown above, look beautiful when paired with all-white units and worktops. If deciding to incorporate colour options it’s best to stick to a tonal colour palette. So if you’re using greys, use varying hues of the same shade up to black to keep the look uniformed.
If using a warmer neutral, such as stone flooring, consider off-whites, taupe or Dulux’s Brave Ground as complimentary paint colours.
9. Integrate an alternative island
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Integrate an island in an alternative finish, such as natural wood, to break up the starkness of everything being white. By using white as a reverse colour, as shown on the storage drawers of this kitchen island idea, it seamlessly intertwines the two-tone finish.
Using wood as the alternative finish helps to keep the look minimal, allowing for a further accent colour to add more personality.
10. Set the scene with wallpaper
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Add interest to a white kitchen with a statement wallpaper. The calming white background helps to enhance the decorative design. This characterful paper decorated with birds and branches welcomes a hint of nature indoors, which ties in the wooden worktops perfectly.
When used between the lower and head-height white cabinets, a patterned wallpaper is a great way to add an alternative to a tiled splashback. Just be sure to use a hardwearing paper that can withstand the elements of a working kitchen, with heat and sink splashes etc.
11. Choose white for a timeless country look
Image credit: Future PLC/ Darren Chung
For a timeless look in the kitchen, go white country. Here, the owners have chosen white for almost everything from accessories, such as ceramics, to fittings.
It goes to show that a white room can still feel warm and welcoming as long as you include delicate details like fresh foliage, whitewashed floorboards and brass handles. The added decorative touches help to inject a touch of personality.
12. Warm up white with brass fixtures and fittings
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
If you’re sticking to an all-white colour scheme consider ingratiating brass tones to add warmth. Instead of traditional chrome taps and sockets choose fashionable brass alternatives to warm the shades of white. This richer metallic tone will avoid making the white shades feel cold and steely.
13. Stick to a classic monochrome combo
Image credit: Future PLC/ Darren Chung
Pairing black with white isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, design wise. Yet black and white kitchen ideas always look modern, provided you pick the right little details.
Team an all-white kitchen with black painted furniture and statement accessories to create an effortlessly chic look.
14. Create space with white
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
Open up a smaller kitchen space with the help of a primarily white colour scheme. The choice of white will help keep the space feeling light and airy, therefore more spacious. Add a strength of character by using black worktops. Just ensure there is plenty of natural light to assure the space retains a sense of lightness.
Add touches of natural greenery with houseplants to give the space a well dressed feel.
15. Team concrete for contemporary cool
Image credit: Future PLC/ Fraser Marr
Polished concrete is beautiful when used in a contemporary white kitchen, particularly with statement lighting. Use it sparingly to create an organic/industrial look and it will lend a splash of natural colour to subtly stop the space from being an all-white scheme.
16. Warm up white with wooden touches
Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles
Make a feature of an engineered oak floor in an expansive room. Using different hardwearing flooring as an effective trick for creating separate zones is a clever open-plan kitchen idea.
In this kitchen, wooden accents appear throughout as the perfect complement to the flooring, and pastel-coloured pendants add a sense of fun to a grown-up scheme.
17. Not sure if white will be too stark? Try off white
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
You might be daunted about going white, particularly if you want a cosy kitchen. If that’s the case, take inspiration from cream kitchen ideas and go for an ever-so-slightly-off white for your furniture.
In this scheme, the cook’s table has made a welcome return. It perfectly suits this light room, as it’s less heavy than a traditional island, and has an unfitted feel, which keeps the look informal and current.
18. Add a splashback of marvellous white marble
Image credit: Future PLC/ James Merrell
Marble is a beautiful option. Use it subtly to create an organic look and it will benefit from being at the centre of an all-white scheme. It’s an elegant and stunning choice for a kitchen.
Look for distinct patterns and variations in tone for an entirely unique splashback or worktop. Marble isn’t cheap but with its tactile charm, it’s a luxury investment that will stand the test of time.
19. Make your appliances match
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
White appliances have had a bit of a bad rep of late, so much so that we’re increasingly likely to hide them behind closed doors. But the kitchen above demonstrates just how sophisticated they can look.
Simple wooden worktops, unusual worn brass handles and a copper rail bring a rustic charm, and the hexagonal kitchen tile idea add a hint of modernity.
20. Mix in natural materials
Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles
Here’s another technique for anyone concerned that all white might be too clinical. Choose the best white paint for walls or neutral floor units and then use a contrasting colour or material for the rest of the cabinetry. It’s smart but not too stark.
21. Jazz up white with sunshine yellow
Image credit: Future PLC/ Fraser Marr
Inject some personality into a white kitchen with just a couple of accent pieces in a bright colour. The yellow works really well here and warms up the look, but vibrant red kitchen ideas along with other colours such as a bright blue would do the same, as white is so versatile.
Stick to key items, so the look isn’t over the top.
22. Use white as a base for an eclectic look
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
It’s easy for an eclectic look to start out stylish and end up plain messy. Avoid this by building up your look on a white canvas – we’re talking white walls, white flooring and white units. You can then add your flea market finds and pops of colour with confidence.
23. Choose a retro accent colour
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Tailer the look to suit your own personal taste by adding one key accent colour. For a more retro vibe incorporate bold splashes of orange, with either statement pendant lights and artwork or simply through your tableware and accessories.
The accent colour rule can apply with any colour, so make the space feel more personal with your favourite shade.
24. Fill a large space with white
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Make the most of a big room with a huge island that’s packed with helpful kitchen storage ideas, and floor-to-ceiling cupboards. As well as spotlights, this kitchen has industrial-style pendants suspended on long cables to create a cosy glow at the breakfast bar.
In a space as big as this, an all-white scheme could feel empty and stark. But the low-hung pendants break up the wide gap between the island unit and ceiling, while citrus coloured accessories and an engineered wood floor add warmth and charm.
25. Find space for a breakfast bar
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
A breakfast bar is the perfect way to transform a kitchen into a family and entertainment space. This room might not be the widest, but by slimming down the island the owner has managed to fit one in, in a prime position near the bi-fold doors. In summer, when the space is opened up to the garden, it doubles up as a serving counter.
26. Keep it practical
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Consider handleless cabinetry so surfaces are absolutely free of adornment, creating a bold and minimalist look. This elegantly simple design is enhanced with wooden trims that create an elegant grid effect.
Plan the wall and floor units in regimented banks for super-organised storage.
27. Dress white kitchens with colourful accessories
Image credit: Future PLC/ Kazia Fraser
This white kitchen doesn’t rely on colour to inject personality, it’s got oodles of that just from the characterful layout. The white Kitchen design features white tiled walls and floor, white units with wooden worktop and white open shelves filled with crockery and books.
The abundance of colourful accessories adds enough vibrancy without having to break from the white kitchen decorating scheme.
What colour goes with a white kitchen?
The usual design rules apply where white is concerned. It’s generally acknowledged that a totally white colour scheme can look clinical, reminding us of an operating theatre rather than a warm, welcoming room that is the ‘heart of the home’.
Therefore an accent colour is always a welcome addition to inject warmth and a touch of personality. Whether through furniture choices, a statement splashback or appliances and accessories, the choice is yours.
Strong primary colours, such as yellow or red, are ideal for making an impactful contrast. Such bright colour accents are best used through freestanding appliances, lighting and accessories – all less investment and commitment. While more tonal colours, such as silver chrome, grey or black, are ideal or adding depth on a more permanent basis.
Two-tone painted kitchens with grey on the low level cabinets or a tiled splashback is a contemporary way to add an accent colour, without jarring with the brilliant white blank canvas.
Are white kitchens out of style for 2021?
White kitchens will never be out of fashion. in fact white kitchens proved to be the most Googled kitchen colour of the year! The timeless colour option is still the most popular choice for kitchen colours, despite the prominence of on-trend greys. White is a safe but sensible option that is great for re-sale value, because it can suit all tastes. White creates a blank canvas, which allows for almost any accent colour to stand out.
What countertops go best with white kitchens?
The beauty of white is that it’s the ideal colour to suit any era and style of house, which is why it makes such a good blank canvas, especially in the kitchen. Thanks to its many different design aesthetics, from country to modern, any worktop finish sits comfortably alongside white cabinetry and walls.
So the question is, what look would you prefer? If you wish to take your white kitchen in a more contemporary direction, pair the elements with a white marble or quartz countertop to keep the look slick and streamlined. Alternatively a black marble-effect worktop will retain a modern feel, while welcoming a less stark monochrome accent.
For a more classic country look white kitchens are best offset with wooden kitchen worktops, such as traditional oak or a wood veneer.
Make the most of recessed LED lights for cupboards and shelving. Install them on the wall beneath the cabinetry, under the units themselves or even inside so finding ingredients is easy.
The post White kitchen ideas – 27 sensational schemes that are clean, bright and won’t ever date appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 14 min
You can now buy empty cardboard boxes for 1p for kids this Christmas
The box a Christmas gift arrives in is often much more exciting than what’s inside. As parents will know, kids end up spending far more time inside a big empty piece of cardboard than they do playing with their actual toys.
So online toy store Bargain Max has launched the Box Clever – an empty cardboard box for just 1p. We can’t tell if it’s a smart, money-saving Christmas idea or totally bonkers…
Image credit: Bargain Max
‘Picking out Christmas presents – particularly for kids – can be overwhelming,’ says Daniel McKay, Marketing & eCommerce Director at Bargain Max. It’s true that there are so many options that it can be hard to know where to begin.
‘However, if you speak to parents, they’ll tell you that most kids think the box a present comes in is just as much fun as the present itself. This Christmas, save yourself the hassle and pick up a Box Clever for your little one,’ Daniel adds.
It’s so cheap that you can bulk buy the empty cardboard box for kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. But you might run the risk of being called a Scrooge…
Image credit: Bargain Max
Homes writer and mum Laura Crombie is not impressed by the whole idea. ‘Personally, I think this is a bit ridiculous! You get overrun with boxes at Christmas anyway, so I’m not sure why you’d want to pay for an extra one.
‘Yes, 1p is cheap but there’s also the environmental impact to consider – trees are being cut down to make the boxes, there will be vehicles used in delivery and not everybody will recycle them correctly,’ adds Laura. ‘I’m afraid it’s a no from me. I’d rather get creative with the mountains of packaging I’ll already have!’
Image credit: Bargain Max
Now is also a good time to get organised with Christmas shopping for friends and other family members. You can make budget gifts like this look fabulous with stylish gift wrapping ideas for Christmas.
We’re itching to go all out with our Christmas living room ideas – but we’ll try and hold off til mid November. The Box Clever from Bargain Max is currently out of stock on the website, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for it.
What do you think – worse than a lump of coal or a present they’ll actually love?
The post You can now buy empty cardboard boxes for 1p for kids this Christmas appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 2 min
White hallway ideas – create a pleasingly bright entrance using shades of white
White hallway ideas prove timeless for all property types. White provides an ideal blank canvas, and will make the space feel more generous. It can help brighten darker hallway spaces and make even the smallest of areas feel spacious and airy.
If you’re looking to adopt a pristine white colour scheme for your hallway ideas ensure you choose the best white paint for the job, because there are many tones to this classic decorating colour of choice.
White hallway ideas
Try combining subtle variations of white shades on walls, woodwork, cornicing and ceilings to enhance the proportions of the space.
Here are some ideas on how to use white to full potential in your hallway…
1. Welcome white to enhance the light
Image credit: Future PLC
This brightest of shades can instantly lift a dark hallway. This narrow hallway idea is kept brilliant white to maximise the reflection of light, ensuring it bounces off the walls to make the small space feel bigger.
Adding a mirror is a clever way to go one step further when it comes to reflecting light – to make a limited space feel brighter and more mighty.
2. Open up your space with an all-white scheme
Image credit: Future PLC/ Jo Henderson
White on white makes this clever hallway shoe storage idea literally disappear into the background. Prevent it looking cold or stark by adding texture with rugs, lampshades and ceramics. Line the top with family photos or favourite prints, alongside personal memorabilia, to add charm and character.
Buy now: TRONES white shoe storage cabinet, £22 for two, IKEA
3. Keep it simple in monochrome
Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith
Where you want to keep the colour scheme ‘plain’ but still add an accent colour the easiest option for white hallway ideas is to add black for a monochrome effect. This classic decorating scheme is devoid of bold colour but yet remains entirely striking in style.
This white hallway features a smart black and white striped stair runner and a monochrome hallway wallpaper idea to add interest without overpowering the effortless look.
4. Introduce an accent colour through furnishings
Image credit: Future PLC/ Douglas Gibb
Just because you choose brilliant white walls doesn’t mean the space has to be completely colourless. If painting walls with a more defined colour feels too bold turn to furnishings instead, to add a vibrant accent to the hallway colour scheme.
From pendant light shades, artwork on walls and rug choices you can add more than enough of a burst of bright contrasting colour.
5. Contrast the natural warmth of wood
Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith
For a beautifully crafted wooden staircase left in its original state, i.e unpainted and uncarpeted, striking white walls can go a long way to show off the natural beauty. The bright white surrounding walls draw attention to the warmth of the wooden design.
Choose neutral shades for carpets or hallway runners to add a softness to floors, without distracting from the natural colour scheme.
6. Paint the stairs
Image credit: Future PLC/ Claire Lloyd Davies
The white provides a blank canvas for most of this hallway, and the stair treads provide a pop of colour that leads the eye up. Choose a colour that is incorporated elsewhere in the house to subtly link the rooms, offering a continuous flow throughout the journey from one space to another.
7. Create a gallery wall against the white
Image credit: David Giles
White walls are synonymous with galleries and studio spaces, so they are a fitting backdrop for your own gallery wall. Create a personal and warm welcome with a montage of framed family pictures – keep the frames to one colour for simple, sophisticated unity, or mix them up in a rainbow of colours for a fun look.
Balance the amount of frames with the size of your hallway – don’t overcrowd the space. A friendly face or two is enough to make a great first impression in any home.
8. Use a mix of white tones
Image credit: Robert Sanderson
A clever trick is to use the brightest white on the ceiling to give an impression of height, and make the hallway feel instantly bigger. Combining subtle variations of white shades on difference surfaces prevents the space from feeling flat by enhancing the different elements – from walls to woodwork, cornicing to ceilings.
9. Contrast white walls with a coloured front door
Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson
While the hallway walls may be white, the front door is a welcome surface to add a splash of playful colour. Front and back – why not double up on the opportunity to add colour?
And may we suggest yellow, it’s trending. ‘Yellow offers the warmest of welcomes for any front door’ says Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux.
‘All around the world we recognise the power of this joyful shade to conjure hope, positivity and happiness. It is the smile on the face of your house – which is infectious to all who walk past’.
10. Add colour and pattern to a white backdrop with a door curtain
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme
Having chosen an all-white colour scheme doesn’t mean that you can’t invite an accent colour and pattern through fabrics. A door curtain is an easy way to do just that, not to mention a great way to insulate and keep draughts at bay – to keep homes warm in winter.
Because this style of curtain is only in use typically when the door is not in use, it offers just a slither of colour and pattern for the majority of the time. The decorative element is therefore not overwhelming for an all-white scheme.
11. Use mirrors to make the white bright
Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore
Mirrors are a simple yet effective way to make a space feel brighter. If you’ve chosen white for your hallway it might well be in order to make the space feel bigger and brighter, if you have a narrow hallway for instance.
Multiple mirrors placed near the source of light, from a front door or window, help to reflect and bounce it around the wider space. White is used for photographic purposes to reflect light, making it an ideal pigment to make this trick work best.
12. Choose a monochrome wallpaper
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles
Don’t be afraid to incorporate pattern, just because you want a clean look. Adding a patterned wallpaper in monochrome is a great way to add a decorative element, without straying to far from the neutral scheme.
Adding a design to a select area of the wall also helps to limit the chances of overpowering the space, like the tasteful wallpaper used above the wood panelling in this white and grey hallway idea.
13. Pair white walls with dark floor tiles
Image credit: Future PLC/ David Hiscock
A dark floor paired with ivory white walls and ceilings helps to create the illusion of a bigger space. The stark contrast between the two tones helps to set them further apart, like an optical illusion. This flooring and paint pairing also helps you to create an effortlessly modern monochrome feel.
Is it ok to paint a hallway white?
It is more than ok to paint a hallway white, it’s a brilliant idea – for all the reasons we’ve explored above. The only thing you have to be sure of when painting hallways white is that you choose a suitable paint finish.
Look for a durable paint that can withstand possible scuffs and knocks, as a high traffic area with people coming and going it’s likely to be the worst place for this to occur.
Is white a good colour for hallway?
White is a good colour for a hallway to keep the space light, bright and welcoming. With so many depths of white, it doesn’t have to feel like a cold soulless space – look for off-white tones to add warmth. Farrow & Ball are the masters of providing a white that’s not ‘white’ – take for example Strong White, that feels more light grey in tone, but does the job of a neutral white.
How do you brighten a white hallway?
You can add further brightness to a white hallway with thoughtful hallway lighting ideas, to make sure the space is illuminated to the max. Mix overhead lighting, from pendants to directional spotlights as the main source of lighting – welcoming lamps to add ambient touches.
Adding mirrors will ensure natural light is bounced around the space during the day, helping to effortlessly make the white walls feel brighter.
Will you be embracing the brilliance of white for your hallway?
The post White hallway ideas – create a pleasingly bright entrance using shades of white appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 7 min
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