The most pleasant place in the house, where you can relax after a hard day or spend a fun evening with friends, is the living room. A room that can be decorated in any style, choose an interesting color scheme to ensure maximum comfort while staying in it. Light shades charge with positive thoughts and emotions, however, there are some disadvantages of white furniture.
White color captivates with its lightness, purity and elegance
White furniture in the living room interior: pros and cons
Advantages:
- Looks harmonious in all styles.
- Visually expands the space.
- Conducive to relaxation.
- Emphasizes neatness, cleanliness, lightness.
- You can choose any additional colors for decorating and finishing the room.
Flaws:
- Impracticality - light-colored furniture is prone to stains, which are quite difficult to clean.
- If the living room design is also made in white, a “sterile” effect may appear, like in a hospital room, so you need to take into account some features of the overall design.
Dimensions
The size of the library must meet certain accepted criteria. But at the same time, its dimensions must skillfully fit the room. If you have a small room, you can put a miniature bookcase in it.
Even the smallest bookcase can hold a large number of books.
Large rooms, such as a hallway or library, can be equipped with a large and tall bookcase. Its sizes can be very different; it can consist of 5-10 sections. It is important to purchase products of such a size that the area of the room allows you to install it without unnecessary obstacles. If you place a bookcase in a bookcase, it should fill the entire wall.
But if you are buying such furniture to decorate the hallway and you have very few books, then you can buy a small, low cabinet.
A medium-sized bookcase in a modern apartment occupies an area of about 100 by 30 cm; there are also smaller models. Don't worry, a standard bookcase may not be the right size for you.
You can always take all the necessary measurements and order this product according to individual parameters.
The depth of the bookcase also plays an important role. To accommodate standard size books, the shelf must be at least 15 cm deep. The average depth is 25 cm. But for large-format publications there are cabinets up to 35 cm deep.
The shelves must be very strong and thick. It is better if their thickness is at least 2 cm.
The structure must support the weight of the books, so the shelves are usually not very long. Large bookcases consist of several sections divided along the length by small shelves. This is also because long and thin shelves may not support the weight of heavy print media.
Subtleties and tricks of living room design with white furniture
White color is neutral and reflects light perfectly. Because of this property, it becomes possible to play with the lighting and decoration of the room.
A small room decorated with a predominance of white becomes visually wider and taller
Adding yellow elements to a white interior dramatically changes the atmosphere of the room.
If you add notes of brown to the duet of white and yellow, the atmosphere in the living room will become much warmer
If the living room is well lit by sunlight, it is better to add warm shades: brown, orange, red, then the furniture will only enhance the overall velvety feel. If the desire is reversed, and you need to create an atmosphere of detachment, it is enough to decorate the room in a cold tone: blue, blue, violet. In this case, the main lighting is selected according to: the lamp should be daylight or blue-white. Pastel colors in combination with white furniture will add tenderness and some fragility to the room.
To protect furniture from quickly occurring dirt, you can purchase covers. In this case, it is much easier to keep it snow-white for a long time.
The choice of the amount of furniture directly depends on the size of the living room
A couple of roomy sofas would be appropriate in a spacious room.
A small room should not be completely filled with furniture; a sofa and two armchairs will be enough
Filling options
Although traditional bookcases are designed with shelves, these products can come in a variety of different contents. In addition, these can be either classic open shelves or closed drawers and other elements.
As for the shelves, they are usually located in several rows above each other. In addition, they are subject to certain requirements.
The shelves should be about 3cm thick, which is essential to fit so that they can support the weight of the books.
They should not be longer than 100 cm. In addition to this standard filling option, any bookcase should have tall shelves for displaying large-format prints and small shelves for storing magazines.
A separate compartment for special old books is also great.
Drawers should be provided for storing large publications such as encyclopedias. In addition, they can be deep or, conversely, very small. You can put writing utensils, newspapers, and magazines in them.
Choosing a color scheme for a living room with white furniture
Depending on the desired mood inside the room, a color scheme is selected. Beige, milky, cream combined with white give a soft, warm atmosphere. Red, orange, yellow give a bright, sunny design.
White, beige and gold - a harmonious trio for an interior in a modern style
The gray and white combination is perfect for relaxation
The snow-white interior can be diluted with pink or black accents
Purple and blue will add restraint; it is better not to use them if there is not enough daylight in the room. Shades of green add freshness.
Green wall decoration will favorably emphasize the regular shapes of white furniture
Modern library
It is not always possible to place a library in modern apartments, since some of them do not have very large areas.
Especially many problems arise with studio apartments, in which a separate room plays the role of a living room and a bedroom. A suitable option would be a corner cabinet, which can accommodate a variety of book items.
Also in this case, you can place a small bookcase in the corridor, where you can then move several books.
In a private house it is much easier to decide on the placement of book products, especially in a two-story house. With a custom bookcase, you can place most of the bookcase under the flight of stairs leading to the second floor.
There are many interesting proposals in modern bookcase ideas designs.
A bookcase, the size of which completely covers the wall, amazingly turns the room into a full-fledged bookcase, creating a unique environment.
A room with a small area, where the space does not allow it to be equipped with cabinet furniture, you can use the option of placing walls and bookcases. At the same time, in terms of its characteristics, this furniture is not inferior to full-fledged bookcases.
Decorating a room for design with white furniture
White color is universal and goes well with other tones.
Floor finishing
Glossy flooring in the living room in light or gray colors has become very popular. This allows you to visually expand the room, however, such a floor will retain traces of feet and paws of pets, and it is problematic to clean it from dust and stains. Most of the room with a glossy floor can be covered with a soft carpet, then the issue of cleaning will not be so acute. The second unusual option is tiling.
White flooring made of laminated panels looks unusually stylish in the interior of a modern living room.
Traditionally, wood parquet, laminate, and linoleum look good. If brightly colored objects are used for decoration, you can lay a coating of black, dark gray or dark brown.
Upholstered furniture with white upholstery looks good against a dark brown floor.
Ceiling finishing
For the top of the room you need to use a light color scheme, which makes the ceiling move away and pushes the upper border. An excellent option is suspended ceilings, into which it is easy to install lamps of unusual shapes.
The ceiling can be smooth or textured depending on the chosen style direction
The effect of modern, fusion, and loft styles can be enhanced by a ceiling with mirror tiles or panels. Mirrors reflect light from lamps, greatly expand the space even in a small room, and also add uniqueness to the interior of the living room. It’s not difficult to fix a mirror fragment on a stretch ceiling, even on your own.
Decorating the living room ceiling with mirror surfaces
Wall decoration
The walls of the living room can be decorated with any material: panels, wallpaper, brick, stone. You can simply plaster and paint the walls. The color scheme can be any, depending on the desired style of the room, since white furniture can be combined with any shades. Patterns and drawings on the walls are allowed.
The accent wall of the living room can be effectively highlighted with 3D panels
Dark, black walls will compress the room, visually making it smaller and cramped.
Dosed addition of black color will make the interior more original and interesting
The combination of white, red and gray colors looks bright and attractive in a spacious living room.
Types of designs
Cabinets are used in rooms for various purposes and for different purposes, so they differ in shape, size, and opening methods. One of the criteria is the type of installation, it affects the design of the product. So, a free-standing wardrobe can be placed anywhere in the room. This is an independent structure, the body of which consists of three walls, an upper and lower cover and doors. This model can be easily rearranged or taken out of the room. Such manipulations are impossible with the built-in variety, since the role of the side walls is played by the walls of the room. Often the location of the wardrobe is a niche. In any case, it is impossible to transfer such a model. A separate group includes partially built-in cabinets, which have only some body elements.
Classification of wall cabinets, their features and placement rules
By purpose
Cabinets differ in purpose. This criterion is taken into account when purchasing furniture for a particular room.
- Clothes room - designed for storing clothes; it can have a hinged or sliding system for opening the doors. The interior is equipped with shelves and rods.
- A wardrobe is another clothing storage system that differs from a wardrobe in its greater capacity and variety of internal equipment. In addition to the usual shelves, the design is equipped with a built-in chest of drawers, a shoe rack, all kinds of containers, baskets, organizers, hooks, and holders.
- Linen furniture is a low cabinet with drawers, otherwise called a chest of drawers.
- Utensils - open or closed, included in the kitchen set. An elegant cabinet on legs with glass doors is installed in the dining room or living room - this model is called a showcase.
- Bookcase (rack) - can be through or with a back wall. It can also be used to store toys in the nursery or small items in the living room.
- Pencil case - used for dishes, tools or detergents. It has a small width. It is often installed in the hallway or bathroom.
Compared to conventional hinged models, the white sliding wardrobe is durable and reliable: the furniture facades will never warp, and the hinges will not sag.
Wardrobe
Book
Dresser
Pencil case
Clothes
Posudny
By shape
Depending on the area and layout of the room, choose the shape of the cabinet: straight, angular or radius.
| View | Description |
| Straight | The simplest model. It is installed along one of the walls, less often - across the room as a zoning element. Differs in spaciousness. Can be free-standing or built-in |
| L-shaped | Installed along two adjacent walls |
| Five-walled | The corner element can be in the form of a trapezoid or triangle |
| Diagonal and trapezoidal | Completely occupies the corner. It has a large capacity. In cross section it is a triangle or trapezoid |
| Radial | It can be concave, convex and wavy. Requires a lot of free space for installation |
The filling of a white cabinet can be anything - the options are limited only by the designer’s imagination.
L-shaped
Diagonal
Straight
Five-walled
Radial
By size
When choosing what the cabinet design should be, take into account the parameters of the room. When taking measurements, they take into account not only the width, height, and length of the installation site, but also the location of door and window openings, window sills, heating radiators, switches, and sockets. The presence of baseboards, gaps, and unevenness are also taken into account. Only then can the appropriate type of structure be determined. It can be low or built up to the ceiling.
Functionality of cabinet partitions, furniture placement options
One of the important parameters of a cabinet is its depth. The optimal value is 600 mm, the minimum is 300 mm. There are standard requirements that affect the safety of the structure:
- The width of the horizontal shelf cannot be less than 400 mm and more than 1000 mm.
- The rod should not be longer than 900 mm.
- If the width of the drawer is more than 600 mm, it is recommended to replace fiberboard with chipboard to make its bottom.
When developing a sketch of a cabinet that will be made to order, ergonomic indicators must be taken into account: the design must be easy to use and also safe.
Photos of examples of interesting living room design with white furniture
The best examples of white furniture in the living room - interior photos:
Combined options
Bookcases these days are often combined with other furniture. Two different functional elements can be easily separated by a partition. So, a bookcase can be combined with a wardrobe. Moreover, they both can have the same design. Such furniture is somewhat reminiscent of a modular wall, in which the pencil case will play the role of a bookcase.
The cabinet in such models usually has a classic closed design.
This solution is ideal for storing books and clothes. It can be installed in any living room and even in the bedroom. In addition, models with space for a TV are most often installed in the hall.
They can accommodate other household appliances, as well as some decorative elements, for example, photo frames, figurines, clocks. They are a great addition to any library. This design can decorate any living room.
The combined version of the bookcase is most often installed in the children's room.
In this case, you can buy a model that will be designed for storing books and toys. Books can be placed on the shelves, and the shelves can be closed, and children's toys and accessories can be placed on open shelves, alternating with books. In children's rooms, models combined with a computer desk are often installed.
Such furniture designs will help to properly organize the child’s workplace.
Materials
The surface becomes glossy thanks to elements made of plastic, glass, coated with colored film, or acrylic.
The material of the facade affects not only the appearance, but also the entire interior, setting the style of the room.
Film. Cheap raw materials. It is glued to the facade using a vacuum method, fits tightly to the surface, capturing the joints. Due to this, a shiny plane is created.
It is characterized by ease of application on any surface and preservation of its structure after cleaning. Minuses:
- short service life - over time, the gloss fades and gets scratched;
- low resistance to sunlight;
- cannot be restored after damage.
Plastic. The most popular type.
It is glued to a laminated chipboard or MDF panel, fitting the front part without affecting the joints, where moisture subsequently penetrates, leading to damage to the furniture. Plastic is afraid of minor damage, does not tolerate cleaning with detergents, and scratches are clearly visible on it. If necessary, it can be restored with wax crayons or a “furniture touch.” High gloss enamel . Environmentally friendly, impact-resistant enamel. Obtained by mixing various components. Applying multi-colored, shiny paint to a surface is a labor-intensive and expensive process. It stands out for its high quality and the ability to restore the coating.
Acrylic. Refers to common types of plastic. Produced in a wide range of colors and transmits light remarkably well. Durable, safe material, which is a flat, smooth surface, similar to painted glass.
Features of repair and care
Often, due to humidity or temperature changes, the glossy film begins to peel off, since the gloss cannot withstand physical impact. There is no need to rub it or heat it too much. You can use Moment glue. It is applied along the edge of the film and onto the façade area. Sometimes the film peels off literally after the furniture is delivered to the apartment. This means that the manufacturer uses a low-quality glue composition or the technology was violated in the manufacture of furniture.
In this case, the client has the right to return the goods to the store and demand compensation for the costs incurred. In order for the glossy facade to always look attractive, it needs to be properly cared for. This is especially true in the kitchen. There should not be excess moisture here, otherwise the shelves and doors will swell and may even become moldy. When installing glossy furniture in the kitchen, you need to take into account that sunlight should not fall directly on the glossy finish.
If you purchased a concentrated detergent for cleaning, it must be diluted with water before use. It is best to buy a special paste for cleaning shiny surfaces. Hardware stores sell stain removers for glossy surfaces: VuPlex, Gloss, Amway and others. They contain special substances that create a protective film on furniture. If your apartment has a steam cleaner, then you can do without chemicals altogether.
In addition, there are now a lot of dishwashing detergents in stores, which can also be used. Rags should be made of microfiber or disposable , sold in skeins. First, the cleaning composition is applied to the surface of the door, then wiped with a damp cloth and then wiped dry.
Modern sliding wardrobes are available in various versions, and often buyers find it difficult to choose which one is right for them.
If you don't have a special detergent, you can prepare a warm soapy solution, especially suitable for plastic gloss.
How to care for a white glossy swing wardrobe
It may seem that the white glossy surface is too susceptible to the formation of dust and dirt. In fact, if a slight dusty deposit appears on the shelves, it will not be too noticeable, as, for example, in the case of wenge-colored furniture. However, you still shouldn’t be careless with white furniture. Its surface should be regularly cleaned of dirt, and then it will delight you with its ideal appearance for a long time.
Most often, a wardrobe with a matte white finish is placed in the bedroom. This option is one of the most practical; it is characterized by maximum resistance to dirt. However, we emphasize that today glossy cabinets are still considered more stylish. They are more demanding to care for, which is why it is worth taking a few tips on board.
| Expert advice | Characteristic |
| Regular dusting | To remove dust from a glossy surface, it is recommended to use a special antistatic agent that has a special effect. Due to it, a very thin film appears, and it prevents electrical charges from attracting dust particles |
| Removing greasy stains from the surface | To remove greasy stains and traces of hand touch from glossy surfaces, you need to use special solvents. In this case, it is prohibited to use any other means |
| UV protection | If the location of the cabinet is such that it is opposite a window, make sure that its facades and shelves on the sides are protected from the sun. For this purpose, you can use regular wax. If this is not done, there is a risk of the varnish becoming dull, as well as the possibility that the surface will begin to crack. |
Do not forget that the properties of a white swing wardrobe, such as its durability, functionality and practicality, largely depend on the quality of the hinges and their operating mechanism. If they are made from reliable materials, your furniture will function flawlessly. Thus, when buying a cabinet with hinged fronts, be sure to find out what kind of fittings are in it, how high quality and durable they are.
