Decorate your home the white way

While home experts are currently proclaiming the virtues of colour, it's easy to forget the most versatile shade of them all. White is often considered a safe or boring choice, suitable only for those who are unfashionably colour-phobic. But it's a great starting point for any scheme – and perfect for a hot climate like the UAE as it is a very cool colour, which can make a property feel light and airy. And it needn't require the sort of high maintenance that necessitates you whirling round constantly scrubbing off offending marks or scuffs. Stylist and white devotee Gail Abbott is passionate about the advantages of using white. "White can be used to make dark rooms look spacious and airy, reflecting what little light is allowed in," she says. "Pure, fresh and peaceful, a white room can be used as a stylish backdrop to many different types of interior," she enthuses. Abbott, who visited beautiful white interiors around the world during her research for new book Living With White , knows first hand how well white works. "A white painted room has become one of the most popular decorating classics. It's guaranteed not to go out of fashion, and never looks dated. Marble floors, white painted furniture and natural textures can be teamed with white to bring a unique style to an unassuming space." Modern homes, like many in new Dubai, rely on clean lines and contemporary styling and white creates a clean and cool space. But remember to add some splashes of colour where you can. Abbott adds: "White is a brilliant blank canvas, but a room does need to be dressed otherwise it can be a featureless space. "Once you've got a white base it's easy to enliven the scheme with flashes of vivid colour that create dramatic pools of brilliance, or contrast it with black for a fashionable monochrome effect." There's an endless variety of white shades available, from those that are as brilliant as snow through to warmer, historic shades reminiscent of whipped cream or sea surf. And stores such as The White Company have made a killing from going all white. "Consider pairing two different shades of white, add texture in furniture and furnishings, and discreet touches of colour on one vivid feature wall," says Abbott. Follow this guide to creating great white spaces. Wicked White Walls "White gives modern spaces a light bright, crisp effect that is the perfect foil for this year's bold colour-blocked look that has only just made its way off the catwalk and into our homes," says Louise Smith, Dulux Colour & Design manager. She suggests using Dulux Pure Brilliant White, which contrasts well with blues like Lost Lake, Raspberry Bellini or the pale yellow Melon Sorbet. For a gentler soft white , try White Cotton or White Chiffon for a warm glow, or her favourite, White Mist. Dulux's Light & Space collection boasts white shades with light-reflecting properties. Look out for Absolute White emulsion. If you're struggling to decide on a shade, Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, has a handy tip: "Paint the white on a piece of A3 paper and put it on the wall to check the shade in different lights." White Floor Show Painting floorboards white has long been a cheap and cheerful floor fix and this is still a good way of lightening up a room. If you can't face the stress of sanding, painting and applying a protective coating, you could opt for Scandi-style replacement floorboards. A cheaper option is painting the floors. Wimborne White or Slipper Satin are two of the most popular white shades in Farrow & Ball's floor paint range. White Windows Simple white curtains in cotton, linen or cotton muslin, provide the perfect basis for a clean and minimal room. But if you hang unlined white bedroom curtains it's sensible to also have blackout blinds so the early morning light doesn't disturb your sleep. The One has white curtains and Roman blinds in 100% semi-sheer linen. White Style White furniture, particularly seating, can't fail to look luxurious and needn't be incompatible with children's sticky fingers or pets' muddy paws. Be savvy and use loose cotton white covers that are easy to clean (most marks disappear after a high temperature wash) or just protect with white throws, available at The White Company. The beauty of white furniture is that even large pieces are less likely to dominate a space. If classy country is your preference, the squashy, comfy Ektorp three-seater sofa from Ikea is a steal at Dh1,409. A white loose cover is Dh210. If contemporary's more your bag – and you've got the budget for investment pieces – Boutique 1 Living at Jumeirah Beach Residence has a covetable designer collection. The One's Sancia sofa in white leather adds a touch of class to any room. And BoConcept has a range of stylish pieces from chairs to lights that will suit all tastes. Those with less of a budget should try Dwell. Where a stylish range includes a fabulous nest of three lacquered tables for Dh1,044. Sleep White White's a natura