Is Wood and White the Ultimate Bedroom Combination?
This colour and material combination brings warmth and comfort to your bedroom, along with a sense of calm
Neila Deen
30 June 2017
When you think of a palette of wood and white, a sleek kitchen might come to mind, or even a modern sunroom. But this neutral and serene pairing can also be a winning combination in the bedroom. White adds a clean, calm feeling to a room, while the warm tones and organic textures of wood create depth and visual interest, particularly against a white backdrop.
Thanks to its simplicity, it’s not difficult to achieve a well-designed look with this pared-down palette. Check out these 12 bedrooms for inspiration.
Thanks to its simplicity, it’s not difficult to achieve a well-designed look with this pared-down palette. Check out these 12 bedrooms for inspiration.
1. Graphic statement
To set the foundation for a wood-and-white palette in your bedroom, you might select furniture or decorative elements crafted from wood. A notable wooden dresser or bed can be a great place to begin.
Why it works: Wood creates a stylish impact against a white backdrop by adding depth and texture to a simple white scheme. It’s also fairly easy to implement since wood is a common finish for most large bedroom furniture pieces.
To set the foundation for a wood-and-white palette in your bedroom, you might select furniture or decorative elements crafted from wood. A notable wooden dresser or bed can be a great place to begin.
Why it works: Wood creates a stylish impact against a white backdrop by adding depth and texture to a simple white scheme. It’s also fairly easy to implement since wood is a common finish for most large bedroom furniture pieces.
2. Textural resting spot
To keep your white-and-wood palette from feeling too plain, create silhouettes, or shapes, in different shades of white. In this room, the varied silhouettes – including the textured rectangular rug, round lighting fixture and oblong sconces – add interest.
Why it works: The additional depth of white shapes gives a neutral bedroom more visual punch. You might try layering white-hued items with contrasting textures, such as a braided ivory rug under an ottoman made of faux sheepskin.
Texture-rich tricks you can reach out and touch
To keep your white-and-wood palette from feeling too plain, create silhouettes, or shapes, in different shades of white. In this room, the varied silhouettes – including the textured rectangular rug, round lighting fixture and oblong sconces – add interest.
Why it works: The additional depth of white shapes gives a neutral bedroom more visual punch. You might try layering white-hued items with contrasting textures, such as a braided ivory rug under an ottoman made of faux sheepskin.
Texture-rich tricks you can reach out and touch
3. Romantic hideaway
This romantic bedroom is a strong example of using shapes and shades of white to elevate a wood-and-white room. Large vertical swaths of fabric and the curved silhouette of the chairs, all in white, enhance the elegant, primarily monochromatic palette.
Design tip: Choose a different texture within the same hue for each silhouette. For example, select a square pillow in perhaps a silk fabric for your curved velvet armchair. This contrast in shape and fabric will create further visual interest and give the room a cohesive and designed look.
This romantic bedroom is a strong example of using shapes and shades of white to elevate a wood-and-white room. Large vertical swaths of fabric and the curved silhouette of the chairs, all in white, enhance the elegant, primarily monochromatic palette.
Design tip: Choose a different texture within the same hue for each silhouette. For example, select a square pillow in perhaps a silk fabric for your curved velvet armchair. This contrast in shape and fabric will create further visual interest and give the room a cohesive and designed look.
4. Just a dab of colour
A wood-and-white bedroom doesn’t have to go completely without colour. You can add neutral tones such as beige and grey or, if you prefer, subtle hints of bright shades.
Why it works: When kept to a minimum, as shown here, a little colour can create an exciting feature within your still-soothing palette.
A wood-and-white bedroom doesn’t have to go completely without colour. You can add neutral tones such as beige and grey or, if you prefer, subtle hints of bright shades.
Why it works: When kept to a minimum, as shown here, a little colour can create an exciting feature within your still-soothing palette.
5. Picture perfect
Here’s another example of colour usage to make a wood-and-white room feel richer. The grey throw blanket echoes the subtle grey tones of the wood and gives the room some added warmth.
Why it works: The accessories, including the black-and-white art, add visual interest and keep the bedroom from looking too stark.
Here’s another example of colour usage to make a wood-and-white room feel richer. The grey throw blanket echoes the subtle grey tones of the wood and gives the room some added warmth.
Why it works: The accessories, including the black-and-white art, add visual interest and keep the bedroom from looking too stark.
6. Shimmer above
Give your wood-and-white bedroom a luxurious and glamorous feeling by accessorising with mirrors or metallic details, such as this beautiful chandelier.
Why it works: Mirrors and shiny finishes are essentially neutral colours. Introducing these metallic or reflective surfaces can maintain your serene palette while elevating the decor with a little glitz.
Give your wood-and-white bedroom a luxurious and glamorous feeling by accessorising with mirrors or metallic details, such as this beautiful chandelier.
Why it works: Mirrors and shiny finishes are essentially neutral colours. Introducing these metallic or reflective surfaces can maintain your serene palette while elevating the decor with a little glitz.
7. Gilded drama
Here, an ornate gold mirror makes a statement in a simple bedroom. The decorative silhouette and neutral gold tones add some glam while still allowing the palette to radiate a calm and peaceful feeling.
Design tip: Select accessories such as crystal chandeliers or brass drawer pulls as an easy way to give your bedroom a beautiful shine.
The glamour of antiqued mirrors
Here, an ornate gold mirror makes a statement in a simple bedroom. The decorative silhouette and neutral gold tones add some glam while still allowing the palette to radiate a calm and peaceful feeling.
Design tip: Select accessories such as crystal chandeliers or brass drawer pulls as an easy way to give your bedroom a beautiful shine.
The glamour of antiqued mirrors
8. Organic escape
You can’t go wrong by accessorising your wood-and-white bedroom with plants and flowers.
Why it works: Botanicals stand out against crisp white yet seamlessly blend with the organic nature of wood. They are relatively cost-efficient and can make a seamless impact.
You can’t go wrong by accessorising your wood-and-white bedroom with plants and flowers.
Why it works: Botanicals stand out against crisp white yet seamlessly blend with the organic nature of wood. They are relatively cost-efficient and can make a seamless impact.
9. Dramatic contrast
In this ebony-and-white bedroom, the flowers subtly add a natural element to the dark tones of the room. They also bring an organic silhouette against the dark wood and white backdrop and give a fresh feeling to the room.
Design tip: In terms of choosing plants, deeper green and bright red or rose colours look beautiful in a room where the palette is one of striking contrast, such as ebony wood with white.
In this ebony-and-white bedroom, the flowers subtly add a natural element to the dark tones of the room. They also bring an organic silhouette against the dark wood and white backdrop and give a fresh feeling to the room.
Design tip: In terms of choosing plants, deeper green and bright red or rose colours look beautiful in a room where the palette is one of striking contrast, such as ebony wood with white.
10. Sauna-like
A prominent wooden architectural detail can certainly be the star feature of your wood-and-white bedroom, if you’re in the fortunate position of already having one in place or to be getting one via a renovation.
Why it works: Creating a simple white palette to surround wooden detail allows the wood to draw the eye. With a star feature such as this ceiling and bed wall, the rest of the room need not be particularly expensive – simple, cost-effective white furniture and textiles suffice.
Browse more restful white bedrooms
A prominent wooden architectural detail can certainly be the star feature of your wood-and-white bedroom, if you’re in the fortunate position of already having one in place or to be getting one via a renovation.
Why it works: Creating a simple white palette to surround wooden detail allows the wood to draw the eye. With a star feature such as this ceiling and bed wall, the rest of the room need not be particularly expensive – simple, cost-effective white furniture and textiles suffice.
Browse more restful white bedrooms
11. Planked
A wooden ceiling is clearly the crowning glory of this narrow bedroom. The minimalist decor and neutral palette below encourage the eye to look up.
Design tip: You don’t have to plank your ceiling in wood to get a strong architectural feature. Ordinary wooden structural elements, such as wood flooring or refinished wooden window frames, can also be beautiful design features in a wood-and-white room.
A wooden ceiling is clearly the crowning glory of this narrow bedroom. The minimalist decor and neutral palette below encourage the eye to look up.
Design tip: You don’t have to plank your ceiling in wood to get a strong architectural feature. Ordinary wooden structural elements, such as wood flooring or refinished wooden window frames, can also be beautiful design features in a wood-and-white room.
12. Feature wall
Here, the bed wall is showcased in a beautiful wood. This design detail transforms the bedroom by adding a rustic atmosphere to balance the white and glass.
Design tip: If you want to get the look of reclaimed wood, call a professional to help you choose and install a wood that looks old but won’t give you splinters.
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Here, the bed wall is showcased in a beautiful wood. This design detail transforms the bedroom by adding a rustic atmosphere to balance the white and glass.
Design tip: If you want to get the look of reclaimed wood, call a professional to help you choose and install a wood that looks old but won’t give you splinters.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation!
More
Read more bedroom stories
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The wood and white together is nice, but somewhat boring. There's not much imagination or creativity in the very limited palette.
I like #5 best.
I love nature so I'm a bit biased. I enjoy every opportunity to bring a little bit of greenspace indoors and this bedroom does a great job welcoming the outdoors in.