White is loved for its simple, clean look, but painting a room in this neutral shade doesn’t have to mean giving up on color. In fact, white is the perfect canvas for brilliant hues in any room of the home. Need proof? Click through for 70+ stunning white rooms punctuated with pops of color.
In case you missed it, ochre is one of the hottest hues at the moment. Designer Luke Havekes embraced the trend in his principal bedroom with a handsome velvet bench at the foot of the bed — perfect for getting ready in the morning.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home March 2020
Designer: Luke Havekes
“The house is filled with different woods and black, gray and white so, in the kitchen, we wanted something colorful, rich and slightly traditional,” says homeowner Kendra Patton of the green cabinets.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home May 2020
Designer: Peter Atkinson
Something as simple as a piece of art can enliven a room with color — just look to this dramatic principal bathroom. Elegant Corian marble ties in the cool gray tones of the vanity and faucets, providing a clean slate for the artwork to sing.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home May 2020
Designer: Daniel Harland, Roundabout Studio
Designer Gillian Gillies layered a sumptuous velvet eggplant couch with pillows in shades of purple to create an ombre effect. She kept the rest of the room grounded with charcoal gray and muted beige accents.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2020
Designer: Gillian Gillies
Two sunny swivel chairs create a cozy reading nook in this colorful penthouse‘s principal bedroom. “I needed a pop of happiness,” says designer Anne Hepfer.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Anne Hepfer
In this old world kitchen, an apothecary-style counter, bespoke cabinets and trim stun in forest green. Cherry red bar stools are a bold design choice, but designer Jack Creasy made it feel more classic than Christmas-y!
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2020
Designer: Jack Creasy, Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry
Incorporate a standout shade — without the commitment — by opting for colorful accessories that can easily be replaced season to season. Exhibit A: this bold Pendleton blanket.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home June 2020
Designer: Michael Angus
This sunset-hued living room boasts a peachy-pink built-in console and red accent chair, which gets even more style cred, thanks to a gilded coffee table and mod black accents.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Ben Leavitt, Plaidfox
“It took a long time to find the pink sofas for the living room,” says homeowner Quinn Cooper of the whimsical space. “I wanted something light and easy in the first room you see when you walk in the house.”
Photographer: Stephani Buchman
Source: House & Home April 2020
Designer: Architecture & design by StudioAC; Interior decorating by Quinn Cooper
A sure-fire way to pack a punch in the dining room? Layer an eye-catching rug (like this gorgeous turquoise number) under the table! It acts like a piece of artwork underfoot.
Photographer: Stephani Buchman
Source: House & Home April 2020
Designer: Architecture & design by StudioAC; Interior decorating by Quinn Cooper
This cozy guest bedroom has two elements we’re loving for the colder months: green velvet and buffalo check. The on-trend hue and playful pattern create a holiday-inspired sleep sanctuary.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home November 2020
Designer Christine Johnson turned this builder-basic condo into a designer-worthy pad with saturated hits of color. The living room’s artful mustard rug and playful coral pillows fill the white box with personality.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home October 2019
Designer: Christine Johnson
These ocean blue dining chairs are beautiful in their simplicity. Paired with chartreuse accent chairs, this room feels cool and elegant.
Photographer: Andre Rider
Source: House & Home December 2020
Designer: Scott Yetman
Want to make a memorable first impression in your entryway? Look to designer Scott Yetman: he painted the wall of his country home black to highlight the unique ceilings and added a sunshine yellow ottoman for maximum impact.
Photographer: Andre Rider
Source: House & Home December 2020
Designer: Scott Yetman
Looking for an unexpected way to add a touch of color? Make a bold first impression in your entryway with a cobalt stair runner. The artful piece’s curvy trim mimics the look of a puddle.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2019
Designer: Montana Burnett
Play up a black and white palette with dynamic shades of red. A Turkish rug with tones of pink, pale blue and purple helps to soften the space without taking the spotlight away from its key elements: the showstopping art.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2020
Designer: Architecture by Superkul
Homeowner Pamela Meredith not only brought comfort, but plenty of fun, to her kids’ media room by adding a bright, deep-seated sectional and patterned rug.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2020
Designer: Architecture by Superkul
Brighten up an otherwise neutral, contemporary breakfast nook with a trio of saturated dining chairs in contrasting hues: the bolder, the better.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home February 2020
Designer: Cuisines Steam
A colorful gallery wall that combines work from established artists, vintage finds and pieces from family members adds interest to this heritage living room. Bonus marks if the art matches the bold furniture, like this jewel-toned sectional.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home November 2019
Designer: Cynthia Zamaria
Toronto designer Shirley Meisels brings new life to a family’s living space by adding luxe red velvet Beetle lounge chairs. A light plum rug grounds the space without being too matchy-matchy.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home April 2019
Designer: Shirley Meisels
This periwinkle accent wall is a great way to add color without going too bold. Pair it with artful extras, like statement lighting, art and neutral furniture.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home December 2019
Designer: Katherine Newman
A sapphire couch and pretty pillows work simultaneously to add a splash of color to white walls, while tying in the nearby abstract art.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home April 2019
Designer: Erin Feasby & Cindy Bleeks, Feasby & Bleeks Design
Amp up a light-filled condo with a dynamic rug, vibrant lounge chair and stand out accessories, like this geometric coffee table. Even incorporating a touch of color with florals can bring a room back to life!
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2019
Designer: Patti Rosati
Designer Cameron MacNeil scrapped the usual upholstered headboard and replaced it with a dreamy landscape mural that pays homage to the modern farmhouse’s lush surroundings.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home May 2019
Designer: Cameron MacNeil
Rich, vibrant hues take center stage in Snob founder Denise Zidel’s cheerful living room. The multicolored strokes in William Perehudoff’s dynamic painting and a stained glass chandelier offset the crisp white walls. Tour the playful space on HHTV.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Denise Zidel
A luxurious pistachio rolled arm bench, woven blue throw and illustrious purple pillows offer cool depth in this high ceiling bedroom.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home June 2017
Designer: Kelly Hopter Interiors
Custom aqua green benches provide a bold contrast to the natural herringbone-laid hardwood floors in this spacious and symmetrical entryway.
Photographer: Phil Crozier
Source: House & Home June 2018
Designer: Kathy Yuen, Phase One Design
In the Gladstone Hotel’s Lucky Stryke room, designer Tommy Smythe wowed with graphic prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. “I photographed these bar, nightclub and restaurant matchbooks that nod to Toronto’s queer history, drew them and colored them vividly.”
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home August 2018
Designer: Tommy Smythe
Designer Joel Bray sure knows how to embrace color! Inspired by British designer Rose Uniacke, Bray added silky golden yellow curtains to his light-filled dining room.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Joel Bray
Designer Sarah Richardson’s Starlight Farm mudroom is charming in a gorgeous pigeon blue. The use of natural textures, including a row of braided storage baskets and a cowhide-covered bench, give the monochrome space the ultimate down-to-earth appeal.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home May 2018
Designer: Sarah Richardson
An eclectic mix of unexpected textures, global prints and vibrant colors delight in homeowner Ali Yaphe’s bohemian entryway. “When we stumble upon things we love, we find a space for them,” says Ali.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Ali Yaphe and Mazen El-Abdallah
Soft, feathery pink blooms cast a whisper of romance in this serene bedroom nook. An accent pillow in teal injects a refined punch of color.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home August 2018
Designer: Allison Willson
Designer Anne Hepfer brightened this Toronto abode using lively blue and yellow hues inspired by Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Morocco. In the family room, electric blue swivel chairs and throw pillows compliment the swathes of grey, while canary yellow chairs make the dining room sing.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home December 2018
Designer: Anne Hepfer
Sunny yellow accents breathe life into the all-white space, while a hued artwork by Stephen Williams, nestled between the built-ins, conjures a feeling of whimsy.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home July 2018
Designer: Fenwick Bonnell
In this artist’s compact Vancouver loft, an eclectic gallery wall commands attention with swirls of color and pattern. “My goal is to merge my work and my lie,” says homeowner Sara Shafran.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home September 2017
Designer: Erica Schmidt and Ivan Quintana, Median Design House
With blue statement-colored seating and joyous, dimensional hues underfoot, this Vancouver home office design is anything but boring.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home January 2019
Designer: Cathy Radcliffe and Teigan Jorgensen
Plenty of striking objets ornament the wall of this neutral living space, but none energize like artist Alex Katz’s radiant red Ariel print. Step inside this beachy Toronto home on HHTV.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home May 2018
Designer: Montana Burnett
A coat of sunny yellow paint instantly upgrades a floor-to-ceiling pantry door in this airy kitchen adorned with pale wood millwork.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Marianne Amodio
Tranquil tones of blue sedate this historical Tudor‘s minimal bathroom, swimming augustly in Massimo Vitali’s large-scale photograph of Scala dei Turchi in Italy.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Julie Charbonneau
In designer Denisa Nica’s European-inspired condo, a deep cobalt sofa ties in the coffee table’s ceramic bowl from Positano, Italy.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home November 2018
Designer: Denisa Nica
A fiery red armchair sets this neutral room ablaze with personality. The emboldened hue is a definite conversation starter and brilliant contrast to the room’s wraparound grey seating and stark white walls.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home January 2018
Designer: Youssef Hasbani
Botanical curtains in a bright citrus hue add a dash of vibrancy without taking away from the artful soaker tub, herringbone tile floors and graphic steel windows in this inviting country home.
Photographer: Phil Crozier
Source: House & Home February 2019
Designer: Nyla Free
So long, all-white kitchens! This personality-packed space proves more is more with a green-blue Tolix table, moody lower cabinets and playful artwork painted by one of the homeowner’s children.
Photographer: Felix Forest
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Sarah Lavoine
A rich eggplant-colored sofa is the perfect place to kick back next to a roaring fire. “In the dead of winter, this is my favorite room in the house,” says homeowner Leigh Gravenor.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2018
For Janine Morrison, founder of Tonic Living, it’s all about the Turkish kilim rug draped over the headboard in her principal bedroom, which offers an eclectic mix of color and pattern to the breezy bedroom.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home August 2018
Designer: Janine Morrison
This formal dining room is all about drama thanks to the sapphire upholstery, eye-catching chandeliers and large custom table.
Photographer: Robin Stubbert
Source: House & Home July 2018
Designer: Brittaney Elgner, Olly + Em
In designer Joel Bray’s airy kitchen, a velvet tufted banquette in a sophisticated green hue elevates this breakfast nook from refined to restaurant-worthy. Watch the impressive transformation on HHTV.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Joel Bray
An emerald velvet sofa in a geometric shape beautifully contrasts with a collection of plinths topped with abandoned birds’ nests for a rustic-meets-refined feel.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home May 2018
Designer: Produced by Morgan Michener and Stacey Smithers
In this compact office space, a highlighter desk cushion and color-blocked painting add modern edge to the classic mid-century modern desk.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home August 2018
Designer: Valerie Morisset
Coastal vibes abound in this dreamy space. The oversized striped couch, seaside photograph and vibrant aloe plant transforms you to a faraway place.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home July 2018
Designer: Produced by Stacey Smithers
A kilim rug, patchwork pouf and bright pink accent pillow ground all the white in designer Vi Jull’s living room.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home July 2016
Designer: Vi Jull
With its sunny yellow-striped walls, graphic flower rug and large-scale apple print, this playroom feels perfect for kids.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home May 2017
Designer: Tamara Taggart
“What I loved about this apartment is that you see a lot of the sky,” says homeowner Alison Pringle of why she bought her 400-square-foot space. To bring that feeling inside, she painted the ceiling a soft blue and coupled it with a poppy red headboard for warmth and drama.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home September 2014
Designer: Alison Pringle
To make the patterns in her small living room feel connected and not overwhelming, homeowner Alison Pringle stuck to a classic blue and white color scheme.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home September 2014
Designer: Alison Pringle
To give their Toronto condo a sumptuous, glam look, designers Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal of Les Ensembliers layered in fabrics and furnishings in dynamic colors, including an apple green lounge chair and cognac-toned sofa.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home January 2017
Designer: Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal, Les Ensembliers
For a fun contrast to clean white countertops and cabinets, designer Lisa Moody painted this kitchen’s antique barstools a bright golden yellow.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Lisa Moody
Car- and truck-themed wallpaper brings cheerful pattern to this young boy’s bedroom. Colorfully striped bedding play off the blue, red and white curtains.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home May 2017
Designer: Tamara Taggart
In this condo living room, a fiery red rug draws upon the bold colors found in the work of art that hangs above the fireplace.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: U31
Homeowner Laurence Martocq layered cheerful hues of pink and orange over a crisp white envelope in her breezy Muskoka cottage. Laurence rotates the colorful accents depending on what shade feels inspiring to her. “Right now, I’m into pink,” she says.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Laurence Martocq
Given artist and homeowner Sara Shafran’s love of colorful furnishings with authentic history, it’s no surprise that her entryway is filled with cool finds including a tapestry of a queen and her grandmother’s vintage dress.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home September 2017
Designer: Erica Schmidt and Ivan Quintana, Medina Design House
Designer and homeowner Jennifer Scott loves incorporating sentimental pieces into her home, and in her entryway, a collection of mostly pink throws from Morocco make the space feel layered yet light.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home June 2017
Designer: Jennifer Scott
Homeowner Elizabeth Margles’ living room has a tabula rasa appeal thanks to a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (OC-65). The simple white envelope allows for furniture and accessories in a variety of colors to happily coexist.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home April 2016
Designer: Joel Bray
Designer Theresa Casey used the bold colors found in this homeowner’s art collection as inspiration for the living room’s palette. The finished space feels cozy, comfortable and packed with personality.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: Theresa Casey
White walls and a pale sofa and drapes are the perfect backdrop for a playful mix of fresh fabrics and a deep blue rug in this light-filled living room.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2014
Designer: Robyn Young
A 26-piece work by German painter Gunther Forg transforms a plain white wall into a colorful focal point.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home January 2016
Designer: Alex Chapman
Neutral furniture is enlivened with royal blue accents in this cozy family room. A neon pink task lamp is a playful contrast.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2014
Designer: Robyn Young
A warm-toned rug adds color underfoot in this Spanish-inspired home. Patterned cement tile on the fireplace and arched mirrors underscore the home’s exotic flavor.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: Kyla Bidgood, Bidgood + Co.
A crisp red and white palette gives this shared children’s bedroom a fresh outlook. On using multiple patterns in a room, designer Kate Stuart says that “the trick is to keep the colors consistent and differ the scale.”
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home July 2014
Designer: Natalie Hodgins and Kate Stuart, Sarah Richardson Design
A large-scale, abstract painting commands attention in this spacious dining area. Wall-to-wall steel-case windows frame garden views.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home April 2017
Designer: Stephanie Pellatt, Pivot Design; Leanne Tammaro and Adolphina Karachok, Designtheory
Splashes of jewel-toned color are striking in this living room by designer Samantha Farjo. “The color and pattern in the rug injects life and keeps the room from looking one-dimensional,” she says.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2016
Designer: Samantha Farjo
Designer Anne Hepfer drew inspiration from the lapping waves of Lake Rosseau to inform this boathouse’s palette. A white envelope keeps the space feeling bright and breezy, while blue accents throughout nod to nature.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home August 2017
Designer: Anne Hepfer
A sapphire blue sofa, pink throw pillows and gold accents pick up on the rich colors from a Turkish rug in this sophisticated sitting area.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2014
Designer: Sarah Hartill
While deep blue cabinets make this kitchen colorful in its own right, gold-toned metal accents and a grouping of red counter stools bring vibrancy into the mix.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: Genevieve Makinson
A bright blue patterned rug visually grounds this lofty cottage living room. Throw pillows and chair fabrics in similar hues further define the room’s relaxed palette.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home July 2014
Designer: Natalie Hodgins and Kate Stuart, Sarah Richardson Design
