Decorating Guides
Clean Start: Fresh-Faced White Planking
White-plank walls add simple style and enough texture to keep things interesting
There's something irresistible about the possibilities that lie in big, white, open walls. They promise a new design beginning, a blank canvas that invites you to plumb your imagination. Yet without a note of texture, they can sometimes appear sterile and bland.
Here's one solution that I love: white-painted planking, which adds depth and definition, yet preserves that pure, pristine appeal. One of the ultimate design chameleons, it swings between classic, cottage and contemporary with ease.
Here's one solution that I love: white-painted planking, which adds depth and definition, yet preserves that pure, pristine appeal. One of the ultimate design chameleons, it swings between classic, cottage and contemporary with ease.
This photo feels like a deep, soothing breath of air. A handful of well-chosen furnishings and accents appear to float against that beautiful white background.
Tall ceilings and plank-clad walls add a cathedral-like serenity to this living and dining area.
Look at the beautiful interplay of lines and curves here. The strong horizontal and vertical planes are counterbalanced by the gentle curve of the planked walls that frame the stairwell.
Can you imagine a more peaceful spot to start your morning or drift off at day's end? Proof that minimal doesn't mean boring, the strong lines of the bed and detailing on the night table add just enough definition to this space.
Here's a lesson in embracing imperfection. The clapboard walls in this bedroom are slightly flawed, and that's what makes them work. It's just the right setting for the eclectic art collection clustered together.
Wall planks create a warm, cozy antidote to the hard surfaces and sharp corners in this bath.
Rough-hewn beams and vintage accents bring out planking's rustic side.
White clapboards are a tradition for beach houses, and this airy bedroom feels exactly right. I can almost smell the salt air blowing through the window sheers.
Warm wood meets crisp planks for a cozy, serene setting. The towel rack and tub add period flavor that plays up the planking's old-fashioned feel.
We've said it before, and we'll say it once again: Good design is in the details. Notice the clever way these kitchen drawers continue the lines of the clapboard walls. What a great touch!
More: How to Pick the Right White Paint
Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?
Hot Ideas for Cool White Spaces
Great Ways to Add Color to White Spaces
More: How to Pick the Right White Paint
Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?
Hot Ideas for Cool White Spaces
Great Ways to Add Color to White Spaces