Adventurous souls explore many shades of white

DEAR DEBBIE: I love white, everything about white. I’m not even sure if it’s a color. My partner is afraid that doing an all-white room will be too clinical. Have you any suggestions that will help me win my case? — Natalie.

DEAR NATALIE: Technically, white is not a color but a tint. It is considered to be a safe decorating choice, which is why builders default to white when painting new homes. However, choosing to decorate a room exclusively with white is an adventure, and one well worth pursuing!

There are hundreds of shades of white; you might want to check out the rows of paint chips at your paint store, as well as all the designer whites. The harshest, most clinical shade is white with a bit of blue in it (think refrigerator white). I suggest you avoid that one.

The way you experience any color (including white) has to do with the texture and sheen of the surface, and the lighting in the room. A high sheen reflects light and accentuates whatever it covers. A matte or low sheen absorbs the light, softening the surface, whether it’s paint or fabric, metal or wood.

Play with different shades. Creamy antique white is good with antiques, old wood and a traditional or country setting. A few drops of your favorite color — primrose yellow, cornflower blue, apple green — added to a gallon of paint will produce a tinted white that is fresh and gentle on a wall. White with a little gray added is a contemporary shade that is perfect for modern living.

Add texture to your room through patterned sheers, embossed wallpaper and a nubby carpet. Mixed with clean-lined furnishings and perhaps a spontaneous splash or two of your partner’s favorite color, and your room will be stunning.

DEAR DEBBIE: The walls in my living room are about 12 feet high at the peak of the vaulted ceiling. It seems like too much wall. Do you have any suggestions on decorating them? Thanks. — Dennis.

DEAR DENNIS: There are a few solutions for minimizing the feeling of height in your room. You could add a crown moulding at approximately 8 feet, or where the wall meets the slanted ceiling. Paint one color on the walls and another above the moulding for the ceiling.

Or hang mirrors or artwork that will become the focal point instead of the height. This could be one or two large pieces, or a row of medium-sized pictures. The idea is to stop the eye from traveling from floor to ceiling peak without a break.

DEAR DEBBIE: If your baseboards and trim are dark, can you put up white crown molding in your room? — Pat.

DEAR PAT: Crown molding can, and often is, treated separately, and does not necessarily match up with existing trim and baseboards.

Depending on the size and importance of the molding, you can paint it the same color as your ceiling or show it off by applying a faux finish or a darker shade than you have on the wall. You might want to experiment on a few feet of the molding to see what you like. You can always paint over it.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.