White is an often-overlooked color for walls. Maybe it’s because many of us, having grown up with white walls in our childhood homes, see white walls as a poor excuse for absence of color options. But I’m here to show you that, no matter what your décor style, painting your walls white just might be the best, chicest option for you.

Classic Vintage-Modern Style.

This Swedish apartment pulls out all the stops on charm, with chunky wood wall beams and modern floor lamp and everything in between. Simplicity and good taste are exuded in clean lines and accessory self-restraint.

White walls in the living room certainly doesn’t mean keeping things devoid of color and personality. Quite the opposite, in fact! By choosing, then sticking to, a striking color palette, white walls provide an excellent backdrop to showcase and highlight your style.

When bold patterns and colors don’t have large-scale colors to compete with (as is often the case with a living room’s color-painted walls), they shine that much bolder and brighter. Which is the whole point of having a statement piece or two, isn’t it?

Contemporary Style.

Clean lines and interesting architecture (such as a steeply angled ceiling, skylights, and wood trimmed windows and doors) are set off fantastically with these white walls. The space itself, though somewhat complicated design-wise, exudes fresh, calm, contemporary style.

This natural-lit family-friendly living room embraces the clarity of muted tones and straight and parallel lines. White walls complement the airiness of the glass-windowed walls and refuse to compete with the minimalist vibe here.

This open concept living space feels airy and inviting at the same time. White walls throughout the home keep the otherwise busy architecture, with lots of corners and hard edges, from being overwhelming or harsh. The look is softened by interesting but subdued colors on textiles.

Traditional Style.

On the formal side of home style, with its moldings, moldings, and more moldings, this traditional space appears fresh and warm with its pinkish-white walls. Although the architectural details are definitely noticeable, they don’t overwhelm the space in more attention-grabbing colors.

This bright space is ideal for family gatherings, entertaining, and music. Pale green trim is complemented by the white walls and lovely wood floors. Pale yellow wall mouldings highlight the height of the walls and the interesting curves as walls meet ceiling. Even with its white walls, the living room is simple, inviting, and casually colorful.

Eclectic.

Last but not least, can you imagine putting all these wonderfully eclectic pieces in a room with walls that were something other than white? It would be almost sensory overload. As-is, though, the room is chic and intentional.

Picture sources: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.