A Colour Combination Made in Heaven: White & Gold
Quiet white and glam gold unite to spell subtle luxury
White is soft, muted and unpretentious, while gold is glamorous, lustrous and luxurious. Gold on white is a pairing that channels elegance and sophistication; one that seldom disappoints. From gilded embellishments and grand chandeliers to metallic accessories, furniture and fixtures, gold can conjure magic in a white shell. Discover white and gold in various avatars in these indulgent spaces.
Add a dose of gold with artwork, as in this ivory-toned space. An abstract gold painting takes centrestage against a backdrop of pure white, giving the room an air of modern luxury. Golden wall lamps flank the painting, serving as understated design statements. The gold theme can easily be worked over by replacing the artwork with one in a different colour palette.
Sleek, matte-finish golden furniture can bring soft shine to a space like this one. So hushed they may be missed, the dull gold side and coffee tables in this living room provide a sophisticated edge without stealing the room’s thunder. Lightweight and airy, they hold their own quietly, and slink back into the decor, offering glimmers of gold only when called upon by the light.
Tip: Give old metal furniture a glam, low-budget makeover with gold spray paint.
Here’s why your living room should include a hint of gold
Tip: Give old metal furniture a glam, low-budget makeover with gold spray paint.
Here’s why your living room should include a hint of gold
This Mumbai apartment by ZZ Architects offers a museum-esque appeal, a sculpture with a golden bicycle, called the ‘Indian Dabbawalas’ (the tiffin boys), created as an ode to the dabbawalas of Mumbai. The sculpture, composed of almost 100 timepieces, serves as a gleaming centrepiece against the white floor and walls and effortlessly steals the limelight.
Take a tour of this art-filled Mumbai apartment
Take a tour of this art-filled Mumbai apartment
In the dining room
In a dining area, gold embellishments can turn mealtimes into plush, private banquets. If you’re wary of committing to too much gold, go minimal with a single lighting fixture. In this pale dining room, a golden starburst chandelier commands attention in a majestic display. The backdrop of white almost melts into oblivion, letting the gold fixture reign over the space.
In a dining area, gold embellishments can turn mealtimes into plush, private banquets. If you’re wary of committing to too much gold, go minimal with a single lighting fixture. In this pale dining room, a golden starburst chandelier commands attention in a majestic display. The backdrop of white almost melts into oblivion, letting the gold fixture reign over the space.
Distinctive lines, angular edges and linear forms of gold cut through the stark white palette in this stylish cocoon. The gold-rimmed chairs are classy and minimalist, yet call for attention as they contrast with their subtle surroundings. A delicate hexagonal chandelier echoes the room’s metallic undertones and provides an additional layer of glam.
Wondering how to bring gold accents into your home?
Wondering how to bring gold accents into your home?
In this Mumbai dining room by Milind Pai Architects & Interior Designers, the marble table and white tufted dining chairs provide a clean base of white for the gilded chair frames, which serve as soft highlights through the space.
In the bedroom
Layers of soft gold can craft a scene of sumptuous luxury, as in this majestic boudoir. A contemporary cage chandelier, bedside mirrors and picture frames in subtle gold look like they could have been plucked out of a contemporary castle.
Layers of soft gold can craft a scene of sumptuous luxury, as in this majestic boudoir. A contemporary cage chandelier, bedside mirrors and picture frames in subtle gold look like they could have been plucked out of a contemporary castle.
The bed linen plays to the palatial aesthetic, with pristine white accent pillows delicately embroidered in gold thread.
This decadent bedchamber, clad in gold-and-white wallpaper, exudes a rich, lavish style. A brass-finish sculptural chandelier complements the wall, but manages to diffuse the metallic palette thanks to its restrained, low-gloss look. A spotless white bed offsets the profusion of gold.
There’s something so romantic about tarnished gold finishes. In this white boudoir, a vintage-style gold frame and Florentine nesting tables conjure old-world charm with their worn gold look. An antique bedside lamp completes the vignette, possibly whispering stories of indulgence from decades past.
Bring gold into your home with this easy guide
Bring gold into your home with this easy guide
In the bathroom
Gold hardware and fittings can turn a forgettable bathroom into an extravagant personal retreat, perfect for evenings of self-indulgence. See how white mosaic wall tiles provide a flawless backdrop for an arresting starburst chandelier, sparkling gold fittings and gilded hardware, transforming an otherwise plain bathroom into a ritzy escape.
Gold hardware and fittings can turn a forgettable bathroom into an extravagant personal retreat, perfect for evenings of self-indulgence. See how white mosaic wall tiles provide a flawless backdrop for an arresting starburst chandelier, sparkling gold fittings and gilded hardware, transforming an otherwise plain bathroom into a ritzy escape.
Gold and white doesn’t always have to spell impossible grandeur. Soft, sheer fabrics married with solid gold accents can give you a regal interior with a Bohemian twist. In this bathroom, a diaphanous canopy veils an immaculate bathtub with gold fittings, enveloping its users in a swish, summery dream-world experience.
In the kitchen
Indulgent culinary adventures ought to be matched in style and spirit by the kitchen that hosts them. Nothing says lavish cook-outs better than gold on white. This kitchen, bedecked with sheeny gold hardware and fixtures, acquires a soft glow that warms the cool white cabinetry.
Indulgent culinary adventures ought to be matched in style and spirit by the kitchen that hosts them. Nothing says lavish cook-outs better than gold on white. This kitchen, bedecked with sheeny gold hardware and fixtures, acquires a soft glow that warms the cool white cabinetry.
High-gloss bulbous pendant lamps, complemented by a slender gold-finish faucet, serve as hero pieces in this pared-back cooking area. The trio of gold accents adds a flash of warm sparkle to the spartan white and grey of the kitchen.
In the study
Dull finishes can offer sophistication and style without serving as a distraction in an area such as a study. Observe how a massive lamp in hushed gold lends panache to this neutral study. The restrained reflective surface counterbalances the bursts of matte white in the vicinity.
Dull finishes can offer sophistication and style without serving as a distraction in an area such as a study. Observe how a massive lamp in hushed gold lends panache to this neutral study. The restrained reflective surface counterbalances the bursts of matte white in the vicinity.
If you prefer to elevate the level of glitz in your study, resort to brighter gold finishes. This study earns a swanky air, thanks to a plethora of golden accents juxtaposed against white surfaces. Gilded drawer pulls, table lamps and table legs are a picture of splendour, while pure white acts as an antidote to the heavy metallic elements.
Read more:
Gold & Teal: Is This the Best Colour Combination You’ve Seen?
Is This The Best Colour Combination You Have Ever Seen?
Tell us:
Which of these spaces do you see yourself recreating? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Gold & Teal: Is This the Best Colour Combination You’ve Seen?
Is This The Best Colour Combination You Have Ever Seen?
Tell us:
Which of these spaces do you see yourself recreating? Tell us in Comments below.
A touch of gold can add oodles of sparkle to a vanilla space. This neutral Delhi living room by r+d Studio is dominated by white, yet comes alive with a golden horn-inspired chandelier and a gold-stemmed floor lamp. The room shines with a quiet opulence, lent by the metallic decor.