People tend to think that the key to a good interior is in luxurious furniture, refined fabrics, rich ornaments and expensive decoration. In fact, luxury often lies in simplicity. Especially today, when we mainly need calmness and peace, not additional stress and overstimulation of the senses.

That’s why I chose to bet on natural combination and a simple color palette in my last interior and create a serene and balanced aesthetic. I had to really transform a 2,271 Sq/ft 3-bedroom house with a spacious in-law apartment in San Francisco. In this case, there was not only staging, but also quite a bit of constructive work, as you will see for yourself from the footage. The result – a beautiful mixture of classical architecture and charming sophistication.

Here is how I did it.

Let the room be your canvas

To draw a good painting you need a good primer on you canvas. Here comes white – the perfect base on which to unfold all your interior ideas.

What is white’s superpower? That it goes well with any other color. Moreover, it should be combined to avoid monotony in the interior. In order for white to fulfill its function of giving shine, elegance and cleanliness to the space, it needs assistants - various textures, shapes, decoration and, of course, the perfect match – wood.

Introduce nature

By inviting nature in our home we create a safe space – a place that makes us feel relaxed and encourages us to disconnect from the stress and busyness of urban life.

Adding wood material makes the living space welcoming and more harmonious. Not to mention that tinder is eco-friendly, durable and easy to maintain.

Incorporating wooden elements in predominantly white spaces literally works wonders. That is why I decided to keep the original hardwood floors and only refinish them with a clear coat.

The wood flooring brings this amazing instant warmth. Combined with the white walls and ceiling, it created the perfect blend of nature and simple luxury.

Last but not least wooden flooring increases the value of your home and this is an important detail when you are going to sell. Large windows can further complement the wood and white theme by allowing natural light to flood the space, making it even more airy and attractive for buyers.

Find the balance

Simply white is never enough. Its excessive presence in your interior can be quite tricky. You need to balance the brightness - otherwise you risk making the space sterile and inhospitable.

White is the best base on which to expand your color palette and let your imagination run wild. But not too wild. The “white and wood” duo works perfectly in various spaces and styles. However the key to their beneficial collaboration is in balance. We already said – too much white means cold. But you shouldn’t let wood accents become too overwhelming neither. You should strive for a harmonious mix of both materials to maintain timeless and refined appeal.

In this last work I have used wood in all its versatility. Not only wooden floors helped me cozy up the atmosphere. I also implemented some wood decorations, wood wall panels, and, of course, some furniture.

Pick you shades accordingly

As I have said more than once, nothing in the interior should be accidental. Especially when you have a sale coming up and want to highlight the best of the space. Wood certainly helps, but not just any wood. Nuances matter. Because they create a different impression. You need to make sure that it is suitable for the purpose of the room.

Unobtrusive pale woods maintain a clean, uncluttered look which makes them perfect for kitchen or bathroom design. The sleek two-tone white and wood cabinetry that I chose for this kitchen, combined with the white quartz countertops, turns this area into a real chef’s delight. Wood paneling that I got for this bathroom also literally transformed the place, creating a real spa-like sanctuary and making it quite cozy.

Deep wood tones are more suitable for accents in dining rooms or family rooms as they give the space a luxurious or rustic touch. That is why I decided to incorporate some dark wood in the formal dining room by placing there an elegant ensemble of a wooden table and soft white chairs with wooden elements - again I did not fail to take advantage of the visual effect that contrast creates.

Don’t hesitate to add textures

As I mentioned above, simplicity needs diversity in order to look sophisticated but not boring. So I didn’t hesitated a lot to use some glass. Its delicate presence can dramatically enhance the look of the place. See for yourself.

A glass coffee table in the living room upstairs or the glass desk in the in-law apartment downstairs are seemingly simple choices. However they are quite bold statements too and give the place a chic and modern look.

Never underestimate the importance of accessories

Last but not least, nailing the little things has always helped me breathe life into spaces. As I am home staging for so many years, I’ve become an expert in arranging and combining various accents. These final touches absolutely transform the overall impression of a place and make it more attractive for its future owners.

A ceramic vase with an extravagant design, metal or wood decorations on the walls, abstract paintings in the appropriate tones - there are countless ways to spice up the interior. The important thing is to stick to the chosen style. Or if you want to be bold in terms of details and decorations, at least color-match the elements.

In summary, the wood and white combination in interior design offers a perfect blend of warmth and modern elegance.

You should generally opt for more natural materials in your living spaces. The trick is to find the balance. The perfect combination that will make you feel in a cozy and homely, but at the same time attractive and sophisticated atmosphere. That's what everyone would want. And that's definitely what buyers are looking for.