Calming, chic, timeless. The ultimate neutral is all those things, says Ali Heath, but also very much a creative backdrop of possibilities. Never more so when a shift in seasons comes into play.

Working as an interior writer, stylist and designer, my attention is constantly piqued with new ideas, color palettes and decorative finds that tease my ever-zealous eye. Yet after years of desiring and falling in love with too many pieces, I concluded that, at home, I needed to step back and become more selective about my choices. By keeping the canvas of our rooms to certain shades of white – albeit with accents of black, brown and natural – our home instantly felt more restful, sophisticated and cohesive.

Out went the overeager temptation to come back from magazine shoots with another colourful textile or artwork and in came the more discerning voice in my head that made rigor its new best friend. Choosing white walls as the hero didn’t mean limiting my potential to be creative – far from it, in fact. I would go so far as to say it has helped me hone my eye for detail and set a benchmark for seeking out the unusual and unique.

My choices are now focused on quality. Against a calm backdrop I gravitate towards layers in white, natural, monochrome and more earthy tones – pieces that stand out and become memorable for their patina, texture, and form. I still adore bright colors but removing them from our home has liberated a sense of calm, and spaces now feel freer and more fresh.

Without the constant pull of seasonal, trend-led decorating, it feels reassuring to think more sustainably, to enjoy building upon what we have already, and to not always want to try the next big thing. Converted, there is no going back – for me, at least. Antiques now have space to breath, and against a backdrop of white it has become easier to mix a wider spectrum of old and new finds, within a high-low mix of price points and periods, and always with a focus on natural materials.

I treat my home as I do my wardrobe, and by favoring a restricted palette it enables me to build collections that sit together and stand the test of time. A white canvas provides much opportunity and flexibility to move things around and mix pieces up as you desire. Much to my husband’s frustration, furniture is often dragged upstairs and down – then invariably the larger pieces end up where they started! But, when everything sits within a set palette, it is a great way to completely change the feel of your spaces – and it avoids the temptation to redecorate.

The art of living with white seems simple but knowing where to start with your choice of paint, can be daunting and send even seasoned decorators into a spin. My favorite white paint at home is All White, by Farrow & Ball. For our 280-year-old walls, it is the perfect bright white, but without any jarring undertones of blue, pink or yellow. Believe me, I have tried every sample going and the chalkiness of this soft shade works well among a refined palette of coordinating earthy browns, grays and blacks that I interject on woodwork and joinery. On client design projects, I also regularly use Paint & Paper Library’s, Slate I-V and Stone I-V collections. Both palettes work brilliantly in modern or historic houses and offer a gently calibrated approach if wanting to create a more nuanced effect.

I always carry the same shade up and over walls and ceilings – it unifies a space, makes rooms feel more spacious and avoids the tension of sharp visual lines at ceiling height. With woodwork my choices are either to continue the same white down to the floor, or to contrast with a warmer brown-gray, or gray-green colour. At the end of hallways and corridors, I love to paint door frames a slightly darker tone to create depth and contrast, and the same for painted staircases, as it gently offsets brighter walls with an elegant edge.

Get the paint choice right and the look will feel cohesive throughout. With its highly reflective properties, the light will bounce freely, mitigating dark corners, making rooms feel more expansive, and helping walls to recede. Personally, white also helps to decompress my busy head and has a calming effect. It’s always peaceful to wake up to and invigorating to return to.

As we approach fall and move from longer, sunny days, to crisp, frosty ones, I make a conscious decision to pack away my summer outfits and swap lighter linen cushions and throws for cozier alternatives in wool, cashmere, mohair and sheepskin. Just as we layer our outfits, the more textural layers you dress your home with, the more interesting, intriguing and cozy it will feel.

At this time of year, the colors of nature lend a magical influence when paired with white interiors. I swap the fresh greens of summer, with vases and urns full of sculptural fallen branches in burnt shades of red, ochre, and brown, and enjoy filling oversized bowls with pinecones and dried fall leaves. The rich hues add a striking contrast against bright white walls and immediately raise the style stakes – encouraging the outdoors in.

With reduced daylight hours, creating atmosphere around us becomes especially important. I love to heighten the desire to cocoon by increasing the number of lamps throughout, and take time to enjoy the ritual of lighting candles and setting a fire. Atmosphere is hard to measure, but emotionally you know instantly when you are uplifted by a calming whitewashed space that looks, feels, smells and sounds inviting – if it entices you to hunker down and relax, you have got it right.

With so much color choice around, white has become a timeless favorite for me, and ensures each cyclical transition requires minimal effort and budget. Yet the impact and stand out it lends to our ever-evolving seasonal layers is a priceless gift that is enjoyed on repeat.

Ali Heath is an interiors expert – journalist, stylist, creative consultant and interior designer. Her new book, Create: At Home With Old & New (Mitchell Beazley) is out now.

The Art Of Living With White by our founder, Chrissie Rucker OBE is available now.