Question: I’d like to use white furniture to make my flat look spacious. but My husband says white furniture gets dirty fast, turns yellow and is unsuitable for our humid climate. Is he right?

Answer: An all-white interior looks modern and fresh, and will make a small home look far more spacious and airy. But your husband is right too when he points out that an all-white decor will mean more cleaning to maintain its pristine look.

The trick is to select hardy, maintenance-free materials. Look for sofas with detachable covers in easy-care fabrics and washable window drapes. Just vacuum weekly and throw the fabrics in the washing machine every four months or so.

Plastic is a modern, easy-care material. Why not choose plastic dining chairs like the famous Panton S chairs or see-through Kartell Ghost chairs? For windows facing the sun, go for low-maintenance metal blinds or timber-look plastic blinds.

All-white rooms will look bland, so add an accent colour like red or leaf green in the throw cushions, lampshades or paintings to add depth and zest to your decor scheme.

Design free space intent