Deciding colours can be so difficult. It’s serious and hard work really! It can make for joyful evenings or long sulks because your daughter wanted just that exact shade of pink or your partner wants a favourite shade of yellow that you abhor.
But how about if you didn’t have to decide? How about if you went monochrome? Of course, you would still have to decide on a single colour, but that’s easier. We hope.
This post is for those of you who have already crossed that big step and are now standing at the threshold of your home, the finalised colour shade in hand, and deciding how to go about it. Here are five great ways to get that perfect monochrome effect for your home.
Choosing the complementing palette
Monochrome does not mean that you keep all the other colours out of your home.
The art of achieving the perfect monochrome effect is to subtly infuse complementary colours that match the primary colour.
Black and white is everyone’s favourite, but don’t be afraid of yellows, blues, and greens too. Even offbeat purples and oranges will do the trick, provided they are in the right room with the right colours.
For example, a light yellow monochrome, complemented by some black and whites, would be great for a small living room while woodsy browns will look perfect with some earthy undertones like beige for a large dining area.
Pro tip: To achieve that right pop to your primary colour, ensure that the rest of the palette is mostly comprised of neutrals like beige, grey, and white.
Further Reading: How to Decorate Your House on a Budget
Accessorising the room
A monochrome effect can wow your visitors or can jar them.
The former can only be achieved with the perfect amalgamation of multiple elements. One of them is having the right accessories.
Choose paintings, curios or even posters and wall decals that complement the colours on the wall. For example, an inspirational quote written in a beautiful font, in white, would go wonderfully on a wine or rust coloured wall. Make it big, stretch it out to fill it wall to wall, and you have a centrepiece without spending a bomb.
Consider little touches like a handmade ceramic vase on the kitchen window sill for a cheery effect, an old-style turntable in the living room for a vintage effect or a nice painting of a landscape in the bedroom to achieve a soothing effect.
Pro tip: Don’t forget wallpapers. Today, you can get some funky wallpapers to enhance the monochrome effect and give it a slight designer twist.
Don’t forget the floors
Monochrome can get you so excited that you might find yourself looking at the walls all the time and forget to look down.
But take a moment, stand back, and survey the room. The composite effect is to be had with the floor, isn’t it? Include the flooring, and also the decor, when deciding the colour for the room.
Yellow kitchens paired with wooden dining tables, and a tiled floor can be a wonderful combination. Light, wooden floors would look marvellous in an intense maroon-coloured room.
Pro tip: The rule of the thumb is to opt for light-coloured flooring while going for dark-coloured walls. If it’s a room with tiled flooring, consider some nice contrasts in the grout colour.
Further Reading: Our Top Tips for Buying Sofas Online
Furnishings to elevate the monochrome effect
The flooring is done. The walls are painted. Now, you need to make the room come alive. That’s right!
It’s only with carefully chosen interiors and furnishing that your monochromatic room will come together in a wholesome way.
Consider texture, colour, and material when buying your furnishings. Soft throws and low seating with lean-back cushions of beige or white, along with floor lamps glowing in the corner, are a perfect setting for a dark slate grey-coloured living room. It not only has a very inviting vibe but is also ideal for get-togethers where people can sit back comfortably for an evening ahead of good conversations and wine.
A bookshelf on one side, a dining table with a bench against the wall, and some comfy multicoloured cushions will take the binary feel off a black and white dining area. In a bedroom or study, think shaggy rugs, lush carpets, and delicate upholstery. It’s all about patterns and composition that will make the cut.
Pro tip: Monochrome does not have to be monotonous. Bring in some indoor plants to throw in a bit of life and colour.
Cutlery plays a part too
If you are a perfectionist, you might want to think of your cutlery too. There is no harm in going all out to impress your dinner guests if you have people over frequently.
Complement that farmhouse dining table with some rustic earthenware. Colourful ceramics would blend in beautifully too. Round up that contemporary feel with steel and glass cutlery to create some symmetry.
Pro tip: To keep it simple, choose colours that are varying but close to the shades of the walls of the room. When the table is set out, it would look very charming. But make sure there is enough contrast in other ways to offset monotony.