How To Use A Monochrome Colour Scheme, Whilst Still Making A Room Warm And Inviting
/Black, white and grey - the colours we can’t live without! They are the staple colours of our wardrobe. They are the ‘good’ pair of black shoes that get pulled out of the wardrobe to be worn for an interview, the plain white t-shirt that is essential to your hot summer holiday you’ve had booked for months in advance or even that little black dress that can be dressed up or dressed down, so that you are suitably attired for any occasion.
In the last ten years grey has taken over and become, not only a notable colour in the High Street fashion shops, but the new neutral when it comes to home interiors. This, coupled with the Scandinavian style that has spread throughout the UK, has led to homes becoming minimal, bright and airy with a paired back monochrome colour scheme.
Monochrome colours are fantastic to work with when it comes to redesigning the interior of your property. They are rudimental colours and will always be around and never out of fashion. There will always be someone painting their living room walls white to make it feel brighter and more spacious. The problem, however, that you can meet by decorating in black, white and grey is that they can be cold colours, hence your newly decorated room doesn’t look as warm and inviting as you were hoping.
If you are hoping to create a monochrome interior scheme that is both warm and welcoming here are a few suggestions to keep in mind -
1. Colour Palette
By thinking about the shade of black, white or grey that you might use, you can subtly add in some warmth to the room. For example, using a monochrome colour with a slightly different tone, such as Railings by Farrow and Ball which has a blue tint to it, you can include some more depth and warmth to the colour palette of the room. The trick is to make sure you look at all of your colours together and see how they complement one another, so you don’t end up with the paint colours looking more colourful than you expected. The palette of the room can really adjust how a room can make you feel, whether it is relaxed or sterile.
2. Incorporating Natural Materials
Image from: Stephanie Williams Designs
By adding natural materials such as stone flooring to a room or a timber worktop in a kitchen, the monochrome space can become more inviting. It has been proven that incorporating natural materials and even house plants into a room can improve our health and wellbeing.
3. Adding Pattern
Adding pattern, whether it be through a wallpaper or even within the soft furnishings, can break up a monochrome room and create a focal point and interest elsewhere, instead of having vast minimal walls.
4. Adding Texture
The use of texture can add a softer look to a room. By adding panelling to the walls or a rug to the floor a room can feel less sparse and more traditional therefore making you feel more relaxed and comfortable at home.
5. Accent Colour
Image from: Stephanie Williams Designs
Accent colours can bring unity to a room and work as the extra ingredient to finish a room off. By adding a small amount of colour to your monochrome room, it can lift the colour palette and bounce the light around the room, making it feel more dynamic. It may go against all monochrome instincts to add an extra colour but it doesn't need to be permanent if you don’t want it to be. It works brilliantly by having a few items in the room, such as a chair or curtains or a piece of artwork in the same matching accent colour, so you can distribute the colour evenly throughout a monochrome room.
Monochrome is here to stay and designing your monochrome interiors should be fun and exciting. By bringing in that extra material or texture to balance the black and white you will be creating your own unique space that shows off your style and personality, whilst also changing the ambience of the room to make it warm and inviting.