Hue Perfect

It’s true…home design trends come and go with the seasons and so many are not worth the time and investment. But every now and then, a popular decor trend proves itself to be fun enough to spring for…especially on a small scale. If you have a space that needs a little drama this spring, we’re loving the monochromatic look. It’s simple, easy to pull off on a dime, and will shake up a tired room in no time. There’s nothing quite as startling or as dramatically modern as a room that is nearly 100% one color.

Need help wrapping your mind around a monochromatic room?

1. Pick a color you especially love and get ready to commit. Not every corner of your space has to be blue, cream, sage green or blush pink…but a lot of it will! 

2. Love the monochromatic look but don’t have the time or money or desire to spruce up an entire room? Choose a bookshelf that needs some love and paint every inch of it (including the back wall) one color.

3. Use what you already have! Chances are, your home color palette already leans in one direction. Always start by “shopping your house”. That jadeware collection, those old books with the green spine, the landscape from your great aunt…gather those up in one space and watch how the greens begin to play off of each other. You can go monochromatic without an ounce of paint!

4. Get out a brush! If you’re ready to go all the way, choose a room that could benefit from every bit of wall space and trim work being the exact same color. Consider painting even the ceiling for a full investment of color. Use a deep bold palette or a softer hue – either work great. If you’re working with a kitchen or bathroom, think about even painting the cabinets to match the walls and ceiling. 

Pick the Shade

You don’t have to be a drama queen to love a monochromatic room. Popular colors vary from muted neutrals (think sand or light, chic browns) to pale blues or deep greens. The trick is coverage. No matter what color you choose, using enough of it will make an impact on your room. If you can’t commit to the very same shade everywhere, using different hues of the same color family can also create visual interest. A sage wall and a deeper jade couch and more neutral pillows will definitely give off the monochromatic vibe without being too dramatic.

Think about using a color you love and not just a color that’s “in”. If you’ve always loved pale pink, go big and put it everywhere. Sure…it may not stand the test of time design-wise but walls are easy to paint over and if sleeping in a room painted entirely of your favorite color will offer you some real joy, do it! Unless you’re planning on selling soon, don’t focus on what the next owners may or may not like – homes are meant to be lived in and enjoyed, after all!

Accessorize for Impact

Giving your monochromatic room some coordinating accessories will give the eyes a visual rest and make your accents pop even more. Consider changing out your cabinetry hardware for tones that coordinate but don’t perfectly match the paint.

If your walls and ceiling are all one color, make sure all your picture frames match each other but not the room’s hue (all silver or gold or brown, etc.) and choose one or two accent colors and stick within those boundaries to continue carrying on the “fixed” monochromatic look without making your room look like an institution. Even in the most planned out rooms, there must be variation of color and movement in order for you to feel at ease!

Enjoy playing with the monochromatic trend, even if you can’t do a complete room overhaul. There’s something so pleasing about a space that owns one color well, and you may find you love the drama of it in your favorite rooms.

Photos via The Spruce