The secrets to creating a scheme for a monochromatic room
Monochromatic rooms are rooms that are decorated in one color or in varying shades of one color. Some consider monochromatic rooms boring, but that needn’t be so. Most of us hear the word, and our minds immediately conjure visions of miles of neutral furnishings. The truth is they can be lackluster in the hands of the inexperienced. Yet another truth is some of the most elegant rooms in the world are monochromatic. Imagine that!
Designing a scheme that uses one color only might seem dull, but pulling it off successfully is no easy task. When properly executed, monochromatic rooms can be sophisticated and dramatic. The color schemes are endless, and the effects can be varied: calm or loud, soothing or irritating, bold or subdued. Clearly, an all- red room in a library or an all- beige living room or even a hot pink bedroom can work if some of the following tips are followed.
In determining the exact color of your room, take into consideration your preference, of course, but the process of narrowing down the precise shade can benefit by answering some of these questions. First, where is your room located? Are you in a largely cold or hot climate zone? How much natural light does the room get? Will the room be used mostly during the day or the evening? Who will use the room: adults, children or senior occupants? Are there pets in the family? Your answers will help you select the perfect hue for your room.
The transition from one room to the next is very important. Generally, the transition between rooms should carry some of the color from one room into the next. This transition should be gradual and subtle, unless of course your purpose is to shock. If, for example, your main room is an overall white room with royal blue accents, then perhaps your adjacent room should be a pale sky blue. The idea is to weave your colors.
Although we are talking about monochromatic rooms, a way to highlight or accentuate the primary color is to add bits of another color. Flowers, a fruit bowl, pillows or a throw are subtle ways to introduce complementary colors to enhance your onecolor room. For example, an all- white room could be accentuated with pale yellow roses and pale yellow pillows, and still the room will read as white. It is advisable to repeat your accent color throughout the room to avoid a cluster of color in any one particular area.
Finally, your best allies in creating interest in a monochromatic room will be textures and finishes. Textures and finishes capture and bounce light differently and change the way a color is perceived. The best tip here is to use as many textures of the same color as possible. Fabrics with a rough texture such as chenille and linen will absorb light rather than bouncing it around the room; whereas smooth fabrics such as silk and chintz will shimmer and reflect light and color back into the room. The more textures you use in your room the richer your colors and room will appear.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award- winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Fla.