Love Dark Colors? Use Monochromatic Interior Design in Your Small Space

Even if you are the one who originally designed your house, there will come a time when you feel like it does not suit your personality anymore. The sight of it no longer sparks joy and happiness within you. There are instances that it might be the cause of your unproductivity and inefficiency during the work from home setup. You might be wondering what are the ways that you can improve the design of your small space. How about you turn the boring and monotone space into a home with a monochromatic design? 

A monochromatic interior design can pull things together and make the place more calming and more alive. But applying it in your house can be pretty challenging, especially if you don’t have an in-depth understanding of what it means and what it can offer. You will probably spend a few days thinking about where to start. How are you going to maximize the use of a limited range of colors to prevent making the place boring and heavy-handed? Once you fail to make the right decisions, you will experience the bad realities of monochromatic interior design. But when you do it properly, you will enjoy living in a rich and brilliant-looking home with extreme visual interest. Below are free home decor tips that will help you realize your plan of having a monochromatic house.

Misconception about monochromatic design

When you mention to your friends or family members your plan of adapting a monochromatic design, they might think that you are going to use one single color for the entire house. That is one of the most popular misconceptions about this design. How boring could it be when you try to use one single color for your kitchen, bedroom, and living room, right? 

You can use any related colors imaginable, such as gray, silver, charcoal, smoke, and others that are best suited to your tastes and preferences. It will technically still fall under the monochromatic design because their tones are almost similar. Contrary to popular belief, you are allowed to use neutral colors to break up the monotony. 

Why does monochromatic design work in small spaces?

Knowing that you can choose one color and use tones and shades of the same color, you can infer that it can make your small house appear larger. Besides that, it can greatly contribute to creating harmony and a relaxing atmosphere in the house regardless of its size. It is also the best design to use when you are fond of displaying artworks and collectibles. Monochromatic colors can highlight their presence on your walls. 

Steps on how you can have a monochromatic house

1. Choose the right colors

The colors that you will choose will dictate the success of your design. The majority of interior designers recommend the use of up to three colors only. The first thing you have to do is to select one color then determine three ranges of shades that you will incorporate in your house. Make sure that the shades are composed of one dark, one in the middle, and one light in order for you to create a cohesive look. 

2. Add some texture to the design of the house

To lessen the possibility of having a monochromatic design that looks a little boring, you have to add some texture. For instance, if you don’t like the outcome of your bedroom, you may add textured linens or a textured headboard. When it comes to your kitchen, it is suggested to design the countertop with marble materials so that the place will appear more vibrant. While in your living room, you may opt to add pieces of furniture and decorative items made out of wood materials. When designing your house, don’t forget to include a variety of textures.

3. Place accent materials in the house

You can add some contrasting colors to your monochromatic design through the use of accent materials and accessories. They will allow you to use color outside of your previous choices. But be careful not to use exuberant bright colors without any relation to your base color. 

4. Don’t overthink the colors

When you overthink the colors that you will use, you might feel overwhelmed and unable to decide. To make the decision-making process easier and faster, you may select a few colors that are close together on the color chart. It will result in a stunning yet more subtle monochromatic design. If you have limited space in the house, consider using gray and other colors close to it on the color spectrum because it can make it seem more spacious than it actually is.

If you feel like brighter and bolder colors better fit your personality instead of the soft and subtle ones, you may choose lila, orange, or green as colors of your monochromatic home decor.  

5. Add focal points with tone

You must have a focal point to increase the visual interest of the house. You may also use colors in highlighting it. If you are planning to add focal points on your walls and furniture, make sure to use calmer and softer colors. On the other hand, the use of boulder ones is for smaller accents, such as accessories and artworks. 

6. Consider what mood you want the house to have

If you know the mood you want your house to have, you can better decide on the monochromatic color scheme that you will use. Do you want it to have a relaxing or vibrant mood? Maybe you want to make it warm and welcoming instead of cool and calm? If you are leaning towards a warm and welcoming mood, it is best to use warm colors as your bases, such as oranges and browns. For a house with a calming effect, you should opt for blues, lilacs, and grays. 

In a Nutshell

Decorating the house with a monochromatic design is a challenge that not everyone is willing to take. You are brave enough if you are one of the few who are up for the challenge. It will not be easy but it will be worth it because the result can be extraordinary!