9 Monochromatic Rooms That Span the Rainbow
One color can yield infinite interest when it's done right — just hop on over the rainbow with us and see
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
People often assume that "monochromatic" is a synonym for "monotonous," picturing a bland beige room with little to punch it up. Let's banish that bad rap right now, shall we? A monochromatic room just means that a single color predominates, no matter how timid or bold — it applies to turquoise and tangerine as much as it does to cream and khaki.
No matter what your hue of choice is, you can make it work in monochromatic fashion. Take a look at this full spectrum of rooms that showcase a single color without feeling flat and uninspired.
No matter what your hue of choice is, you can make it work in monochromatic fashion. Take a look at this full spectrum of rooms that showcase a single color without feeling flat and uninspired.
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| Monochromatic rooms gain nuance and interest when you layer in different tones of the same hue. But the opposite tack — drenching the space in a single tone of a saturated color — amps up the drama. This lipstick-red kitchen takes the all-or-nothing approach, with a cloak of bold color that defines the architecture and holds the gaze like a magnet. To pull off this technique without making the space feel one-dimensional, choose a single shade to unify walls, ceilings, millwork and other surfaces, and give it a finish that contrasts with its surroundings (glossy, in this case). Then punctuate it with accents in a different hue to break up the monotony. The windows, fixtures and cabinetry in this kitchen help to balance the vivid red and lighten the look. |
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| This space, on the other hand, blends apricot, tangerine and deep persimmon into a radiant burst of color. The draperies help to ground the lighter tones of the furniture, and the neutral flooring and walls keep the sizzling oranges under control. Get tips for using orange in your home |
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| Yellow hues, from cream to butter to sunburst, combine for a subtly shifting palette here. What makes this space work: The colors are just similar enough to flow smoothly together, yet different enough to create a gentle contrast. A touch of pattern in the fabrics also lends depth. |
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| Green is one of the easiest colors to spread throughout a room; it's so prevalent in the outdoor world that we're used to seeing it en masse. The mint, moss and spruce tones in this space get a boost from varied textures — a key element of a monochromatic scheme. Play glossy against matte, smooth against coarse and soft against hard to engage the eye. |
| Moody and mellow, deep blues shroud this bedroom in mystery. The different shades harmonize because they all contain cool undertones — warm blues against cool ones can look jarring if not combined with a practiced hand. Learn how to pick the right blue for you |
by Rikki Snyder
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Sometimes a jolt of a dramatically different color provides the energy that a monochromatic space needs. This bedroom, awash in lavender, slips in just a couple of poppy-pink top notes that spark the pastels and ratchet up the fun.
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| An all-black room can look scary if it's too intense. This one avoids a menacing feel through its canny combo of texture and pattern, plus just enough beige for balance. The pale ceiling keeps the inky walls and sofa from appearing oppressive, and allowing the wood grain to show through the stain lightens the heaviness further. See more ideas for decorating with black |
| Cocoa, caramel, camel — luscious browns swirl into this rich confection of a boudoir. Again, texture and contrast are key to the success of this space. Shades too similar to one another would result in a muddy, indistinct feel. |
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| How do you keep a white-on-white space from feeling cold and clinical? Weave in materials that have an innate warmth, such as this dark-stained flooring. The marble used for the island top has an organic quality that gives the space a hint of vitality. |
Ideabook published on Dec. 11, 2012.
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The other rooms feel too dense, other than possibly the orange and the white. The color tone must be just right to hit the right note. Possibly its the lighting and textures.
Check out lots of before and after photos at this web site:
http://www.transformingrooms.com
Had it looked half as gorgeous as this red kitchen we may have left it as I LOVE red..but alas the hand painted (not well!) cabinets with ugly wooden handles HAD to go!!
Black and white are not colors, scientifically, I would not use them in monochromatic room, one sterile and one depressing to me. I heard if child draws pictures in black for psychologist it's an alert of something very disturbing and negative going on in their minds. Also white blank paper with no images very unnatural behavior. I don't know if it applicable to adults scientifically, but I felt that with my guts before I new about kids psychology test.