tone on tone

It may take work, but creating a room in shades of one color does not have to be boring. I'm working on a design for a very neutral, very monochromatic (no pops of color, really!) bedroom right now and have been looking for some inspiration. I think these may be tough rooms to achieve, but they are ultimately my favorite. Instead of relying on different colors for interest, you get to play with pattern and texture and scale and form. Here are some of my favorite rooms to study when it comes to working in similar tones.


Amid very soft neutrals, the striking chandelier stands out.


Another neutral room, this one rich with pattern and texture and many shades of beige. So cozy and not boring at ALL.


Simple, pretty in whites, caramels, taupes, and golds. Shapes stand out.


Shades of blue are far from predictable with lots of pattern, large-scale art, and high contrast of dark woods and whites.


Lovely soft, rosy pinks. Plenty of white and dashes of gold make it sophisticated.


Tone on tone lets you play with pattern.


You can do monochromatic boldly too. Berry red is so great all over this room!


But I really prefer neutrals like the blue grays here. Thinking monochromatic often means you're going for soothing, and soft neutrals work so well for this look. Textures play on chairs and walls, patterns play on draperies and rug, and form and scale have fun on the chandelier. Subtle AND interesting. Tone-on-tone perfection.

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