Decorating with black and white might seem boring or even restrictive to some homeowners, but nothing could be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, choosing a monochrome interior for your home is an effective way of ensuring that it will stay perennially stylish and chic. If you prefer a simpler approach to your home’s colours, here are a couple of handy tips that will help you pull off a monochrome palette with ease.
- Accentuate with accessories
There’s no arguing that a mostly-white interior can appear overly clinical, so don’t forget to accessorise your home with interesting pieces. Striped throws, patterned rugs and furniture pieces with distinctive outlines help in bringing a blank canvas to life. Likewise, visually stimulating artworks offer a simple and effortless way to add interest to otherwise blank stretches of wall. For a more balanced palette, go fifty-fifty on all black and white accessories; or feel free to alter the ratio for a darker, cosier feel or a cleaner appearance.
Photo by Wong Weiliang
- Grey area
Black and white might be the defining hues of monochrome-themed homes but shades of grey can serve as a suitable substitute for either colour. Introduce a cosy touch to a high-contrast space with warm greys, or use them to bridge the gap between opposites. If you are not a complete monochrome purist, adding subtle splashes of colour, in the form of potted plants or patterned backrests, is an acceptable option of creating visual interest as well.
Image credit: Weiken.com
- Lively layers
Leveraging on different textures is an efficient way of compensating for the lack of colour in a monochrome interior. Bring in raw-looking wood materials and tones to give a black-and-white space some warmth. Similarly, cement screed surfaces offer a way to bring in an industrial touch that is both earthy and striking. Aside from their distinctive sheen, layers of transparent glass also prevent predominantly black spaces from being too dark by allowing natural light to enter freely.
Photo by Wong Weiliang
- Flaunt those curves
In the case of monochrome interiors, having an overabundance of clean lines and sharp angles can result in an excessively spartan look. Strike a balance with furnishings that possess flowing curves for a softer touch, such as a rounded coffee table or a floor lamp that comes with a gentle, arcing outline. In the same manner, curvy accessories like rounded porcelain vases and teaware can take the edge off angled planes with their clean but sensual silhouettes.
Image credit: Crate & Barrel
- Mirror mastery
One advantage of going black-and-white is the ability to create dark, cosy bedrooms that are perfect for a comfy snooze. However, in the case of monochrome communal living spaces, ensuring adequate illumination is a must due to their functional purpose. Decorative mirrors and other reflective surfaces offer an elegant solution to this conundrum by bouncing both natural and artificial light onto surrounding walls to create a less gloomy appearance.
Image credit: Mesh Werk Studio
- Daring geometry
While black and white are naturally outstanding shades, it is possible to strengthen the disparity between both colours for a more distinctive interior. Accordingly, one way to accomplish this is to make use of different shapes to accentuate the visual contrast between monochrome surfaces that share the same space. For example, in this kitchen, matte-black hexagon flooring and white rectangular subway tiles come together to create an iconic cooking space like no other.
Image credit: Icon Interior
- Make a statement
Aside from bringing in a variety of different shapes, patterns and textures, statement lights also offer another way to break up the monotony of a strictly monochrome interior. Warm cove lights installed around a TV feature wall or as part of a ceiling structure add depth to the theme by defining their outlines with a glamorous, welcoming touch.
Image credit: The Orange Cube
This was adapted from an article originally published in IdealHomes vol. 9
