Monochrome Interior Design – A Guide To Understanding The Power of One Colour

If you’re one of those people with a love for monochrome interior design, you’re at the right place. Do you also wonder why we really have so many colours? Why do people play with various colours when designing their home interior? The answer is simple, the usage of colour is extremely subjective, what you find beautiful might not be the same for another. Choosing a monochrome design means you love to keep things straightforward, bold, and practical.

In this guide, we will help you understand more about using one colour in your interior and how even a single colour can take your interior to new aesthetic heights. 

What is Monochrome Interior Design? 

While you know what monochrome design basically is, let’s dig deeper. Most homeowners love the concept but are afraid of using it in their interior design because it’s often misunderstood as a boring concept. However, that’s not entirely true because there are many ways to make your home, workspace, or even living area interesting by using a solid colour. 

Even though the word ‘monochromatic’ translates to ‘one colour,’ it’s not how interior designs work. We don’t have to stick to just one colour and decorate our interior with just that because there are different shades to a colour. 

For example, let’s take black, there are various tones, tints, and even shades of black. This allows us to play with various hues without adding multiple solid colours. However, when using different tones and shades, it is vital to know how to use them in balance.

Another example is, say you want to use red but can’t choose bright red for your living room monochrome interior design. Instead of avoiding your preferred colour, what you can do is add variation to it, such as dark maroon, bold scarlet, or even bright pink. Make sure that the colour you choose has the power to become versatile when following monochrome house interior design. 

Remember, your goal is to get the best out of one colour, so try not to overwhelm the space. 

How to Apply Monochrome Design Interiors to Your Home?

There are different methods to apply monochrome interior design ideas to your home. Some love to try it, so they take bold steps, but some prefer testing how it would look before actually designing their entire home. 

Let’s see a few ways which can help you regardless of your choice: 

Start Small 

If you’re new to monochromatic designs, it’s best to start small. Unless you truly feel confident, you shouldn’t risk your entire home’s interior. So, maybe you can begin with a guest bedroom or bathroom. 

You can use a single colour, such as black, grey, or brown for a monochrome bathroom design. For example, take a look at the following image. There are different shades, tones, and even textures of brown to the interior. It not only gives a sleek look but also makes the interior modern and sophisticated. 

Blk 648C Tampines St 62

Similarly, you can try a guest bedroom with a calming colour to see how it’ll look. Maybe you can go with blue or green to see the ambience it creates. Trying out monochrome designs in small spaces will help you visualise how it’ll look in large spaces. 

The Right Undertone 

Getting the right undertone is what sets the rest of the monochrome interior design right. As monochrome deals with one colour, you have to ensure that the undertones are from a similar colour palette. You pick one solid colour and then, layer it with different tones of the same colour. There are different tints to every colour, so when using one colour you can be mindful of that too. 

If you want to get a seamless interior to your home, you have to ensure that the monochrome scheme has the undertones to complement that one colour. 

But what if you’re clueless about how to decide? You can simply look at the paint chart, select a shade, and then compare it with the tones in the same colour. Try playing with different tones, such as darker and lighter ones. It’s important to visualise your idea when it comes to a monochrome design house. 

When it comes to monochrome living room design, adding elements such as soft furnishing and textures is vital. Doing so will elevate the look and provide a rich essence to the space. Before committing to any design, make sure to visualise the samples. Mix and match them and see how they look, which can help you make better decisions. 

The Feel 

Colours have the power to impact your mood. When looking for monochrome interior design ideas, you should remember the power colour holds. Why? It can literally change the outcome of the designs if you’re not mindful of it. Imagine using just one colour in your kitchen interior and it ends up looking all dull and moody, would you like it? 

This is why it’s important to decide what colour will create the mood you want to feel in your kitchen, bedroom, or living room in modern monochrome interior design. 

Blk 112B Alkaff Crescent

Look at this Blk 112B Alkaff Crescent interior we did. The client’s idea was to get a subtle yet rich interior. They wanted to feel warm and calmer in their living space, so we used our monochrome HDB design to offer what the client needed. It’s soft, subtle, and calm, isn’t it? But we could achieve this because the client helped us envision what they wanted – warm monochrome interior design. 

If you are sure of the way you want to feel, it’s possible to get the monochrome interiors perfectly right. Some clients prefer greens, blues, and pinks for their interiors as these colours are invigorating and lively. These colours may work well for bedrooms too.

Beige, as we have used above, works well for living rooms as it gets better when layered with neutral tones. However, if you want to do something out of the box, you can look for darker colours, especially for a monochrome kitchen design. 

Kitchen interiors in inky black are pretty famous and it actually turns out classy and chic. When using inky black for the kitchen interior, it’s important to add, textures, tones, and dramatic cabinets and ceilings to keep monochrome designs stunning! 

Think Beyond Black and White 

Yes, we mentioned “black interiors for kitchen,” but please don’t hang up on just black and white. As many people use black and white monochrome schemes for monochrome HDB design, people are now conditioned to consider them  – or let’s say, they feel safe to go with those colours. 

Carbon black, graphite, black olive, charcoal, and deep grey are such stunning colours and they are often used in monochrome interior design ideas. But why do you have to restrict yourself to those when you can be as creative as you want with the right approach? 

If you want to try blue, purple, or even red, what you have to do is focus on the colour chart. Ensure that you can identify and use various shades of the one colour selected. Add different tints, tones, and textures when working on the interior designs. 

Add Interesting Styles and Shapes 

Monochrome design is fun only if you know how to handle it like a pro. Yes, we say it seriously because using just one colour to design your interior is cool, but it should be done with careful consideration. Imagine adding furniture, decor, and other shapes to your interior without disturbing or overdoing the theme. 

If you add similar shades of styles and shapes, it’ll make the overall look flat. If you add something contrasting, it might challenge the minimalist monochrome interior design. Therefore, you have to be mindful of what you add. Try adding silhouettes, shapes, and styles with interesting concepts. 

You can also blend different styles, artwork, and other pieces that can enhance the interior. The coolest thing about the monochrome scheme is that you can add bold styles and shapes, especially to your living room. 

The Vida, Peck Hay Road

Look at this The Vida, Peck Hay Road project we’ve done. The abstracts, shapes, and silhouettes we’ve added not only grab the attention but also amplify the interior. 

Blending traditional pieces with new silhouettes can easily achieve the chic look that homeowners try to get from modern monochrome interior design. As long as you add characterful decor to your interior, you can create a sophisticated look without overdoing your concept of monochrome. 

Break the Rules 

…but carefully! 

While we do not really advise breaking the rules, the case is different with monochrome interior design. 

When including an accent colour to your scheme you should do it subtly; if not, it’ll look forced. If that happens, the tonal look you tried to achieve through monochrome design might not happen. 

You can choose a colour that’s going to be unique when compared to the one colour you’ve selected. But what if you don’t want to go in the opposite direction? If that’s the case, you can select a colour in the same family you’ve selected, but just make it more bright or light based on the concept you’ve decided. 

Also, when breaking the rules, be sure to know where to break them. For example, if you’re unsure, you can try adding a different colour to your monochrome bedroom design. Or this can even work in the kitchen interiors. But remember, don’t overdo it! 

Conclusion 

Want to try HDB monochrome interior design in Singapore? You should because it is one of the fabulous interior design schemes most homeowners love. Also, once you know the basics of it, you can easily visualise how your monochrome HDB design Singapore will look. 

You can decide whether to go bold or subtle with your monochrome interior design. However, you’re taking a huge leap, so it’s best to contact a professional team.

Renozone combines creativity and functionality in every project, whether it’s for a 5-room HDB, a sleek condominium design, or a landed house interior design. We understand that each space is unique and work to bring out its best features. From HDB renovation and condo design to inspiring commercial interior design, Renozone is your partner for beautiful, practical renovations.

If you need expert guidance for your home interior, contact us today!