Dear Leanne: I really like the look of monochromatic colour schemes in homes and I was wondering if there are any rules to follow to make this work. It looks simple in the magazines, but now that I am starting on my living room, I am not so sure.
I have committed to a cream sofa, but the other fabrics I have tried to introduce seem to have a green or pink undertone. What do you suggest?
A: The term monochromatic refers to varying tones or shades of a single colour or hue. In the design world, we bend this rule a bit and include a few neighbouring colours of similar value, rather than sticking to just one.
As you have noticed, there is not just one cream, nor is there just one white, beige, yellow, taupe, grey, blue, etc. In simple terms, the colours we use in our homes come from the basics of red, blue or yellow. Every other colour we know comes from a combination of these building blocks. Then we can brighten the tone by adding white or intensify the shade by adding black.
Colours are more interactive than most people appreciate, as they react differently when they change environments. For instance, when you view a piece of fabric or furniture in a store -- independent of other decor -- it will look different than when you introduce it to your home environment.
At home, the colours of the existing surroundings (walls, flooring, ceiling, lighting and other furniture) will bring out the underlying hues -- red, yellow or blue. Often this is subtle.
Take a look at magazine photos of rooms to see how designers put these spaces together. You will note there are varying tones (some with pink, yellow, green or grey undertones) used in a single room.
If we didn't have these subtle contrasts, we would be looking into a snowstorm, where there would be no distinguishable features to define the space. Everything would blend together into one blasé existence. So accept that your monochromatic room will be comprised of varying hues of similar value.
One mistake novice designers make is judging a space before it is completed. Do not panic if you have committed to a chair to go with your sofa and you see hints of pink or green.
The room is not finished yet and other elements, not in the space, will affect the unity and balance of your room.
Professional designers and those with the instinctive ability to balance rooms will create monochromatic schemes with ease. Those who have never attempted this style before may find the following guidelines helpful:
-- Refer to magazines to see the end results of monochromatic designs. (Monochrome can be any colour, not just cream.)
-- Start with your inspiration point or limiting factor such as a work of art or a fantastic view. Limiting factors include design elements or furnishings you intend to keep, such as flooring or a fireplace. These are elements you will not be altering.
-- Look carefully at their hues as they will provide a hint toward the colour family your room innately exudes. For example, is your hardwood flooring a golden tone or red? This colour element will impact the other items you introduce to this space.
-- If your sofa is one of the inspirational items, keep a colour swatch with you when you shop for additional items. If you don't have a fabric sample, get a paint chip that is close to the colour.
-- The design concept of threes is a recipe that can help you get started. Take the colour of your sofa; add two more items in the room in that same hue.
-- Copy the colour in the room, but introduce it in varying sizes in a sofa, chair or accent pillow.
-- Add another hue -- such as taupe -- in an ottoman, accent throw and wall colour. Place the taupe throw on the side of one arm of the cream sofa and place the cream accent pillow on top of the throw nestled into the corner.
-- Add a third hue to the room in a tonal value in between that of the first two. Consider this for the window treatment, an additional chair and a piece of art.
You will begin to see how the hues are balanced with the replication of colour offered in varying size. Now you have a substantial design base to which you can add additional pieces in varying cream or off-white tones.
Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at www.leannebrownoff.com. Answers will be featured in her column as high volumes prevent individual email responses.
-- Postmedia News
