Okay, so I’m most definitely not an interior designer, but I’m definitely a professional blog designer, and if there’s one thing I believe, it’s that a design eye is innate.  It translates across all mediums, so I actually consider myself to be pretty darn talented at interior design as well.

Today I wanted to talk about how to paint walls in monochrome.  I found some fantastic inspiration on Pinterest, and I wanted to break down the elements of what I like and why I think these work!

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1. Think gilded.  Okay, so never mind that this sink is missing a mirror (on many days, I am in total agreement with that!).  One key to monochromatic interior design is to think gilded.  See how the brass fixtures (including doorknob) and the gold frame pop off of the burgundy?  So with your fixtures, don’t go flat.  Monochrome gray with flat framing or dull accents will look boring and drab.  Anything metallic adds that visual pop and makes a fantastic accent with the background.

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2. For a clean look, stick to one color family for accents.  These deep emerald walls maintain a serenity even though the color is fairly intense because of the black and white artwork grouping.  All the artwork is in one color family, and it keeps the room from being too bold or over-the-top.  Also the polished concrete and gray rug blend seamlessly with the rest of the room.

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3.  Add visual interest with molding.  Even though there’s not a ton of artwork on the walls, the molding adds fantastic visual dimension, so don’t be afraid to paint your architectural accents (molding, ceilings, window frames) in the same monochrome.  It breaks up the blank space even without the use of wall art.

So don’t be afraid to experiment with monochrome walls.  If you’re skittish, try just one accent wall (also ideal if you live in a rental, it will be easy to restore back to the original color).  Enjoy, and any other tips, let me know in a comment below!