1. Use contrasting colours for heightened visual drama – If you’re wondering how to keep things looking interesting in your home, there’s another simple formula to keep in mind: it’s usually a good idea to layer alternating dark and light colour on top of each other. Take the trend for all-white kitchens for example, it’s very nice and clean but visually it doesn’t register as much because of the total absence of colour. A more interesting approach is to use a light backsplash tile, a dark or medium shade of countertop (like grey), white cabinets, and then a dark floor. So, the visual formula is light colour (backsplash) next to a dark colour (countertop) next to light (cabinets) next to dark (floors). If you look at the living room below, it uses this same basic light-and-dark formula: light walls, next to a darker-shade (than the wall) sofa, which sits over a light carpet underneath which there is a dark floor. The bookshelf is a dark element that sits in front of a light wall. And the dark green of the plant pops against the light walls behind it. It’s the same dynamic with the dark frame of the mirror which allows it to ‘pop’ against the light walls behind. And then the coffee table which is very dark, contrasts sharply against the light-colored carpet and the medium-orange hue of the sofa. It coordinates with the dark brown wood surfaces of the bookshelf, the floor, and the black frame of the mirror. And then you’ve got light cushions which pop against the background of a mid-toned leather upholstery fabric and also ties in with the light-coloured planter basket and light-coloured area rug. What you have here is a masterful symphony of carefully contrasting light-and-dark colours layered against each other making for a very dynamic colour scheme that keeps things interesting.
2. The quiet beauty of the monochromatic colour scheme – If you like the quiet calm of a church or an art gallery, then going minimalist with décor and colour might be for you. If you look at the space below there is an almost complete absence of colour, which is what white represents. And it’s everywhere in this space, except for the walls, which is a very light and nearly white shade of grey which was added just to contrast ever-so-slightly against the white trim. It’s a very elegant and peaceful interior. It feels like you’re floating on a cloud almost, especially given that your floors are also white. Many people will find this type of colour scheme relaxing or soothing, while others might find it a bit lifeless as there’s nary a colour in sight and no plants even. There’s even no artwork. Except notice that the doors, casing, wainscoting and crown mouldings are all gorgeously detailed, so these are enough to keep the eye occupied. The shiny white floor feels luxurious, and the furniture feels so comfy that you could just sink into them for a quick nap or perhaps spend a few hours reading a book. It’s a look that’s certainly not for everyone. But if you’re looking for a quiet space that puts your mind and body at rest at the end of a long and tiring day, you certainly can’t go wrong with a monochromatic scheme composed of just a single colour like this one.
3. Use dark surfaces to keep things low-maintenance – Having an all-white interior like the one above is certainly nice but it can be a nightmare to keep clean. Dirt will show up pretty easily on the coffee table and floor and forget about drinking wine or eating dessert on a white sofa. If you don’t entertain much and live mostly by yourself and don’t have kids, an all-white interior will be easier to maintain. But if you like to have a lot of company over, you may want an interior where the countertops and floors are grey or black. That way you don’t have to worry about spills or stains as the countertops and floors will hide these much easier. This kitchen below with the all-white shaker-style cabinets makes the task of keeping it clean much easier where it matters by having the countertops, backsplash, and floors in a medium gray, which is not too dark that it makes the space feel small and cramped, but dark enough so that if someone spills food or drink on the floor or countertop, it’s not going to be too much of a concern. I also like to recommend grey floors in the bathroom as you tend to spill a lot of water, shampoo, and other bodily fluids that you don’t tend to see them as much as you would on a white floor, which shows everything. Keep in mind that white surfaces on minimalist JapaScandi type of interiors are only great if you’re the kind of person that likes to clean very often. Dark grey or black surfaces – which have a slightly more formal feel than light surfaces – are great for people who like to keep things low maintenance or for people who are too busy to be cleaning on a regular basis.
4. Use black, silver and other timeless non-colours and neutrals – One of the reasons people enjoy using black, silver (or chrome) accents is that they give off a slightly more formal and posh hotel-like vibe. Take this living room pictured below. The ornately patterned black-on-charcoal wallpaper lends an elegant and even romantic feel but in a more formal way. But keep in mind that black is an evening colour, so that usually implies women in black cocktail dresses and men in dark velvet suits and bow ties. It’s the colour of serious occasions like graduation ceremonies and celebratory dinners, which is why the space pictured below has a kind of grown-up sophistication to it. The use of metallic finishes, in the wall-mounted speakers and subwoofer, the metal braces wrapping the sides of the 2 grey sofas and frame of the black leather couch directly facing the TV add a bit of sparkle as if they were pieces of jewelry. I personally prefer chrome over gold (which can be a bit too much sometimes) as it tends to never go out of style as it has a kind of sleek and understated feel. Note how the black was carried over in limited quantity in the artwork, floor lamps, planter box and leather seating. Copious amounts of white in the ceiling, walls and floors were used as a kind of primary base colour to ensure that there was not too much black, which can feel overwhelming when used too much and can make a space feel small and oppressive.
5. The timeless beauty of black and white – Like the interiors pictured above, this black and white living room shown below is probably among the simplest and most effective colour schemes you can use. It’s very striking and wonderfully minimalist look that never goes out of style. Using a black and white combo is probably one of the easiest types of colour schemes to use as you don’t have to think of using any type of accent colours, mixing and matching, or trying to make sure that nothing out of place. There’s only two colours: black and white (which in reality are non-colours). And it’s hard to make a mistake when you’re using this scheme. Black sofas (or accent chairs) are the easiest to keep clean as dirt never shows up, and if you have black tile or carpeted floors, you can probably clean them once a month (if at all). If your work table surface is black, then you don’t have to worry about coffee stains or food spills as much although dust do tends to show up on black much more easily so make sure to have a duster handy. Some people do find black-and-white schemes too monotonous or boring, but they do tend to be dramatic as well as they’re not very common. I personally find having all white curtains to be really dramatic and unusual as most people tend to use coloured curtains in their home. Black-and-white interiors are colour schemes for people who are bold and unafraid of being judged by people who like the relative comfort and safety of beige, grey or a more colourful interior.
