Who needs colour? Scandinavian culture is seeping left, right and centre into our everyday lives, and the simple, monochrome style of interior decor is no exception. Black and white are the easiest tones to base our home ideas on, they're clean, inoffensive and sidelined to trends.
Home envy has never been so real, with perfected surroundings popping up on our Instagram and Pinterest apps, and the real world around us therefore feeling a little lacklustre.
Although we're not promising by sticking to monochrome you'll end up with the perfect interior world, starting with a colourless palette is certainly the easiest place to start, and colour can edge in slowly in the form of artwork (affordable of course) and meaningful trinkets. Click on for ultimate inspiration, without so much of the colour.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is a great way to add a touch of styling to your home without fussy decorations. It's practical and useful, but looks considered and cool. Swedish brand Ellos has a great range of modern lighting answers in slick black, perfect to contrast white walls and a simple bedside table.
Photo: Courtesy of Ellos.
Get creative with paint
For a tiled bathroom it's a nice touch to paint the ceiling and, in this case, the top part of the walls in brave black. With black flooring and a striking circular mirror this is serious bathroom inspo.
Classic accessories
A clean white canvas is the perfect foundation for a monochrome interior, an of-the-moment by Lassen candelabra and HAY planter adorn this simple room along with vintage classics.
Photo: Courtesy of Airbnb.
Don't be afraid of black walls
One of Farrow & Ball's classic shades, Off Black, is an uncomplicated choice for walls, it's a softer take on pitch black, so isn't as scary. Contrast with white storage containing pops of colour in the form of curated books & plants.
Photo: Courtesy of A Beautiful Mess.
Painted details
If you feel like you really need a change in the home, painting the stairs can be a good way to try something new without doing irreversible damage. It's a fairly easy job, just make sure you don't leave your phone at the top of the stairs, as there's no going back until it's dry. Try this black paint, directly on top of a white base. You can just paint the edge of each, or if you're feeling braver, the entire step, leaving the verticals white.
Keep the basics monochrome
This living room has the staples in simple, colourless shades while adding neutral browns. We love details like the triangular mirror and simple wall art.
Customised details
As well as looking like an army of spiders, this DIY bedspread by A Beautiful Mess is a really nice addition to a monochrome bedroom. A black painted wall also really contrasts with the stark bed frame.
Photo: Courtesy of A Beautiful Mess.
Soft monochrome in the bathroom
If you think black and white has to be hard-edged and high contrast, think again. With a base palette of white, adding softer fabrics while keeping it clean can still be cosy for bathrooms. H&M have a great selection of soft furnishings such as this bath mat. Don't forget the Aesop soaps.
Kilim pillows
Kilim, meaning a type of flat woven carpet or fabric from Kurdistan and Turkey has made its way west. The style is really versatile and feels much more homely than Ikea's bulk creations. Genuine cushions and rugs are easily available online, just look out for longish waits on delivery.
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