How to Decorate with Tone On Tone Design

You may have heard the term tone on tone design being used lately in home decor magazines and on your favourite blogs. But what does decorating with tone on tone design really mean and how can you achieve it? Whether you’re all for this trend or aren’t quite sure how to take it, we’ll show you different ways you can incorporate this trend into your home right now.

What is tone?

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Before you can start decorating with tone on tone styles, it helps to know what we mean by tone. When it comes to colour, tone is defined by taking a pure colour and adding either grey or neutral colours to it. By mixing a colour with any neutral colour (grey, black, white), this causes the colourfulness to go down while the hue remains the same. This process creates different tones of the original colour. Decorating with tone on tone is all about finding different ways to incorporate the original colour.

Start Small

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If you’re looking to give this trend a try but don’t want to fully commit to a one colour room, start by adding small elements of the same colour. Style your couch throw pillows so they create a gradient in the same colour, or incorporate knickknacks in the same colour throughout your space. By painting the shelves the same colour as the items on it, you instantly see that there is thought and intent behind each piece and its placement on the shelf.

Don’t Be Too Literal

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Just because tone on tone decorating is about using the same colour throughout a space, doesn’t mean you can only use one colour or that you have to use it absolutely everywhere in the same way. You can still incorporate accent colours and other items that stray away from your main colour of choice. The point of tone on tone design is to create a look that incorporates the main colour in different ways. Don’t try to make your room look like a can of paint exploded on everything. Unless, of course, that’s the look you’re going for.

Texture and Shine

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Much like in fashion, creating a monochromatic look is much easier to achieve when there are different textural elements used. The same tip can be applied to decorating your home with tone on tone design. Distinguishing between tones is much easier to do when there are items that shimmer or shine. Look for items that are textured to create visual interest in your space.

Anchor Pieces

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If you can afford to, or you’re already in the process of designing your room from scratch, try buying your big ticket items in the same colour palette. Items such as your couch or bed, rugs, and wall colour are all pieces that help anchor the look of a room. Take the above room for example. If the walls were white and the couch was beige, there would be nothing special about this room. However, by making the biggest pieces in the room different tones of the same green, we get a room that makes a statement and is an excellent example of tone on tone design done right.

Easy Decision Maker

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The best thing about going with tone on tone design for your room? It makes decorating a lot easier because you only have to answer one question: does this colour go? No longer will you have to worry if the yellow in the carpet clashes with the blue in the drapes. Decorating in the same colour throughout ensures all of your pieces will go together cohesively.

What are your thoughts on using tone on tone design in your home? Have you done it or would you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. When you’re ready to incorporate tone on tone into your home, get started on HomeStars.