Five ways to get the monochrome look

One of the current trends in home interiors is monochrome, or black and white.  As with any trends, if you want to go the whole hog and transform a room in your home into a haven of monochrome, then it will certainly look great.

But if you’re not looking to totally re-decorate a room, then there are still plenty of ways in which you can get the look from making a few simple changes, or adding decorative accessories.

Here are five practical ideas to help you get the monochrome look in your home.

1. Make a Feature Wall

Creating a feature wall in a room is a great way of making a statement. In a lounge, for example, you could create a feature wall above the fireplace or in any alcoves you have, or in a bedroom it could be the wall above the bed.

With the monochrome look, there are a wide variety of stunning black and white wallpapers on the market, which provide an instant statement.

Monsoon Home have recently released a new range of stylish wallpaper, designed by Graham and Brown. The Elise wallpaper is part of their contemporary floral range and features a dark charcoal background with stylised flowers and swirls.

The Elise paper is available from Totally Home for £24.99 per roll, with free delivery.

Alternatively, if you don’t fancy putting up wallpaper, a coat of black paint on one wall, coupled with white accessories, can be just as dramatic. Or why not try adding these black flowers to a white wall, to give dimension and interest?

Another option is to go for wall stickers instead, as they’re relatively inexpensive and could be moved around if you later change your mind.

2. Invest in Black Dining Chairs

Sleek, black contemporary dining chairs can make a great monochrome statement in your dining room or kitchen. If an accompanying black table feels too much, then they work very well with modern glass tables too, like this diamond base glass table.

These black dining chairs are both by Dwell. The first has a high gloss finish (£95), which is popular at the moment too, and the second is made from wood and has a contemporary curved back (£34.95).

3. Upgrade Your Cushions

A simple change in soft furnishings can really lift a room and give it a completely different look.

Changing your cushions can be a relatively inexpensive way of introducing a trend into a room – and if you’re really strapped for cash, you can even get creative and make your own.

This black and white cushion from the Tu range at Sainsbury’s features a white background with a flocked black damask design. It looks just the part and is only £3.49 per cushion, so you could probably afford to get several!

If flocking isn’t your cup of tea, then another inexpensive option is this black sequin cushion, also £3.49 from the Sainsbury’s Tu range.

4. Choose Monochrome Lamps

Lamps are a great way of adding style into a room. The monochrome element can either be picked up in the base or shade of the lamp.

The fashionable stacked base of this lamp is made of silver chrome and contrasts well with the black fabric shade. The lamp is £40 at Cargo.

Or, for a touch of glamour that will get noticed, you could hang a chandelier, like this black one, from your ceiling.

5. Add Black and White Accessories Into a Room

Carefully chosen accessories can really make a room, either used on their own to introduce the monochrome trend, or in conjunction with other elements, such as cushions or a statement wall.

When you’re adding accessories, have a play around and experiment with grouping them in different ways or trying them in different locations within the room. Try things in pairs, or threes, organised symmetrically or randomly.

Accessories could be added to the mantelpiece, on shelves, around the TV or on windowsills. If you don’t have a suitable shelf, then you could buy a small decorative shelf, like this black one, to give you extra space and complement the look.

These black and white giraffes from Cargo are sold in a set of three, so you’ve instantly got a nice group of accessories to play with – and three objects like this look great together. The set of giraffes is priced at £28.

This monochrome floral frame is from Monsoon (£15) and there are other matching accessories, such as this set of four black and white coasters (£12), available to complete the look.

In a bedroom, you could add monochrome touches through carefully chosen bedlinen. This Baratti co-ordinating bedlinen, from Designers Guild, has distinctive panels of black and white, but isn’t overpowering. It’s also ideal if you don’t like duvets that are too dark, as there’s still plenty of white included too.

There are plenty of monochrome accessories you can add to finish off a kitchen too, such as this black recycled chopping board that looks like slate, but is actually made from recycled materials, or this black and white salt and pepper set.

Whatever trend you’re trying to create in your home, the main thing to remember is to have fun, choose pieces and designs you really love and create a room that you feel happy with and will enjoy living in.

Are you a fan of the monochrome look? We’d love to hear how you’ve used the trend in your home!