Designer Jeff Landry offers tips and techniques for creating a sensational, single—color space.
Evaluate the space. “Monochromatic palettes create a larger visual space and a soothing, gentle environment,” says Landry, who often uses single-color schemes to make rooms look and feel more spacious and tranquil.
Begin with fabrics, Landry suggests. He might work through more than twenty textiles to arrive at a final four or five. “I hit a stack of the selected color and pull individual fabrics that fit the color range but also have their own interest.”
Create contrast. It’s imperative to include a variety of textures ranging from anything like a nubby linen to a smooth, sleek leather. “Also, use a certain number of patterns, even if subtle,” says Landry, who insists that texture and pattern are even more important in monochromatic design to create dimension and depth.
Find your focal points. Assign a variety of values and levels of visual importance to items in a room. “If everything sings, they cancel each other out,” Landry says. “You have to choose a couple that have more power than the others.”
Give it a rest. Introduce a neutral element like stone, wood or even black or white to create a place for the eye to rest. “A contrasting neutral accentuates the power of a monochromatic palette while creating a much-needed foil.”
Layer, layer, layer. “I could easily layer twenty different fabrics in a monochromatic room,” says Landry. He combines everything from plain surfaces and mixed fabrics to key patterns, primary art pieces and furnishings that perform as focal points. “It’s all about layering visual values,” he says.
Look up. “While it’s not a hard and fast rule, I typically paint my ceilings the same color as my walls.” That holds true for most of the rooms Landry designs, including his monochromatic spaces. Jeff Landry Design, SLC, jefflandrydesign.com
