Create Layers of Color with Tone-on-Tone Decorating

Whether you’re saturating your home with vivid hues or you’re adding layers of color to a neutral backdrop, the featured spaces in today’s post celebrate tone-on-tone decorating. From fresh flowers that mirror the rosy shade of the wall to throw pillows in the same color family as a nearby rug, the repetition of hues makes a big impact in your interior. Read on and discover fun tips and useful strategies for celebrating tone-on-tone decorating at home…

Rosy Tones

Let’s begin with a touch of blush, shall we?! Pink has made a huge comeback in recent years. In fact, rosy hues are going strong this fall, from the most saturated of burgundies to the softest of pinks. Below we see a collection of vases (both in the foreground and the background). Layering color through tabletop decor is an easy way to make a big impact.

Layering vases in rosy shades (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Going one shade darker (or more vibrant) than your wall color can add dimension and depth to a room. Slightly rosy wall + pink flowers = an elegant display of blush:

Rosy walls meet rosy blooms (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Incorporate a range of elements in shades of the same color. Eggplant reigns in the space below, from ottoman and shelf to vase and pillow:

Rosy hues in a grey living room (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Yellows and Blues

Yellow and blue take center stage in the photos that follow. Golden yellow pillows and rug designs are warm and welcoming in the space below, while a radiant yellow table pops, adding another layer of sunny goodness. It never hurts to go extra bold with one vibrant item.

Yellow on gold creates a warm atmosphere (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Can royal blue share the same space as grey-blue? Abso-blue-tely! Try unlikely shade pairings of the same color. You may be surprised by how well they synchronize.

Shades of blue add serenity to a room (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Go all out with by saturating your space with rich tones. Layer light and dark blue pillows. In a room with blue walls. Too much? Not if it’s the right shade of blue…

Deep blue meets beige in a modern bedroom (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Shades of Grey

Grey is today’s hottest neutral. No wonder so many designers and brands use it as the backdrop color of choice when it comes to product photography. Grey cabinetry pairs beautifully with grey stone in the kitchen. Need proof? See below!

Grey cabinetry meets grey stone (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Lush, textured fabrics can make an all-grey room a multi-faceted space. Add decadent elements such as blossoming branches (and large, modern accents like sculptural lighting):

Grey-on-grey design from Cierre — Grey-on-grey design in a modern living area (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Did you ever notice how when you focus on incorporating one color, certain shades and variations can resemble other colors? Are the rug and solid pillows below grey? Or deep, dark eggplant?

Grey on grey creates a sleek look (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Something blue is definitely going on in the grey space below. But it’s subtle…

Grey sofa with smoky blue pillows (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

And it’s hard to deny the beige-y brown element in this bedroom filled with grey:

Shades of grey in a modern bedroom (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Warm Wood and Neutrals

Speaking of beige and brown, let’s end today’s post with a collection of rooms that celebrate warms and neutrals. Try placing wooden furniture in front of brown-toned walls for an extra dash of earthy style. Earthy-modern is the name of this game:

Wooden furnishings against a warm-toned wall (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Even in a grey room, warm tones can command the space, especially if you layer. Combine wooden trim with other warm elements, such as brown bottles:

Warm tones in a grey kitchen (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

When brown paneling meets brown shelving and a sculptural brown bowl, modern design is nothing less than warm and inviting. Layering the same shade of brown can produce powerful results. In the space below, it’s about repetition rather than color variation:

Wooden tones create warmth in a modern bathroom (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Then again, a patterned rug can introduce a range of shades and tones:

A warm-toned rug meets warm-toned wood (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

When beige meets brown, soft neutrals are heightened by bold definition. Light and dark tones in the same color family are powerful. And elegant, especially when quilted textures meet veined stone!

Tone-on-tone bathroom design by Mitage (Image by Alex Ion / Decoist.com)

Explore the different directions that neutral tones can take. For example, beige can veer into rose territory, especially with the right accessories (and even a hint of lavender goodness).