Tone on tone bedroom design ideas

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Are you tired of overcomplicated design trends? We’ve got a solution for you. Introducing the latest trend to take the design world by storm: tone on tone styling. 

This design technique focuses entirely on layering various shades of a single colour throughout a room. Using this technique in your bedroom is a simple way to make your room look more luxurious, plus it can even trick the eye into making smaller spaces appear bigger. Result!  

 In this blog, we explore exactly how to master the elegant tone on tone design trend, with tips on selecting the best colour palette for your bedroom and how to pair different textures to create a cohesive and chic look.  

Tone on tone design celebrates subtlety by layering varying shades of the same colour, for a simple yet sophisticated look. For example, a green tone on tone bedroom may feature forest green walls, an olive bed frame and sage green bedding, showcasing different hues of the same core colour.  

The trick to mastering tone on tone design is choosing the right mood. Since shades must be the same colour throughout your room, it’s important to think very carefully about what kind of vibe you’d like to create. Maybe you want to replicate a spa-like sanctuary in your bedroom? Or perhaps you’d prefer a dark and moody ambience? Whatever your preference, pick a colour that resonates with you and feels right for your bedroom.  

 Need some inspiration? Here are our favourite shade combinations for nailing the monochromatic aesthetic…  

Soft neutrals 

Let’s start with soft neutrals. This is an ideal choice for experimenting with the tone on tone design technique because it offers a timeless, clean look and exudes sophistication. Neutrals are also quite often associated with promoting focus and creativity.   

For this look, we’d recommend painting your walls in a soft, sandy colour and, if you’re lucky enough to have wooden floorboards, keep them bare. If not, a light beige carpet will do the trick. For your centrepiece, go for a beige bed or headboard. Not only will this work well with your tone on tone design, but it’s also sure to stay in style for years to come, even if you decide to switch up your decor.  

We love how our Flaxby Kettlewell Headboard in ivory subtly contrasts with the varying shades of beige on the walls behind it… 

Interested in this look? Check out our top tips on using neutrals in your bedroom design.  

Calming blues 

It’s widely considered that blue is the most calming hue on the colour wheel. So, if you’re somebody that likes their bedroom to be a peaceful sanctuary of relaxation, then blue might be the best shade for your tone on tone bedroom design.  

To achieve the look, try painting your walls, ceiling and furniture in the same light blue shade and contrast it with an upholstered blue bed. We love how our Charlie ottoman looks against this matching blue backdrop. To style the bed, we’d recommend dressing it in other blue shades, such as deep navy bed linen, ideally with some cushions featuring contrasting patterns and textures to add some extra intrigue.  

Leaning towards a blue bedroom? Learn more about how to use this zen colour in your bedroom design.  

Elegant greens

Fancy a more botanical look? Green is a great option for the tone on tone design as there are so many ways to bring it to life. Plus, green is often associated with feelings of serenity and relaxation, making it an ideal choice for a bedroom you want to unwind in.   

Depending on whether you’d like to go for pale mint greens and sages, or dark forest greens and emeralds, there are many avenues that you can go down. We’d suggest starting with what kind of bed frame you’d like (perhaps even a green bed!) and work your colour scheme around this. The upholstered Hopkins bed in winter moss is a beautiful choice for a green tone on tone bedroom. We’d style this with olive green bedding and accessories, and lots of houseplants to create a tropical, boho chic ambience – like this… 

Feeling green with envy? Check out our five green bedroom ideas and inspiration so you can start creating your dream bedroom.  

Moody greys or charcoals 

If you’re looking to create a moody atmosphere, consider a darker bedroom in grey or charcoal. These are great choices for capturing a contemporary yet atmospheric and sumptuous ambience. 

Our Ellis velvet-finish bed frame offers the perfect starting point for a tonal grey bedroom. We’d style this with sophisticated charcoal grey bedding, throws and matching cushions. To accessorise, add some dimension with sparkly silver accents such as light fittings, lamps, photo frames and ornaments. Just stunning!   

Check out our colour hub for endless colour inspiration. 

Once you’ve picked your key colour, it’s time to decide how to layer your shades. Before diving in, think about what surfaces you have to play with: walls, flooring, furniture, your bed, perhaps you have an armchair in the corner – even your ceiling, skirting boards and radiators can be considered! Nothing is off limits when it comes to tone on tone design.  

It’s best to start with the more permanent changes. For instance, what shade would you like to paint your walls and ceiling? Do you have wooden floors that need painting, too? Or will you be laying down a new carpet?  

Next comes the fun part: experimenting with your less permanent decorations. Styling your bed is a great way to explore different tonal options, and don’t be afraid to add lots of different hues here! Introducing a lot of subtle variations of your chosen colour is a great way to add lots of depth. You could have one shade for your bedding, another for your blanket, and three more for your scatter cushions. Have fun with it!  

When it comes to bringing your new tone on tone design to life, texture is everything. To avoid your bedroom becoming a little “one note,” introduce some interesting textures to add both depth and interest. 

Rugs are a great way to do this; we love a fluffy sheepskin rug beside a bed – as well as looking cosy, it keeps your feet nice and warm when you jump out of bed in the morning! Or lean into the Scandi-style and add some rough textures like wicker and rattan. We love how this earthy, neutral room looks: 

Since you’re only dealing with one colour, it might seem effortless – but tone on tone styling is a tricky art form. 

You can, however, add a little contrast with your bedroom furniture. When picking out new furniture for your tonal bedroom, think carefully about the shape, style and material. Since the colour will be consistent with the rest of your space, you can be a little more eclectic and daring with your furniture style. You could go for a retro midcentury modern dresser featuring smooth, curved lines contrasted with a modern asymmetrical mirror.   

This is a great way to elevate your monochromatic look and add some intrigue. Just look how this dark and moody tonal bedroom is styled with contrasting furniture to create interesting silhouettes… 

Credit: @gandgdesigns

When all of the colours in one room are so closely related, it can sometimes look a little 2D. To avoid this, you can use clever lighting techniques to create more contrast. Play around with light and shade in your bedroom to find the best angles, highlighting certain aspects and keeping some in the shadows. This adds beautiful pockets of light around your room and creates even more interesting shades of your core colour.  

To take your look one step further, think about your bulb choice. Yellow bulbs work well with warm-toned colour schemes such as neutral and brown bedrooms, whilst white bulbs look great in cool-toned blue bedrooms. Paying attention to details like this can take a room from perfectly fine to jaw-dropping in one swift move (or as quickly as you can change a lightbulb…).  

Don’t stop at your walls and flooring! Make sure to consider the colour scheme of any art pieces or wall decor that you’re using to bring your tone on tone look together.  

To do this, select artwork in a complementary hue for your tone on tone colour palette. Try to limit the appearance of any other colours, which can be easy to do if you stick to prints and patterns. If you prefer a landscape, try an ocean view to enhance blues and greens in the room. 

Finally, don’t forget about accessorising! Choosing accessories in similar hues to your tone on tone colour scheme is the key to bringing everything together and it’ll have your room looking like a show home. As the saying goes, it’s all in the details.  

Good news for those who like low maintenance: it’s easy to update existing accessories with just a few small changes. For example, if you already have lamps for your bedside tables and you don’t want to buy any new ones – simply replace the lampshades with ones in your new colour palette! This is an easy and inexpensive way of giving your lighting a makeover.  

You may also want to upgrade your photos with new picture frames and switch your plant pots for a colour more suited to your new bedroom aesthetic. Blankets and throw cushions are other bedroom staples that are easy and cheap to upgrade. And don’t throw anything away! Any old items could find a new home in your house, perhaps to upgrade your guest room? Sustainable and stylish, now that’s more like it.  

Who knew you could create such beauty from just a single colour? Whether you’re going for a sophisticated, neutral bedroom using beautiful beiges, or perhaps you’re envisioning an all-over pink Barbie’s dream house effect, tone on tone design is extremely effective. The best part? You can use the same pot of paint for everything!