Strong colour, subtle shading: tone-on-tone schemes

Illustration: Blörn Steinmetzler, Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft e.V. (VDS)
Photo: Grohe
Tone-on-tone
concepts bring a sense of serenity to the bathroom even when bold colours are
used. But even though one colour dominates the colour
scheme, a monochromatic interior design is rarely confined
to the homogenous use of a single colour; instead, the surfaces are gradated in
different shades and nuances of one hue. Even without contrasts, this gives
rise to a subtly differentiated impression of depth that is extremely
expressive thanks to the monochromatic palette.
A
change of materials can also be used for gradation – be it a certain shade of
stone or wood that harmonises particularly well with the basic colour or a
different surface texture that results in deeper shading. Tone-on-tone
concepts are a tried-and-trusted design concept in fashion too, where simply
using several different materials is enough to create elegant ensembles, for
instance by combining wool, patent leather and leather in one and the same
shade. By contrast, the focus in interior design is on
achieving the necessary differentiation between surfaces. And
because smooth, uninterrupted surfaces are playing a prominent role in interior
design right now, with detailed products being contrasted with large expanses
of colour, tone-on-tone concepts are currently very much on trend, especially
in kitchen design.
This colour trend can therefore be recommended
for the bathroom too, especially when a modern look is required, because colour
gradations can create differentiation and an impression of depth even in
smaller rooms. A blue bathroom, for instance, can play with
different shades of blue without being a strain on the eyes; even so, it will
create the impression of a completely blue room as long as there are no stark
deviations or brightness contrasts as compared with the main colour. The
result is like “a blue grotto”, “a green jungle”, “a pink powder compact” or
“white infinity”, but nevertheless rich in spatial differentiation – and in
view of the sensory overload we’re confronted with in our everyday lives, the
effect is a veritable tonic for the soul.