Simplified colour palettes can give your eyes and your mind a rest. The greyscale used in old black and white films and photos can allude to a romantic past and I do find it quite appealing. On the other hand, colour can be used to depict magic, life, vivid dreams and excitement.
In films such as Pleasantville and The Giver, the sudden appearance of colour represents awakening of imagination. The characters only begin to see in colour when they realize the truth and step outside of cultural norms. We dream in colour and natural life thrives in full colour, so why would minimalists suddenly be so drawn to black and white?
A while back, when I was writing about selecting a minimalist wardrobe and creating a uniform as an every day superhero, I was inspired by several clothing designers who dressed in monochromes (not only black, white, or grayscale). Monochrome literally means one colour, but it can also be varying shades of only one other colour besides black and white. Strangely though, if you google the word monochrome and check out the images tab, you will see almost exclusively black and white imagery. Remember, monochrome doesn’t necessarily mean shades of grey or black and white. It’s varying tones of one colour. It could be like this website, where there are shades of teal throughout. For this website, I decided to go with a monochrome for the headers and the logo, with full colour photos for more zest and interest.
Choosing a monochrome palette is one way to simplify visually. A monochrome palette in a wardrobe, home furnishings, or a website can be used to create a minimalistic mood.
Whether you choose to use all of the vibrant colours of the rainbow or monochromatic tones of any one colour, is completely up to you. What do you think of the monochrome palette concept in minimalism? Do you, or would you use only shades of one colour in your wardrobe or home to create a mood or minimalist vibe?