Visited any chic Upper-East Side NYC apartments lately? The graying weather and the inevitable white of snow seem to be influencing home decorators who are turning to more monochromatic schemes this season. The classic grays and whites are back in different tinges, shapes and sizes. From gallery white walls to eggshell couches, the need to find peace in one’s surroundings seems evident everywhere. Margaret Russell, Editor in Chief of ELLE DÉCOR Magazine says that although striking colors bring a smile to her face, she finds her monochromatically designed apartment to be soothing in her hectic life.

Now if you’re interested in this calm sense of style, I have some tips and some warnings to help achieve the finest décor without any design faux pas along the way. First of all, remember that you want to stick with one basic color and decorate with different hues of it. Patterns are a nice touch as long as they are understated. Secondly, it’s not just the furniture that makes the room, but what the furniture goes on top of as well. Your flooring, carpet, or rug is an essential part of the style. For those of you who need a bit of drama under all that calm, bring it out on your floors. Use one other color besides for your fundamental color such as classic black with your fundamental white, or a dark burgundy if you want to really get it out there: Here’s another tip: glass and crystal are hot items this season and go very well with the whole look. My personal recommendations are glass coffee tables and lots of crystal vases and trinkets. Remember, going monochromatic doesn’t mean you have to turn into a minimalist. Have fun and at the end of the day, take it all in and relax!