There is nothing more elegant than monochrome. Evoking images of that queen of chic, Coco Chanel, and old world movie star glamour, black and white is at once effortless and put-together, simultaneously strong and understated.

Black is the colour of the hidden: mysterious and dark, it hides and keeps secrets. Its natural opposite is pure, innocent and clean white so, when they come together it creates a perfect storm of light and dark, day and night and good and evil. A pretty thought-provoking mix!

When it comes to interiors, all of these qualities can be harnessed to create a dramatic impact. Effortlessly chic and wonderfully easy to update with the addition of a new colourful accessory or two each season, this colour combo brings both a timelessness and slight edginess to any room.

Monochromatic patterns on upholstery, manchester and accessories can add a beautiful, almost textural quality to a space, particularly pretty in the recent Aztec and Tribal trends. Whether your style be modern and slick, eclectic and kitsch or even industrial, black and white will always be a match for any interior personality.

I’ve put together a black and white mood board on my Pinterest page to spark your creative juices for the month of November. If you have a favourite black and white image that you would love to share please post to my Facebook page and I will share on my mood board.