Monochromatic palettes for UI (one hue, many jobs)
One-hue systems look elegant in Dribbble shots and scary in tables unless you have enough lightness steps.
Monochromatic does not mean one hex everywhere. It means one hue family with varied lightness and chroma — blue UI from ice to navy, not one blue repeated.
Generate the ladder first
The monochromatic generator builds steps from your anchor. Use darker steps for text on light surfaces, lighter steps for borders — not the reverse.
Add one accent only if you must
Status colors (success, error) can break monochrome for clarity. Keep them documented exceptions, not accidental second brands.