I personally use a lot of monochrome on any fixed surfaces, e.g. floor, walls, doors, trim, hardware, etc. so that i have flexibility in colorful decorations.

For example, I installed a medium-dark warm gray vinyl plank flooring, white trim, white doors with black hardware, and I stained closet doors from tan to warm dark grayish brown, and then use bright colors everywhere else for decorations and accent walls. This gives me a bit of flexibility in changing colors without having to repaint, or worry about something clashing.

Like you, I can’t stand a complete lack of color, but i do use that “modern look” as a base.