Blue is a perennial favorite for interior color schemes. Commonly associated with relaxation and tranquility, blue has nearly universal appeal across all types of design styles. With shades ranging from ice blue to deep navy, the versatile color looks great when painted on walls and kitchen cabinetry or when layered in with accessories and decor. And if you're stuck trying to decide which colors go with blue, the answer is simple: almost all of them. Acting as a neutral in some cases, blue pairs well with virtually every other color, including vibrant hues like orange or red and more muted neutral tones like beige and gray. Here are some of our favorite color combinations that showcase blue's easygoing beauty.
1. Watery Blue and Sandy Beige
Soft shades of blue naturally evoke calm feelings associated with the sea. Partner light blues with a sandy-colored neutral or light-washed wood for a feeling reminiscent of the seashore. Repeat both tan and pale blue with fabrics, bedding, and furniture to create a relaxing retreat in a master or guest bedroom.
2. Denim Blue and Bright Orange
The kitchen is one of the main gathering spots of the house, so it warrants a color scheme the entire family can live with. Because orange sits opposite to blue on the color wheel, it's a natural complement to blue. This pleasing combination also offers an energizing contrast that's perfect for a bustling kitchen. Consider livening up white cabinetry and countertops by painting the kitchen island blue, then layer in hits of orange through stool seating, rugs, kitchen towels, and other accessories.
3. Cerulean and Apple Green
Neighbors on the color wheel, green and blue are cool colors that form a refreshing combination. Choose vibrant shades of these analogous colors on walls and furniture for a bold look. In this dramatic sitting room, vivid cerulean blue wall color is balanced by an equally bold apple green. Inspired by the artwork, textiles in a deep apricot geometric print accent the velvet club chairs.
Located on blue's side of the color wheel, purple is another cool color that makes a pleasing companion. Because the two tones are so similar, the resulting color scheme is both colorful and soothing. Pair rich purple with striking turquoise for a jewel-like effect in a bedroom or living room. If you prefer paler blue tones, opt for saturated shades of purple to avoid the washed-out look of too many pastels. You can also add contrast to a blue color scheme by choosing warmer purple tones, such as orchid as opposed to indigo, to counteract the coolness of blue.
5. Pale Blue and Coral
Introduce a dose of femininity with shades of pink, coral, or apricot. The palette of this cozy sitting room is inspired by the striped fabric on decorative pillows. The soft, watery blue is repeated on the painted walls, and the bright coral coats the cheerful entry door. The colorful combination is lively, inviting, and distinctly beachy.
6. True Blue and Natural Wood Tones
Blue's cool color temperature stands out sharply against the warm finish of wood floors, furnishings, or trim. For medium- to dark-tone wood finishes, choose a strong shade of blue that won't pale in comparison. In this open kitchen, deep azure cabinetry contrasts with richly stained wood floors to create a cozy, modern cooking space. Open shelving and large windows keep the dark blue cabinetry from overpowering the design.
7. Navy Blue and Cherry Red
Blue and red form an all-American pairing that suits nearly any space. In this cheerful fireplace area, a pair of crimson velvet chairs pop against navy patterned pillows and an inky blue accent wall, creating a dynamic look. For more formal spaces like the dining room, go for darker shades such as navy and maroon that read more sophisticated than patriotic. Lighter tones, including powder blue and salmon, work well in bathrooms or bedrooms to create a soft, comforting atmosphere.
In neutral rooms, even a small dose of blue can add another layer of personality. If you prefer to stick to neutral paint colors and furnishings, bring in blue through small accessories, such as a table runner, decorative lamp, or a throw blanket. To maintain the neutral look, choose a soft, muted shade of blue that won't feel out of place. If you decide you love the color in the space, feel free to go bigger by repainting the walls or purchasing a blue accent chair.
9. Classic Blue and White
Blue and white form a crisp color combination that creates a clean feeling, which is ideal for spaces like the bathroom. Here, traditional elements, including beaded-board walls and hexagon floor tiles, take on a more contemporary feel when balanced by patterned blue wallpaper. The fresh bathroom color combination turns the small space into a focal point.
10. Monochromatic Blues
If you're a true-blue fan of the color, feel free to mix multiple shades of blue into a monochromatic scheme. To make sure the combo plays well together, look for blues with similar undertones, such as blue-green turquoise and dark teal. Repeat the hues across walls, curtains, rugs, and other decor elements to create a rich, layered look. Use a variety of fabric textures and vary the scale of patterns to keep the design from looking stagnant.
To hear more about using blue in your home decor, check out our new podcast, The Better Buy, where Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia shares why she chose to decorate with blue in her family room.
Blue pairs well with nearly all neutral shades, including white, brown, gray, and black. When selecting the right color to pair with blue walls, try varying the temperatures in your palette.
According to a study, the secret to a calming room is navy blue—and there's science to prove it. The University of Sussex and British papermaker G.F. Smith did research that found navy blue is a calming color—in fact, the most relaxing color in the world.
A blue home exterior can be perfectly anchored by bright, white trims. The crisp white shade allows the blue color to come to life and look pronounced and defined against the white. A white trim serves as a stark contrast to create those coveted clean lines.
So, what are the two colors you can mix to make blue? Mix cyan (greenish-blue) with magenta (purplish-red), to create true blue. Now that you have created your true blue, you can experiment with creating different shades of blue. These shades can used for painting the ocean, or the sky.
Yellow is widely recognized as the happiest color in the world and comes with a scientific pedigree to back up this esteemed honor. Research has suggested two main reasons why yellow is considered the happiest color. Many studies have linked the psychological powers of yellow to the sun.
Yellow symbolizes happiness and warmth in almost all cultures. It's the color that grabs users' attention more than any other color. McDonald's and IKEA both use yellow in their branding to give off the feeling of friendliness and positivity.
Green – Quiet and restful, green is a soothing color that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace.
Bright, bold and vibrant colors work best. However, any color that contrasts with your background will serve you well. Shades of yellow, orange, red, green, purple and blue are all excellent color choices to grab a user's attention.
That's because, even though those colors exist, you've probably never seen them. Red-green and yellow-blue are the so-called "forbidden colors." Composed of pairs of hues whose light frequencies automatically cancel each other out in the human eye, they're supposed to be impossible to see simultaneously.
Think vibrant yellows or oranges for a bold scheme. Mixing with a warm color really takes the coolness out of blue. Alternatively, mix blue with neutral tones of warm shades - near-white taupes or pale pinks work in theory too.
Pair light blue walls with a bright silver statement piece for a great unified look. Brighten up your blue bedroom by using light blue decor and white as an accent color. Complement blue walls with pops of yellow. Use yellow in your pillows and in your furniture.
"Shades of blue or green are always very calming. Blues are especially known to have a relaxing effect perfect for creating a serene feeling at home," says Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and founder of Clare Paint.
Of course! They are a really popular color combination for living rooms because they layer together so nicely. The key to getting it right is to always pick shades have the same undertones, so generally a cool grey works best with a cool blue, and a warm grey with a warm blue.
Grey is a great base colour for any room as it goes with a whole range of other colours, including blue. Whether your sofa is light blue, navy or one of the many shades in between, a light grey wall is a contemporary and classy choice for those looking for a subtle option besides white.
One of the easiest ways to add a warm effect to a blue room is to use warm colours such as yellow, orange , brown, green, grey and beige. Or use darker shades of blue such as like navy or cobalt blue for more contrast and depth in your space. Darker shades of blue can make a room look smaller than it actually is.
Well, it's quite possible to match shades of blue, you just have to keep in mind a few things. Keep it simple: You can pair a lighter shade of blue with a darker shade of blue if you keep things simple. Don't create optical illusions with sophisticated prints – stick with block colours.
Blue sofas work well with dark grey and dark green tones. You can also choose a blue hue that either matches or contrasts with your sofa fabric. This will really emphasise your colour and make a style statement.
If your couch is a cool gray tone, choose accent pieces in shades of blue, green, and purple. If your couch has more of a warm, taupe-like gray hue, opt for accents in red, yellow, and orange.
Pale blue. Pale blue is a gentle shade that offers a soothing, calming touch to any room. It also works to make a room feel bigger, particularly when combined with other light colors on the ceiling, trim, and doors.
Pair light blue walls with a bright silver statement piece for a great unified look. Brighten up your blue bedroom by using light blue decor and white as an accent color. Complement blue walls with pops of yellow. Use yellow in your pillows and in your furniture.
Whether you're majoring in blue's lighter or darker side, pairing it with a white is an easy win for refreshing blue living room color schemes (opens in new tab). 'Blue generally looks fantastic paired with crisp white, giving the room a fresh and summery feel', says Lloyd.
Warm blues are those with a purple bias rather than a green bias. They will appear to come forward in a painting, whereas cool blues will recede. It is useful to have a warm and a cool blue in a split primary palette - when mixed together they will create a mid blue.
Graceful and uplifting, combining blue and grey feels like a natural move as both exist together in the sky and across our coastlines. As blue is a colour that can sometimes feel overpowering, balancing it with light grey and white will create a comfortable scheme that feels light and airy.
Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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