Decorating & Design
April 5, 2022
50+ Blue & White Rooms That Prove This Palette Is Timeless
Whether it’s on Dutch ceramics or the streets of Santorini, Greece, blue and white is a classic color pairing that never goes out of style. Come spring and summertime, this duo pops back onto our Pinterest boards for the nautical edge it brings into our homes and cottages. Blue and white calls to mind calm seas, cerulean skies, billowing clouds and a feeling of zen.
Get inspired to use this timeless color combo and see our best blue and white rooms below!
Designer Sarah Richardson is known for her signature watery palette, so it was no surprise that she swathed the mudroom of her off-the-grid country home, Starlight Farm, in nautical blue and white. The blue doors and trim accent the tile floor and runners.
A dark denim dining room in this Dallas home creates intimacy, while a vintage Italian chandelier, wood table and leather chairs add a luxe, warm note.
Designer Cynthia Ferguson is never one to shy away from color, and this mood-boosting kitchen is no exception. Navy gray-blue millwork (and a matching vent hood) and stained glass tiles create a one-of-a-kind kitchen with a California feel.
The deep Majorelle cobalt of this super saturated den packs major punch. Homeowner and producer Alix Jaffe paired a sofa in the same hue as the walls, trim and millwork with crisp white shutters because the scheme reminded her of summers spent in Nantucket.
Blue and white ups the flowy romance of a canopy over this bed. Sasha Seymour plays up the scheme even more with a mix of pillows on the bench.
A punchy blue and white Josef Frank wallpaper is a striking backdrop for a sculptural table in this Toronto condo and adds Scandinavian flair.
This floral wallpaper isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s more than a match for a bold, Escher-esque tile floor. The combination of the two perks up the classic white subway tile in between.
Blue is the favorite paint pick for bedrooms and it’s no surprise: nothing is more serene than this hue. This Toronto bedroom layers in this zen-like shade with an upholstered headboard with nailhead trim and a floral ottoman.
Blue and white is worked into this nautical Connecticut room in a variety of patterns and the effect is electric. Tailored striped wallpaper is contrasted by exuberant florals and trellis bolsters.
In a nursery, a fondant icing shade of pastel blue (Benjamin Moore’s Icing on the Cake) pairs perfectly with the drapes’ pompom fringe and the walls are pale enough to melt into the white trim.
This dramatic dining room is a total power statement. With the table, chairs, banquette and fireplace coated in a monochromatic, luscious custom teal, this dining room is set with four tables to resemble a moody bistro or a club lounge. The bright white floor is a palate cleanser.
Summer dreams are made of this bedroom with its crisp white sheets, stack of books and shapely headboard covered in sprigs of indigo flowers. Colette van den Thillart chose fabrics in serene blues and painted the rail trim a marine blue to match in this Minden, Ontario cottage bedroom.
Scenic chinoiserie wallpaper creates a global feel in this powder room, and it’s the perfect backdrop for white accents like the Moroccan-style wood stool.
A medley of blue and white stripes and a seagrass carpet give this charming Shelter Island, N.Y. bedroom a maritime flair.
Airy blue and white bird wallpaper is a refreshing finishing touch in this rustic 100-year-plus cabin bedroom.
Medium blue cabinets and tiles make a sharp statement in a kitchen when accented by warm metal fixtures and wood floors.
In this bold blue bedroom, a channelled headboard and feature wall in luxe wool break up the room’s white walls and draw the eye to the cozy bed.
Dotted wallpaper from Drop It Modern is a playful backdrop for this kids’ homework and hangout space. The crisp white built-ins display beloved books and other meaningful objects (there’s even a ladder if someone needs to reach the top shelves).
When it comes to colored cabinetry in the kitchen, this rich blue is a no-brainer, especially accented with crisp white walls, warm wood and an eclectic tile floor.
The laundry room is a great place to experiment with design! Denim blue cabinetry and a quirky backsplash give new life to the room’s white envelope.
Designer Cynthia Ferguson’s bold use of color and pattern always leaves us in awe, and this landing is no exception. The Cole & Son wallpaper’s white and red accents break up the sea of blue.
“Florals can be bossy,” says designer Tommy Smythe of the sitting area in this pale blue, white and cream principal bedroom. “You need strong architectural elements such as wainscotting and striped wallpaper to match the gutsiness.”
How dreamy is this baby blue Gustavian hutch? Look closely and you’ll see chinoiserie ceramics peeking through the glass doors.
Ikat accent pillows and block print–style bed linens feel right at home with a chinoiserie lamp in an identical palette. It really can be that simple (and impactful) to design with blue and white!
When it comes to colored cabinetry in the kitchen, a deep shade of cobalt is a no-brainer, especially when paired with crisp white walls and a marble backsplash. Gilt stools amp up the luxurious factor.
Designer Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski chose a palette of soft blue and creamy white for her nautical-inspired cottage. “I wanted it to feel more coastal, like a beach house,” she says.
Thanks to a royal blue dresser, bedding and arcade game artwork, this boys’ bedroom is hard to grow out of. The homeowners’ sons, Noah and Sam, wanted a space where they could celebrate their love for the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, who’s colors just so happen to be — you guessed it — blue and white.
Horizontal wall paneling provides a place for the eye to rest and puts all the focus on the pretty patterned tile in this bathroom.
In Toronto scene-maker Jeff Stober’s eclectic country home, a mix of patterns, fabrics and styles doesn’t feel too busy because of the cohesive blue and white palette.
There is something so calming about watery blue and white, especially in a principal bedroom. Designers Cathy Radcliffe and Teigan Jorgensen took inspiration from Nordic design for this soothing sleep sanctuary.
The theme of peace and serenity continues in the ensuite with a light blue vanity, white box-panelled walls and quirky patchwork tiles for a touch of fun underfoot.
In the Spring 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome, impressive powder blue built-ins feel decorated with a dark navy and cream patterned throw pillows.
The powder blue hue is also found in the principal bathroom, but this time, it’s elevated with fluted detailing and crystal hardware. The glossy marble envelope gives it a hotel-like quality.
For an unexpected take on the blue and white palette, try a series of ombre artworks, like in this little girl’s bedroom. Keep things simple with patterned bedding and a rug in the same nautical shades.
This eye-catching passthrough is a lesson in creating a covetable sightline. Designer Francesca Albertazzi painted the hallway a navy blue to show off the beautiful archways and draw the eye to the light and bright entryway.
Blue and white can also give off a farmhouse vibe. In this moody kitchen, a collection of white ceramic bowls pop against the heritage blue beadboard trim.
Sky blue cushions bring a pop of color to this white-painted garden room. “It’s a favorite spot because it attracts so much light,” says homeowner James Booty.
Bright white walls, patterned blue bedding and a shapely wood headboard fulfill cottage owner Candice Esbin’s wish for a fresh and modern space.
Painted navy and white stripes impart a bold, nautical feel in this spacious powder room.
A deep blue sectional nods to this cottage’s lakeside location in Muskoka, Ontario. Coffered ceilings and board-and-batten wall panelling enhance the space’s coastal vibe.
Deep blue cabinets, rustic accents and gold-toned hardware give this Montreal kitchen the classic European charm homeowner Julie Cherrier craved. “We wanted to create a sense of togetherness,” says Julie’s sister and designer, Mélanie.
Scalloped tiles introduce pattern to this principal bathroom by Emily Henderson. Reminiscent of stacked shells or ocean waves, their shape imparts a breezy, seaside feel.
In this principal bedroom, blue is the common thread that ties the space together. When coupled with white walls and linens, a fusion of watery blues read as modern, not matchy.
A collection of sculptural ceramics pop against smoky blue beadboard in this relaxed East Coast kitchen.
Indigo backsplash tiles and a deep blue island visually ground this Halifax kitchen and give it nautical flair. Shaker-style cabinets and sculptural fixtures boost character.
Trim painted out in a deep, lacquered blue enhances the playful look of the splatter-style dotted wallpaper in this powder room.
Bookcases lined with pale blue grasscloth break up an expanse of white cupboards.
When redesigning her cottage kitchen, homeowner Jan Lette knew she wanted to try a blue-and-white palette. A paddle furthers the nautical theme.
In the same kitchen, Mediterranean-style patterned tile and a vent hood with brass edging make the cooktop area a focal point.
A blue and white watercolor wallpaper lends this modest powder room a moody envelope. And for homeowner Genevieve Makinson, the pattern has a bit of an edgy side, too: “If you look closely, the pattern resembles skeletons!” she laughs.
Designers Natalie Hodgins and Shannon Morrison of Sarah Richardson Design chose to paint the island and lower cabinets a dark blue to inject color into this light and airy kitchen.
Blue and white patterns, including a tall headboard in a sand-dollar print, continue through to the cottage’s principal bedroom.
In blogger Julia Sherman’s kitchen, cool white walls and a white and grey-veined countertop are warmed by the cabinetry’s deep blue hue. Yellow barstools add a hit of juicy color to the space.