Best Paint Colors
June 21, 2016
Color Crush: 25 Reasons To Decorate With Blue
Navy, cobalt, indigo, teal… there are so many shades of the perennial design favorite — and so many ways to use it! Whether it’s splashed across a canvas or coated on living room walls, blue looks great in doses small and large. So it makes sense that the shade continually appears in the pages of H&H, adding richness, elegance and life to bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and beyond. Here are 25 reasons we love decorating with this versatile color.
It lets appliances enjoy the spotlight. A navy blue La Cornue stove and ventilation hood make a show-stopping focal point in this busy family kitchen. Glossy copper trim and hardware complement the shade beautifully.
It’s a soothing pick for a mix of patterns. A blend of large-scale prints can look overwhelming, but a fresh palette of blues creates a serene effect in this sunny sitting room.
It lends impact to graphic wallpaper. A niche in singer-songwriter Kai’s condo pops thanks to a peacock blue Kelly Wearstler wallpaper, while an electric shade gives designer Nancy Riesco’s chinoiserie-style paper even more oomph.
Tour Kai Singer’s condo on H&H TV.
It highlights a sofa, banquette or settee. A tufted blue banquette steals the show in this reading nook by designer Nam Dang-Mitchell. To keep the effect from going over the top, Nam kept the rest of the space relatively neutral.
It’s a classic bathroom accent color. The fresh, clean quality of blue makes it ideal for use in bathrooms. A quick and easy way to inject it into your space is by hanging a pretty fabric shower curtain.
It puts a fun twist on kitchen fixtures. To keep this minimalist kitchen from skewing too serious, architect Marianne Amodio installed a lively electric-blue faucet.
It adds energy to all-white rooms. Like a shot of primary red or yellow, a statement piece in a true blue — like this mod bench by Samare — is a surefire way to wake up a white space.
It’s a classic color for block-printing. Designer Margot Austin used a simple hand-stamping technique and rich indigo dye to give this store-bought runner an exotic look.
It creates a bold, yet serene envelope. There’s no doubt that Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue (86) was a daring choice for this living room, but its cool tone creates a pleasingly calm ambience. The shade also plays nicely off the warmer-toned furnishings in the space.
It looks dreamy woven into murals. A custom mural is always a luxury, but this one by Agnes Menabreaz really stands out. Subtle touches of blue create a soft, romantic effect in the hallway of this country home.
It has a casual, French-country elegance. Lynda Reeves’ table styling in the dining room of a Princess Margaret Showhome married indigo fabrics, Hermes-Bleus d’Ailleurs Porcelain and indigo accessories.
It’s a gorgeous choice for bedding. Indigo textiles are the star of this chic guestroom in Ivan Fecan and Sandra Faire’s Montecito, California, home. They tie in beautifully with the patterned drapery, blue and white ginger jar and Pacific Ocean views.
It’s a gives old lighting new life. Get inspired by this lovely lantern and spray-paint a tired fixture in a fresh shade of blue.
It’s unexpected underfoot. Designer Rachel Fox laid out a stunning sapphire-toned rug in this living room, adding a bit of bold style to the classic space. A matching ottoman adds even more punch.
It makes a breezy vignette. The varying tones of sea and sky blue in this collection of vessels nod to this Prince Edward Island home’s waterside setting.
It’s ideal for whimsical rooms. This open-concept dining area has a decidedly nontraditional look, and saturated blue upholstery suits its youthful aesthetic.
It’s a natural partner for neutrals. While a variety of hues play well with white walls, wood floors and woven pieces, there’s something so fresh and nautical about blue.
It balances out a warm palette. Rich shades of red ground this smart sitting room, but it’s the contrasting pair of robin’s egg armchairs that really make it sing.
It’s a traditional pick for kitchen cabinetry. A moody blue-green enhances the historical vibe of 31 Westgate owners Kenneth McRobbie and Colin Blanchard’s circa-1840 kitchen.
It breaks up white walls. Though white walls create a gallery-like feel, they can also feel sterile. Retailers John Baker and Juli Daoust-Baker mounted this beautiful indigo textile to add a shot of color to their cottage’s living space.
Tour this cottage on H&H TV.
It invigorates black and white rooms. New York-based designer Olympia Bermann’s abstract canvas gives her high-contrast bedroom a welcome boost.
It’s a fresh choice for tile. For a splash of color, designers David Zacharko and David Yustin clad this bathroom wall in a vibrant blue mosaic. For a lower commitment project, try tiling the floor of a shower in a similar cerulean hue.
It lends richness to drapery. A deep turquoise gives these custom curtains by Les Ensembliers a super luxe look.
Tour this home here.
It gives pillows a regal feel. Leave it to designer Colette van den Thillart to elevate casual floor pillows. In her London home, she wrapped oversize cushions in plush blue fabric and trimmed them with tassels for a luxurious effect.
It’s one of our favorite choices for siding. Designer and H&H alum Sarah Hartill’s home makes a stunning impression thanks to an exterior painted in shades of sea and stormy blue.