Navy blue and indigo hues are so useful and versatile in interior design. These colors can be used in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, outdoors, in playrooms and they are great as accent colors as well. When combined with different colors that you wouldn’t expect – like pink – the pairing creates energy. With whites – especially with moldings, furniture and fabrics, the look can be modern and classic. White sets off navy blue beautifully.
Above, the sheen of the lacquered walls keeps this space from being dark despite the deep hue. Keeping it light also are the white mats – which pop against the navy. I love how the designer, Todd Romano, also painted the moldings and the door in the same color.
The white shutters and other accents really help this bedroom come alive in a beachy, seaside way. I love the navy painted wicker chair as well. I can’t imagine this room without those white shutters as a headboard!
The deep navy and the white used in this living room helps to update this space. It’s a very traditional room but the bright graphic rug and the navy on the walls surrounding the mantle – give it a modern touch.
This picture says it all. I just love navy blue and white in a bedroom.
If you’re not ready for navy blue cabinets, perhaps adding navy subway tiles could give your kitchen a lift without going all the way with this hue.
What a great way to use navy blue – in an entryway. The white wainscoting keep it from being too dark. Love the navy and white carpeting going up the stairs.
The artwork pops against this deep blue wall – but the teal sofa pops too.
A deep blue is a great color to use in an office or home studio. Again, the color comes alive against the contrast of white.
Many people think that you can’t marry pink and blue in a room – but here designer Mary McDonald does it beautifully. It makes the room less serious, doesn’t it?
Navy blue goes so well with many other colors – you can contrast it with chartreuse, mustard, yellow, emerald, magenta, black and so many more.
You can add navy blue in smaller does by using it as an accent wall (as above with the horizontally striped wall by Wendy of The Shabby Nest) or in furniture and accent pieces. The last two images – the beautiful chest by Martha O’Hara Interiors and the British flag chest painted by my new blog friend, Deny, of A Girl and a Brush give you ideas on how to incorporate this color in small ways.
So, whether you give it the full treatment by painting an entire room in navy blue or use it in small doses, you will love how this color can really update your space. So – give it a try. Personally – I really love the color because it is so dramatic. Yet, I have only been able to convince two of my clients to do rooms in a deep cobalt blue plaster and both rooms were powder rooms – so no big commitment. When I can get back to these homes to take proper pictures – I will publish them here. They are both beautiful.
So, go blue!
Image credits: 1) Little Blue Deer 2) Todd Romano 3) House Beautiful 4) Emily Clarke 5) Kim Armstrong 6) Karen Soojian ASID 7) McKinley Architects 8) Michael Robert Construction 9) Horchow 10) Garrison Hullinger 11) Mary McDonald 12) BHG.com 13) The Shabby Nest 14) Martha O’Hara 15) A Girl and a Brush