33 Stunning Colors That Go with Blue, Illustrated in Real Homes
As far as colors go, blue is about the most versatile you can get. Because blue comes in so many beautiful hues, many design pros view it as a true chameleon in custom color palettes. Whether you’re working with lighter shades like azure and aqua, or richer ones like cobalt and royal navy, there are about a thousand ways to pair blue with other calming colors very successfully.
“Blue is one of the most versatile colors in the designer’s tool box,” says interior designer Courtney McLeod, principal designer of New York’s Right Meets Left Interior Design. “It can move from soft and calming to strong and masculine, from urbane sophistication to French country. Blue is a universal favorite because there is a shade to suit every personality and every style.”
Color theorists largely use blue to evoke a sense of calm and peace, which is why it’s used in restorative spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms frequently. But style pros have also shown there are ways to use bright blue colors in spaces that you wouldn’t expect, including maximalist rooms that will have your eyes darting from one detail to the next.
Whether you’re looking to completely color-drench your space from floor to ceiling, or are simply looking for ways to accent an existing space with fresh paint, you may be wondering which colors best complement blue palettes. Below, we’re sharing 30+ real interiors from homes that Apartment Therapy editors have toured that serve up some true inspiration. Follow along as we highlight designer-approved blue color combinations in each space and discover which colors go with blue in stylish interior design.
How to Select Complementary Colors in Blue Interiors
- Pair with cooler colors for a calming effect: Falling on the cool side of the color wheel, blue is often thought to pair best with other cool tones, namely green, but also grays and purples. Sticking to cooler colors can give your room a sense of stability and calm.
- Pair with warmer colors for a bold statement: For higher contrast — and a bolder look — blue can play well with warm colors like oranges and reds.
- Keep an open mind: There are many more beautiful possibilities for decorating with blue than you might think, and new-to-you blue pairings (peacock blue and magenta, for example!) might be just what you need to shake things up in your home.
1. Blue and Seafoam Green
In the nook-like sitting room of this 236-square-foot artist’s studio in Paris, bright, cheery hues of blue and green create an atmospheric high that’s uplifting. Seafoam is indeed calming, but this green accent verges on neon and makes spaces feel anything but a total snooze.
2. Periwinkle and Gold
Blue and gold is a color combination that’s stately and elegant, and in this application it’s a bold twist. The owner of this historic 1970s home in Chicago used Behr’s Aerial View to douse a bathroom’s walls, cabinets, and radiator, balancing the hue with golden upholstery and hardware.
3. Pale Indigo and Ivory
In this apartment in Scotland, this off-purple paint is a perfect foil to the soft nature of the ivory accents across the living room space. The neutral accents, alongside the ivory paint used here, considerably lighten the saturated indigo color, whereas the brass nestled into the fireplace nods back to the room’s jewel tone.
4. Cobalt Blue and Moss Green
In nature, these two particular hues often meld together in coastal spaces and in deep forests — and in this Los Angeles townhouse, a kitchen perfectly balances the two. The color combo in this space brightens up this home and will make you rethink leaving your cabinetry bare.
5. Lavender and White
Blue and white is a classic combination for a reason — but this duo doesn’t have to lean fully nautical, as one may expect. In this Netherlands home, layers of accent colors (including a dose of cheetah print!) in the upholstery make a bedroom feel nuanced in more ways than one.
6. Soft Blue and Forest Green
As an accent color, bold, rich forest green adds a bit of visual interest when there’s a wall washed in calming hues of muted blue. This home office in a Hamburg, Germany, apartment makes use of the accent color to offset the texture that a jute throw rug provides.
7. Neon Blue and Brown
Featured here in this home’s DIY hallway renovation, the brown accents in the painted doorways and faux animal throw balance the vibrant, head-turning saturated violet blue splayed across the ceiling.
8. Slate Blue and Rust
Bedding accessories like upholstered throw pillows are much more than just comfortable touches; they can add a visual counterpart to a blue bedroom wall. In this case, the ochre notes of the rust-like orange pillows add more depth to an otherwise muted color-drenched bedroom in Brooklyn.
9. Navy Blue and Off-White Cream
Coordinating wallpaper with custom blinds is especially effective when the color palette is as classic as a blue-and-white vertical stripe. Cream is much more visually interesting than a stark white for this cocoon-like bedroom in New York City.
10. Oxford Blue and Emerald Green
A wallpaper can be just as effective in anchoring blue paint or upholstery as another painted wall can be. Case in point? How pops of bright green in an arboreal wallpaper pair well with custom blue tile in a fireplace. The blue featured in the seating doesn’t seem as overpowering, thanks to the pops of color across the room itself.
11. Blue and Burgundy
Lynne and Ty McDaniel paired a cobalt sofa with a gorgeous burgundy area rug in their eclectic Chicago studio apartment. The furniture store owners installed a gallery wall of locally sourced art that complements the bold colors.
12. Monochromatic Blues
Don’t be afraid to decorate with varying shades of blue, like Clay Crider and Julian Kline did with the living room in their Brooklyn apartment. The monochromatic look is calming and cozy — perfect for unwinding and entertaining.
13. Teal and Mustard
A teal and mustard pairing seems like a daring choice, but the risk is well worth the reward. Design consultant Allison Pierce’s stunning dining room in her colorful Los Angeles home is the perfect example: The sunny tablecloth acts as an energizing centerpiece that’s perfectly juxtaposed against the blue-green bookcase and molding.
14. Dark Blue, Black, and White
Midnight blues, mixed liberally with black and white, make for an edgy combo that’s ideal for a minimalist who wants to put an eclectic spin on a classic color pairing. This Brooklyn rental features a large piece of blue DIY artwork that adds some drama to an otherwise simple scheme of hotel-style linens, white walls, and black window trim.
15. Blue and Gray
Don’t shy away from this calm and cool color combo out of fear that it will be too boring. Blue and gray complement each other wonderfully; the key is just selecting shades that contrast enough to make an impact, as seen in this Chicago living room. Try this in a bedroom or living room to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and kicking back.
16. Pale Blue, Mint Green, and Yellow
“Pale blue and mint green combine to create a fresh and youthful look,” McLeod explains. “I like to see these colors used in a balanced way within a space — the addition of a bold touch of yellow really gives it personality.” Feel like adding more? A pop of pink can’t hurt either, as this home in Israel illustrates.
17. Turquoise and Magenta
Feeling bold? Maximalists will love the idea of pairing turquoise with hot pink or magenta — the sofa and rug setup in this LA home makes for great design inspiration. This living room also exemplifies how easy it can be to add pops of bright color to a space without picking up a paintbrush.
18. Teal and Lilac
Don’t be afraid to mix two lighter colors on the spectrum! This houseboat in Amsterdam juxtaposes a teal bookshelf against a dusty purple wall, all tied together with pops of lilac in the chair and sofa cushions.
19. Deep Blue and Olive Green
A deep blue and olive green make for a dreamy bedroom setup in this Michigan home. Once again, burnt orange also shines in the space and keeps the room looking extra warm and welcoming.
20. Teal, Peach, and Charcoal Gray
This kitchen in this colorful United Kingdom home is making quite the case for pairing geometric teal tile with peach walls. Pastel hues always give rooms a bit of a retro feel, but this cook space doesn’t look too dated or saccharine, thanks to the dark gray cabinetry and black appliances that ground the entire setup.
21. Blue and Emerald
Truly any shade of blue will shine when paired with this jewel-toned green. The color combo can help achieve a quirky, almost glam vintage look as seen above — or could be used to make a space look ultra-sleek and modern when paired with matte black finishes.
22. Blue and Purple
The deep jewel-tone blues in this armchair are accented by a pillow featuring a rich purple and other earthy hues. The green paint peeking out from behind the bookshelf ties the whole look together in this living room vignette.
23. Blue, Yellow, and Gray
Neutral walls make the perfect backdrop for this bright blue table and yellow chairs. The rest of the room is kept simple to let this colorful vignette really shine.
24. Blue, Brown, and Taupe
The inky blue on this headboard is highlighted by minimalist, neutral bedding and a pair of throw pillows with brown, taupe, and black touches. As well as blue can pair with black, it can also hang with earthy hues, if you are looking for something a little softer and less stark.
25. Blue and Blush
Millennial pink has quickly become a new classic color in decor, and it looks totally on-trend in this blue and gray living room. This is a common color pairing in children’s rooms, but really chalky pastels can look lovely all throughout the house.
26. Yves Klein Blue and Black
Going all-in with royal blue cabinets is not for the faint of heart, but the white walls and black windowsills make the color feel a little more accessible. The jute rug also helps to add texture and softness to what might otherwise feel like a stark combination.
27. Midnight Blue and Gold
Reminiscent of the night sky, this color combo adds a dreamy feel to any room. Even if you don’t go this literal with a star-print pillow, it’s easy to riff on this scheme with brass decorative accents and lighting fixtures.
28. Dark Blue and Hot Pink
Hot pink really pops when it’s paired with other bold colors — especially a rich, saturated blue. This color combo just screams summer and is high-energy. You could also try it in a playroom or even a home office, if you dare!
29. Blue and Orange
Blue and orange are opposite each other on the color wheel, which makes them ideal complements, as evidenced by this orange lamp and navy wall pairing.
30. Light Blue, Green and Red
A softer blue can feel almost neutral when paired with wood accents, a patterned bedspread, and a smattering of colorful pillows.
31. Blue and Canary Yellow
Dark navy walls help these yellow florals to really pop; the color combo would work just as well throughout the home.
32. Light Blue and Red
A pop of red can make almost any room look good (as proven by the “unexpected red theory”), but nothing makes it stand out like setting it against blue. This corner in this Brooklyn apartment makes it evident that these colors are meant to go together.
33. Ocean Blue and Lime Green
Think lime green is too bright a color to pair with blue? Think again. This bright green and blue wallpaper melds perfectly into a lower blue wall within this eclectic home, alongside a perfect pop of orange to finish it out.