18 Blue-and-White Rooms That Feel Both Classic and Fresh

Design Corey Damen Jenkins explains that one of his clients "loved jewel tones and embellishment" while the other "was on the total opposite end of the spectrum—no color, no wallpaper." So the living room walls were painted in Garlic Clove by PPG, "which has enough warmth to counterbalance the bright white of the often snowy landscape," while a door to the adjacent room got a splash of color with Navy Masterpiece by Benjamin Moore.

When decorating with deep, bold, and saturated blues, punctuate the space with a marigold accent as designer Matthew Bees did in this pattern-packed bedroom. The marigold is introduced via the trim of the canopy fabric as well as the lampshade and the deep espresso walls.

High-gloss paints are a surefire way to make a bold statement. In this bedroom designed by decorator Alisa Bloom, the rich, liquidy sheen bounces light around a dark room, a spin on that old mirror trick designers love. Bloom used Fine Paints of Europe’s Delft Blue 4003 in Hollandlac Brilliant to illuminate the entire bedroom.

A large round sectional steals the spotlight in this blue and white living room by Aamir Khandwala. The crisp white paint accentuates the tall ceilings while the blue sofa grounds and centers the space. An oversized pendant and roaring fireplace bring it all down to a human scale.

Blue and white dominate in this bedroom by Eliza Crater. Thanks to the many layers of blue and white prints, fabrics, and more, this color scheme has so much depth and dimension while still remaining cohesive and tight.

You might shy away from mixing blues, but this kitchen designed by Caitlin Wilson is proof that it can often work in your favor. The periwinkle hood and range mixes beautifully with bright blue ceramic pieces and checkered stools. Plus, ceramics are maybe the easiest way ever to add color to an all-white space. Blue and white Chinoiserie is classic but can blend into many different decor styles.

For a warmer take on the classic color scheme, opt for a bright royal blue and cream combo, as designer Chloe Warner of Redmond Aldrich Design did in this contemporary hangout space.

Blue and white are foolproof outdoor colors, (yes, even if you don't live by the coast). This patio by Anna Spiro incorporates some gray and wooden accents for contrast and to reflect the tones of the city skyline beyond, which is even further contrasted by the surrounding foliage.

That being said, blue-and-white does lend itself particularly well to a nautical theme in a coastal locale. The combo feels inherently coastal, as in this bathroom (part of a New Jersey home by Alexandra Angle), but you can play it up even more with an ocean-adjacent artwork and millwork reminiscent of a ship's.

If you're dreaming of a bold-patterned wallpaper in your bedroom, consider choosing blue. It's a calming color, as seen in the bedroom of this Maine home by designers John Knott and John Fondas, so even though the pattern is busy, it keeps your sleeping space tranquil.

Dark gray natural stone pairs so beautifully with cooler, neutral shades of blue. This bathroom by Catherine Kwong Design proves it. Instead of a bright blue, opt for something a bit moody that changes with the light. And of course, you can get your pop of white without even trying... Read: via the porcelain throne.

This half bath, in the home of cookbook author Alex Hitz, is tiny, so the bold blue-and-white Pierre Frey wallpaper cocoons the small space. It creates an almost jewel-box effect.

We'd wake up early to have breakfast in this space by Markham Roberts every day. Choose bamboo bistro chairs for an even more relaxed feel.

Working in a bright accent color, as designer Benjamin Vandiver did in this English-inspired Brooklyn townhouse, will keep the room from feeling too predictable. A dark paint in a matte finish gives these cabinets a sophisticated look, and keeps the brass handles from feeling too bling-y.

Summer, never leave us. This blue-and-white floral tablecloth (a Clarence House linen: Dahlia) picks up the blue on the iron chairs, tying the two together. Combined with the rose bush, it's a totally 'gram-worthy yard. Or as the designer Lindsay Reid puts it: "Crisp hemstitch linen napkins, candlelight, jasmine in a 19th-century bowl — these are simple and refined luxuries."

Blue—particularly in an icy shade, like this one in the living room of a Greenwich, Connecticut, house by designer Ashley Whittaker—and white feels airy and fresh in the summer, but still cozy (thanks to this fireplace) in the winter. Proof that you can rock it all year long.