They perfectly complement the rainbow's most versatile hue.
A designer-favorite color to use in the home is beautiful, calming blue. Evoking natural elements like the sea and the sky, this serene hue can make any room feel more relaxed and welcoming, yet also more vibrant and bold, depending on the shades. And if this versatile hue is one you’re thinking about adding to your home, check out these beautiful colors that go with blue, proven by these designer spaces.
No matter your design style, this list of 38 colors that go with blue serves as evidence that the hue is as versatile as a neutral and can elevate any space you use it in. Read on to find your new favorite color scheme here.
Additional copy by Meghan Shouse.
Goldenrod
To contrast the fanciful chinoiserie wallpaper in this San Francisco apartment, interior designer Caitlin Jones Ghajar and her team went bold and chose a warm yellow for the velvet bed frame. “This particular kind of blue lends itself really well to the vistas that are beyond, so you get some Bay view looks,” she says.
Rust Red
In this Amber Lewis–designed kitchen, the duck egg blue cabinetry is grounded by the rust red and cream floor tile. The hue, Light Blue by Farrow & Ball, can lean almost gray in soft lighting, making it a versatile neutral ready to pair with warm tones.
Black
The deep, black accents in this kitchen add drama and depth to the slate blue cabinetry. The graphic color pairing is modern and masculine, while not trying to compete with the lush nature outdoors. Melissa Anderson of OAD Interiors designed this immersive space in Woodstock, New York.
Chartreuse
Blue and yellow is a classic and cheerful color pairing. Elevate the duo by choosing a hue with a slightly greener tone, like a chartreuse. In this guest room by French & French, the cool light blue prevents a too-neon appearance.
Golden Tan
Pairing a cool tone with a warm tone is a failsafe approach, and this bedroom by Serena Dugan does it expertly. A golden tan wallpaper softens the vibrant indigo accents on the headboard and window treatments. If you’re feeling bold, throw in some orange for added impact.
White
When you're unsure of what colors go with blue the best, simply opt for more of the same, as French & French did here. Perfect pattern play is achieved in this lounge through the matching blue and white palettes. A cobalt blue wall ties it all together.
Bronze
For an impactful palette, add some glitz to your shade of blue. This living room, designed by Suzanne Kasler, utilizes metallics like brass and bronze to elevate the everyday hue to glamorous new heights.
Terra-Cotta Red
In this Santa Fe home designed by the duo behind French & French, a rich, terra-cotta red balances the vibrant blue tones. To ground the swirling marbled wallpaper on the ceiling, the grand bookcases and coordinating rug (and sneaky chair piping!) incorporate the hue throughout the entire space.
Mustard
In House Beautiful’s 2024 Whole Home, the guest room is cocooned in a mustard and navy color palette. Blue and yellow primary colors play off one another for a vibrant interior. Use neutral bedding to ground the bright shades.
Peachy Pink
Pink and blue can often feel like a baby shower or gender reveal, but take inspiration from designer Dane Austin to know how to use them correctly. By combining a pastel with a more vibrant tone, you can elevate the color pairing from juvenile to sophisticated.
Grass Green
Look to nature for hues to use with blue. This chic powder room, complete with a navy blue sink, is swathed in a floral green wallpaper. This color pairing is cheerful and can brighten up a smaller space, especially this one by Liz Carroll, which lacks windows.
Ochre
Adorned in shades of cobalt and navy, the primary bedroom in our 2024 Whole Home in Asheville, North Carolina, continues the moody color palette with an ochre wallpaper. The hues are simultaneously subdued yet impactful, ideal for a serene night’s sleep.
Gray
A spa-like and timeless blue and gray color palette can brighten even the dingiest basements. To ensure nothing looks out of place, keep both hues at the same vibrancy level (e.g., a light blue and a light gray).
Dark Red
To add drama to this teal bedroom, designer Lisa Tharp opted for a totally red upholstered bed frame, and somehow it works. Blue and red are both primary colors, which means they pair well when one starts to lean toward the other’s complement (like the slightly green-toned blue walls).
Burnt Orange
In this playful kids' bathroom, a bright blue is the focal point color in the space. Looking to the color wheel for a clue, homeowner Ashley Maddox and designer Hilary Walker opted for a burnt orange shower curtain as the accent hue.
Lilac Purple
Pairing a myriad of cool-toned colors can create a sophisticated palette when done well, like in this Boston apartment. A purple rug complements the blue sectional sofa because they have similar textiles, tones, and brightness levels.
Brass
If you’re a fan of the blue and yellow primary pair, you’ll love this elevated option. Pairing a deep, rich blue, like this navy kitchen, with a metallic brass accent is a great way to add some glamour and texture to your space.
More Blue!
Monochrome color palettes can be really impactful when done with various shades of the same hue. Take this living room by Mark D. Sikes for example. The deep blue upholstery on the sofa and ottoman ground the lighter blue used to color drench the walls and ceiling.
Bubblegum Pink and Citron Yellow
Avery Cox of Avery Cox Design used a tonal blue for the wall to give this room an immersive effect and paired it with pops of bubblegum pink, purple, and citron yellow. The colors are the perfect pick-me-up when you're lounging indoors on a rainy day.
Ivory and Forest Green
This robin's egg blue wallpaper is speckled with ivory and forest green to make daydreaming easy. The ivory mirror and green accessories designer Shannon Eddings added to this dining room are the supporting characters that soften the blue so it doesn't overwhelm the space.
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