Blue is a beautiful and buoyant color that lends itself to feelings of calmness, serenity, and sophistication.
Blue is a highly versatile color that comes in a wide range of shades and tones, from soft pastels to deep navy. This versatility allows you to use blue in various design styles, from modern and minimalist to traditional and eclectic.

But which shades are perfect for your home? What colors compliment blue?

This blog is all about the color blue and how to use it meaningfully when decorating your home.

Why Use Blue In Your Home?

There are lots of wonderful reasons to use blue in your home beyond simply enjoying the color itself. While it is true that blue is the most common favorite color choice (35% of the world's population picks blue as their all-time fave), it's also the rarest occurring color in nature — which may explain its fascinating allure and why it's loved by so many.

From psychology to creativity, blue can produce curious benefits when used tastefully in your home.

Blue Can Produce a Calming Effect

In color psychology, blue is often associated with calmness, serenity and relaxation. So, if you find yourself needing more of those attributes in your space, decorating with blue may be the ticket. The color can help create a soothing atmosphere, which could be a particularly beneficial color choice for bedrooms and living — places where you might go to unwind and de-stress.

It's indicative of natural elements like the sky and the sea, which both have their moments of supreme calm.

Blue Provides More Visual Appeal

Blue is bewitching, with the ability to add visual interest and depth to a space almost instantly — especially when combined with other colors and textures.

Whether used as the main color scheme in your space or as an accent, blue can create a focal point and draw the eye to specific areas of the room.

Blue Stimulates Creativity

Some studies suggest that blue hues can stimulate creativity and productivity. It encourages people to explore and try new things. So, whether it's a soft blue in your home office or a bold accent wall in a creative studio, incorporating blue into your decor can help inspire and motivate you to be more innovative and imaginative.

What Colors Go With Blue? Blue Color Schemes That Inspire

Blue, while bold, lends itself well to so many other colors and shades — leaving the door wide open in terms of how you and or your decorator choose to customize your blue color palette for your space.

Stuck for ideas? Let's go back to art class and explore color theory! Here are a few classic color combos to pair with blue:

• White: Blue and white create a classic and timeless combination, as white can help balance the coolness of blue to create a fresh and airy look.
• Yellow: Blue and yellow create a vibrant and cheerful color palette. The contrast between these two colors adds visual interest and energy to a space.
• Green: Blue and green are analogous colors found in nature, making them a harmonious and calming combination. Shades of green, such as sage or seafoam, complement blue beautifully to create a serene and organic feel.
• Purple: Blue and purple create a regal and luxurious color scheme, combining two cool-toned colors to create a sense of depth and sophistication.

7 Home Decor Ideas with Blue Color Scheme

1. A Cheery Nautical Theme

Blue lends itself perfectly to coastal and nautical design motifs. Create a coastal-inspired retreat by using the following:

• Navy blue.
• Sky blue.
• Royal blue.

Pair these shades with white, sandy beige and natural wood tones for the perfect nautical color combination. Along with the blue hues, incorporate nautical-inspired elements like striped textiles, rope accents and seashell decorations to really bring this theme home.

Want coastal but not quite nautical? Try a coastal grandma-inspired theme instead.

2. Modern and Sophisticated

To achieve a modern and sophisticated look — in your living room or elsewhere — pair classy shades of blue with metallic accents like gold or silver. Here are a few blue's to reach for when decorating a modern space:

• Slate blue.
• Midnight blue.
• Shades of indigo.

Sleek furniture with clean lines and rich blue upholstery can help liven up your living space modern and sophisticated living space.

3. Scandinavian

Scandinavian style is all about simplicity, a light color palette and natural materials — with the occasional color pop. Embrace the serenity of Scandinavian design by combining shades of blue with crisp white and natural wood tones. Try these shades for a calming and serene Scani aesthetic:

• Powder blue.
• Misty blue.
• Sky blue.
• Ice blue.

4. Electric, Eclectic Blue

Blue is bold, which means it's perfect for a more eclectic design style. Mix bold shades of blue with other vibrant colors and patterns, pairing them with standout pieces such as kilim rugs, ikat pillows and embroidered throws for maximum visual interest. Here are a few different shades that work well for this energetic aesthetic:

• Cobalt blue.
• Turquoise.
• Teal.
• Azure blue.

5. Botanical Blue

Blue probably isn't the first color you imagine when you think "botanical," but there can't be lively organic greens without glistening blue water! For this design theme, bring the outdoors inside with a botanical-inspired decor scheme featuring a blue color palette that leans heavily on green as a secondary color.

Try these blue-green shades to bring this design idea to life:

• Aqua blue.
• Teal blue.
• Sage blue.

6. Nostalgic for Blue

Blue has staked its claim in just about every decade — which means, for some, it can generate a sense of nostalgia. Create a cozy and nostalgic vibe with a vintage-inspired decor theme featuring punchy, paste-tense shades of blue and soft pastels. To bring it all together, mix vintage-inspired furniture with distressed finishes and antique accents.

Try these shades to complete a cozy, nostalgic look:

• Powder blue.
• Cornflower blue.
• Duck egg blue.
• French blue.

7. Art Deco

Channel the glamor and sophistication of the Art Deco era with a design theme featuring exciting shades of blue paired with black and metallic accents. Furniture with geometric shapes, mirrored surfaces and luxurious materials like velvet and satin are perfect for this aesthetic and pair well with lively blue hues.

When it comes to blue color selection for a true-to-form Art Deco vibe, try these:

• Sapphire blue.
• Royal blue.
• Teal blue.
• Peacock blue.

Find a Color That Speaks to You

Want to know if blue is right for you? Take our color quiz to determine if this is indeed your place on the color wheel. If not, don't worry! The quiz will let you know which color is most representative of your personality.

From there, you and your decorator can get to work on building a beautiful color palette for your space.

Love blue but have a hard time incorporating it into your home? Let a professional decorator from Decorating Den Interiors help you strike the perfect blue balance.