Blue has made a strong comeback in interiors lately, and even going into fall, when the colors usually get warmer and cozier, it’s still topping the trend lists. With neutral fatigue setting in, homes are beginning to once again embrace a palette of richer tones that add character to rooms, which blue does perfectly.
That said, the risk of decorating with blue is that it can feel a bit frosty and unwelcoming. Since it is a cool color, it needs to be balanced carefully with warmer tones, texture, and natural materials, and it’s important to choose the right paint shade so it doesn’t come across as stark.
And so, to help you pull off this endlessly stylish color trend in a way that’s every bit warm and welcoming, designers share their favorite decorating ideas below – from bedrooms to kitchens.
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1. Pair Blue With Wood Tones in a Kitchen
These kitchen cabinets were painted with Sherwin-Williams’ Meditative, a balanced blue paint with gray undertones.
(Image credit: Scott Amundson. Design: Heather Peterson Design)
The idea of a blue kitchen can quickly conjure images of an overly cold space, but with the right material pairings, blue can be endlessly warming in the heart of the home. Here, the blue kitchen cabinets are softened and warmed alongside the rich wood tones on the island and ceiling beams.
‘We wanted coziness and warmth without wrapping the space in wood,’ explains interior designer Heather Peterson. ‘This lovely shade of blue-gray brings approachable color to two walls of cabinetry and balances the wood floor, island, and beams, without overwhelming the space.’
To complete the look, brass hardware adds extra warmth. ‘Something about the brass hardware brings out the warm side of this blue, and the black metal finishes provide just a touch of edge,’ Heather adds. ‘We generally like to double down on our choices to make them feel super intentional: here, a navy vintage runner at the sink does the job.’
2. Use Neutrals to Soften a Blue Bedroom
Benjamin Moore’s Mount Saint Anne, described by Debbie as a ‘soft blue-gray with a hint of green undertone,’ brings a calm feel to this bedroom, while the neutral decor adds warmth.
(Image credit: Caroline Sharpnack. Design: Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs)
Blue bedrooms are known for being a restful choice, but the wrong pairings can make it feel drab rather than cozy. Take inspiration from this bedroom and pair blue walls with soft, earthy neutral tones across the rest of the decor.
‘We essentially wrapped the room in this color, painting the walls and trim the same color so that there was no jarring contrast in the space, with the exception of the white ceiling,’ explains Debbie Mathews LeRoy, founder of Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs.
‘The main fabric used on the bed has a similar soft blue floral pattern, promoting further continuity and cohesiveness,’ she says. ‘The drapery fabric is a soft cream color with accents of blue and brown. All of the colors we used are soft and muted, as opposed to being clear and stark.’
3. Paint the Ceiling Blue
Benjamin Moore’s Templeton Gray works well in south-facing rooms since it has balancing gray undertones.
(Image credit: Kate Wichlinski. Design: Spaces by Katie. Styling: Kristen Alcorta)
Decorating with blue paint doesn’t have to be predictable. Instead of painting all four walls blue, why not bring this fun hue to the ceiling? In this transitional living room, it brings an immediate sense of coziness without overwhelming the room.
The designer Katie Bromley of Spaces by Katie explains that the key to success in this room was repeating the blue from the ceiling throughout the space. ‘We incorporated blue at every scale, starting at the top,’ she says. ‘Benjamin Moore’s Templeton Gray on the coffered ceiling, then, as the eye moves around the room, blue repeats in smaller, varied doses: the blue-striped cornice fabric, the sofa fabric, skirt and pillow trim, the plaid side chair, the patterned rug, even the tones in the artwork – so the color feels woven through the room rather than concentrated in one or two spots.’
Smaller details helped the various shades of blue feel warm rather than cold. ‘The blues are all set against a warm, neutral backdrop, Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray, and paired with wood and rattan tones in the furniture, and touches of coral in the pillows, rug, and chair fabric to keep the palette from skewing cool,’ she explains. ‘Texture did a lot of the work, too – nubby linen, plush velvet, woven rattan, coco beaded chandeliers, and a wool rug all add layers and warmth to the space.’
Another clever design choice that brings warmth to this space is the lack of hard surfaces. Katie adds: ‘There are very few hard surfaces in this room. Nearly everything is upholstered, which reduces echo and ensures that nearly all touches are soft ones.’
4. Color-Drench With Blue Paint
Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue is a powdery blue color that feels every bit cozy in this bedroom.
(Image credit: Brad Knipstein. Design: Atelier Oleana)
Don’t be afraid to go for the most immersive paint technique: color drenching. In rooms such as bedrooms or snugs, where you want to create a cozy, cocooning feel, color drenching is the way to go.
‘I chose to color-drench the bedroom because I wanted the blue to feel like the atmosphere of the room, not simply a color applied to the walls,’ explains designer Anu Jain of Atelier Oleana. ‘Carrying it throughout creates continuity and allows the architecture to recede, which makes the space feel calmer and more cocooning. Because Lulworth Blue is luminous rather than dark, it envelops the room without making it feel heavy.’
When using paint all-over like this, choosing the right shade is key. ‘Lulworth Blue feels warm and welcoming because it has clarity and depth rather than an icy or gray cast,’ says Anu. ‘In daylight, it feels fresh and uplifting; as the light softens, it becomes gentler and more enveloping. Of course, no color exists in isolation. The smoked-taupe linen, warm wood tones, and velvet in the room temper the coolness of the blue and give it an earthy counterpoint.’
Paint sampling is essential when color drenching, warns Anu. ‘I always test the color on both vertical and horizontal surfaces and look at it throughout the day,’ she says. ‘Blue changes tremendously with the light, and the ceiling may need a different strength than the walls even when the goal is a fully color-drenched room.’
5. Add a Pop of Blue to a Rustic Bathroom
A pop of blue adds flair to this bathroom, while the warm wood tones keep it feeling cozy.
(Image credit: Frazier Springfield. Design: Gruver Cooley)
Blue is often used in bathrooms, but to stop it from looking stark alongside all of the white fittings and hard surfaces, rich wood tones can do the trick. ‘Blue is my most reached-for color in bathrooms and bedrooms precisely because, when handled right, it reads as deeply cozy rather than cool,’ says designer Cathleen Gruver of Gruver Cooley.
‘In this project, I used a handmade glazed subway tile in a soft, dusty blue-green throughout the bath,’ Cathleen explains. ‘The slight variation in the glaze keeps it from feeling flat or harsh, and the natural pine ceiling and exposed beams pull all the warmth up into the room. The goal was for blue to feel like something that had always been there, not a statement. Pairing a muted, slightly gray-toned blue with warm natural materials is the move that makes it feel welcoming rather than cold.’
Decor Buys Cozy Up Your Blue Rooms
Whether you’re painting your walls blue or want to warm up a blue sofa, these decor buys will help soften this cool color.
Lulu and Georgia
Madelief Embroidered Pillow
Even a small pop of blue can elevate a room, and this embroidered pillow would work well in transitional living rooms.
Lulu and Georgia
Matthews Sconce
Brass helps to warm up blue walls, whether in bedrooms, kitchens, or living spaces.
McGee & Co.
Bronwyn Table Lamp
Soft earth tones are often used by designers when decorating with blue, adding lightness and balance.
McGee & Co.
Salter Woven Tray
Natural textures are key to stopping blue rooms from feeling flat or distant. This woven tray would work well styled on a living room coffee table.
Whether styled on a living room sofa or on the end of a bed, this checkered throw would pair wonderfully with powder blue walls.
Anthropologie
Hayden Tufted Wool Geometric Border Rug
Warm ochre and blue are a winning color combination, and this geometric print rug brings a modern feel to the look.
Cool colors like blue don’t need to feel cold or unwelcoming; with a thoughtful approach to decor, they can be full of warmth and coziness. Whichever room you’re decorating with blue in, warm wood and natural textures create balance, while warmer colors such as pink always work well.
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