Skip to Content

20 Designer-Approved Colors That Go With Blue Beautifully

These combos make the rainbow's prettiest color pop.

By Hadley Mendelsohn and Medgina Saint-Elien
blue and pink furniturepinterest icon
Lindsay Brown

Who can resist the power of blue? It's a crowd favorite with the ability to encourage relaxation, especially when used within the home. Blue is evocative of the open sky and calming sea, and it's the source of some of the greatest literary and visual artworks in history. Plus, there are so many great colors that go with blue. In fact, the true charm of blue may be its versatility. Blue goes with every color, style preference, and trend no matter what room it needs to fit into, from stark minimalist environments to warm and vibrant backdrops for the maximalist.

Blue instantly uplifts and inspires you to sit back and reflect. Even when it's used to add drama or a touch of melancholy, blue is one of those pigments that instantly fills any space with beauty. Whether it's a powder blue that looks soothing in your bedroom, an aquamarine in your office that reminds you to take a vacation, or crisp navy kitchen cabinets, blue sets the mood of a space so well.

The secret to making any color combination work with blue is finding complementary. The color that sits across from blue on the color wheel, orange, is its true complement. That can vary depending on the precise shade of blue. Purples, reds, pinks, greens, yellows, and even browns can work beautifully.

We found designer-approved rooms with colors that go with blue to inspire you to reimagine the way you use this popular color in your home. This list includes every shade of blue and the surprising but flattering color combinations prove that nothing is too hard for blue. Read on for plenty of tricks and dreamy blue color palettes to experiment with.

1

Bubblegum Pink and Citron Yellow

pink and blue and yellow living room
Lindsay Brown

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.

2

Ivory and Forest Green

dining room with botanical wallpaper
Molly Cuver

This robin's egg blue wallpaper is speckled with ivory and forest green to make daydreaming easy. The ivory mirror and green accessories Shannon Eddings of Shannon Eddings Interiors added to this dining room are the supporting characters that soften the blue so it doesn't overwhelm the space.

3

Ivory and Dark Wood

bedroom
Nicole Dianne Photography

For a calming blue palette, Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors pairs a blue-gray denim hue with warm ivory walls and a dark wood bed frame. "It evokes a feeling of femininity and care but also feels grounded, warm, and stable. We think it's best suited against the backdrop of darker stained woods and love it layered with textural bouclés and jacquard," says Macuga.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4

Mauve and Plum

side table near bed
Lindsay Brown

Seafoam blue will give you all the feels! Reset your bedroom with mauve and plum to bring in warmth and calm as shown by Annie Downing of Annie Downing Interiors. The gray and pink undertones create the tranquility you need before bed.

5

Turquoise

peacock blue
Eric Piasecki

Peacock blue lacquer combined with turquoise is a bold choice that infuses a new house with style and talking points. Steven Gambrel chose to merge brilliant colors, lush fabrics, and custom and vintage furnishings for a grand effect in the library of a Chicago townhouse. The walls have a rich depth that sets off the Warhol print.

6

Metallics

blue and white bedroom
Maura McEvoy

Blue and white take center stage in this fresh yet classic bedroom by Eliza Crater. With layers of prints and fun fabrics as well as metallic accents and artwork, this color scheme has so much depth and dimension while still remaining cohesive and tight.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Hot Pink and Olive Green

modern living room with pink coffee table green sofa and blue art
Nicole Franzen

When you don't want to overpower the room with blue but still want it to get some of the attention, limit it to the artwork, lighting, and other accent pieces. Here, the blue pieces still stand their own while also sharing the spotlight with other bold colors, like hot pink and olive green. The worn orange rug ties the room together and also softens the more saturated items.

8

Marigold

formal blue and white bedroom with canopy
Annie Schlechter

When decorating with deep, bold, and saturated blues, punctuate the space with a marigold accent. In this bedroom designed by Mathew Bees, the marigold is introduced via the trim of the canopy fabric as well as the lamp shade. That's all it takes!

9

Off-White and Cream

vestibule with toile wallpaper and floral crystal pendant
Heather Hilliard Design

You can't go wrong with a classic blue and white color scheme. Instead of cool whites, opt for creams, and instead of dark wood, go for a blond finish. The toile wallcovering and crystal floral chandelier in this vestibule designed by Heather Hilliard segues into the blue bedroom beyond seamlessly.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10

Hot Pink

hot pink living room with blue sofa and art
Katie Ridder

Proof that opposites attract, this neon pink and bright blue living room designed by Katie Ridder is absolute color palette goals. The intense, eye-catching, and adventurous shade of pink, Mulberry from C2 Paints, makes the blue sofa and gallery wall pop even more.

11

Rainbow

modern living room with blue, green, and red decor
Barbara Corsico

The lesson here is that blue looks good with literally every color in the rainbow. Designed by Kingston Lafferty, the artwork above the fireplace sets the tone for the bold color-blocking happening throughout the space, including the light green ceiling, the tonal walls and mantel, the sputnik light, and the patterned chairs and drapes.

12

Purple

vanity desk with purple art and blue chair
Heather Hilliard

Eggplant and rich purples look elegant and romantic with the earth-toned neutrals and metallic fixtures in this dressing room by Heather Hilliard. The soft velvet blue upholstery on the chair brings in a cooler touch without clashing.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Sage Green

dining room with plate gallery wall and wallpaper
Heidi Caillier Design

Here's a great example of a stylish space that uses blue as an accent rather than the foundational color. The sage features and orange details throughout this dining room designed by Heidi Caillier are complemented by the antique cream and blue rug, classic wood table, and black chairs for a nicely balanced and eclectic finish.

14

Brown and Yellow

bright blue bedroom with leopard print pillows
Anna Spiro Design

Blue goes nicely with chocolate brown, making this cheetah-print and floral motif fabric in a bedroom by Anna Spiro Design the perfect accessory for bright sky-blue walls.

15

Turquoise and Red

contemporary bedroom with turquoise frame
Dacian Groza

When it comes to designing a guest bedroom, you can't go wrong with a timeless and contemporary approach. And in that case, neutral colors and primary mainstays usually reign supreme. Here, Heather Hilliard anchored the space with a turquoise bed frame and crisp white bedding, then used a fun curtain to introduce some splashes of cobalt blue and red to the mix.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16

Mint Green

mint green living room with blue and red rug in country home
Francesco Lagnese

In this living room designed by Thomas Jayne and William Cullum, mint green fills the space with a fresh, invigorating mood. The red and blue introduce more depth and intensity to the light paint.

17

Pale Peach

bedroom with  pink walls and eclectic bedding
Heidi Caillier Design

A mix of layered muted yellows, greens, and pinks blends well in this eclectic bedroom designed by Heidi Caillier. The blue coverlet ensures that the color scheme doesn't look too matchy-matchy and formulaic, and the pink pieces' peachy undertones complement the yellow armchair.

18

Red and Gray-Brown

entryway with gray brown walls and blue and red decor
House Beautiful

Kim Alexandruik's motto is, "Go for impact." Use an entry or hallway as an excuse to play with unusual seating and colorful artwork that may be harder to integrate into other rooms. Her color of choice is a "putty-colored gray, with a hint of pink and lavender. Not too light, so it doesn't go vapid," says Aleandruik. Use this hallway designed by Mally Skok, which incorporates gray-brown, red, and several shades of blue, as inspiration.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Burnt Orage

bedroom with toile upholstery and curtains and modern orange pillow
Laure Joilet

If you weren't sure you wanted to use blue in your bedroom before, you probably do now. ETC.etera gave classic blue and white toile a new life by mixing it with cheeky faux molding walls and a geometric burnt orange pillow.

20

Tangerine

blue and orange modern kitchen
Dries Otten

Country-style terra-cotta tiles get a modern update in this kitchen designed by Dries Otten with a playful bright orange backsplash and sky blue cabinetry. Sky blue and bright tangerine sit opposite one another on the color wheel, which makes them perfect complements. Here's how the combo plays out in a fun, well-designed kitchen.

Watch Next
 
preview for Home Tours

Designer-Tested Color Schemes

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Logo
twitter icon
youtube icon
facebook icon
instagram icon
pinterest icon
Hearst Lifestyle and Design Group - A Part of Hearst Digital Media

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSite Map
Cookies Choices