29 Blue Paint Colors That Interior Designers Love
From light to dark and everything in between, prepare for a soothing space.
When it comes to swathing your walls in a calming hue, you can’t go wrong with a neutral shade. And if you ask us, blue fits into that category. Whether you’re going pale and icy or dark and moody, nearly every blue tone pairs beautifully with a myriad of colors (not to mention woods and metallics). Don’t believe us? See for yourself. Ahead, you’ll find some of the most renowned blue paint colors interior designers love.
Surrounding yourself with cool-toned blues is also said to instill tranquility and calmness, so there’s no better time than now to cover your walls in the pretty shade. That said, there are a lot (and we mean a lot) of options out there, which can make choosing the right one a challenge. Our suggestion? Buy a few swatches or small cans and test the colors on your wall. Otherwise, check out these elegant spaces with walls that are as stylish as they are soothing. What’s more, experts have offered their tips and opinions on the best shades for specific types of rooms.
You'll see that no matter your decor or style, there’s a blue for you. All you have to do is find the right one, and we guarantee you’ll discover your perfect shade in our designer-approved list. From big names to smaller brands, these blues will make you feel anything but, well, blue. So if you're interested in transforming your space without having to do a whole lot, you may want to scoop up a can and pick up a paintbrush!
Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore
Icy blues bring clear skies indoors. “For a client’s library that opens to a garden and pool, we chose this beautiful blue-gray to give the illusion of bringing the outside in," says designer Paloma Contreras, who matched Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore to a high-gloss lacquer for a mirror-like finish.
Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball
"There's a kind of clarity in the air after a rain, and this color has the same feeling," says designer Katie Maine. She adds: "It suddenly makes the ceiling of a room seem taller, and the space somehow becomes larger. It totally changes the room's energy and makes you feel like you can finally take a big, deep breath!"
Smoke Ring by Pratt & Lambert
"This icy blue has a cool crispness that's refreshing," says designer Robert Stilin. "I'd add fabrics in different tones of the same shade, like navy and slate, to create a layered, monochromatic look." Or, as Stilin recommends, you can bring in contrasting colors like brown and red to add warmth and coziness.
Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball
Painting an office? Try a gray-blue. "Studies have shown that blue helps your ability to focus," explains Sheila Bridges, who used Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue for this room. "This particular shade has a little gray in it, and that makes it even more soothing."
Early Frost Blue by Benjamin Moore
"Some people would call this pale gray, but it actually has blue and purple in it," says designer Brian Paquette. He continues: "To me, it's the color of the fog out here in Seattle. I used it in a living room with massive windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and at certain times of the day, you couldn't tell the difference between the sea and the sky and the walls. They were all the same color."
Blue Veil by Benjamin Moore
"This has the coolness of a long, tall drink of water on a hot day," says designer James Michael Howard. "I use it frequently for ceilings because it's subtle. It catches your eye but doesn't yell. Or, if you want to dazzle, do it in high gloss on the walls, and the space will be electrified!"
Light Blue by Farrow & Ball
Designer Susan Ferrier adores this light blue shade. "When you think of the color of a lake, you have to think about trees and shadows and clouds," she explains. "It's muddled, like this gray-blue. It's not a clear jewel tone, like the ocean. The ocean, with its breaking waves, is all about energy. Lake water is more soothing. It laps at the shore. This gray-blue kind of washes over a room, and you don't see the clutter."
Sweet Bluette by Benjamin Moore
"My favorite blue paint is Benjamin Moore 813 Sweet Bluette, says New York City designer Marie Burgos. "This color is part of the Benjamin Moore Classics, and its timeless appeal complements styles from traditional to modern and everything in between. It is such a soft color tone which brings an overall sense of relaxation and healing—perfect for a bedroom design or a nursery."
Drenched Rain by Dunn-Edwards
"This is a romantic and charming blue with soft undertones of gray," says designer Ryan Saghian. He adds: "For me, it embodies Paris in the rain—the silvery reflections on the streets, the misty sky, the coat-grabbing wind. It's a very soothing color, so I see it in either a bedroom or a breakfast room. Pair it with yellows and oranges to make the blue look even richer."
Jet Stream Blue by Benjamin Moore
"I used this in the study of a Manhattan apartment with panoramic views out to the Hudson River," says designer Raji Radhakrishnan. "It blurred the edges of the walls and seemed as if the sky was lulled inside to wrap the room in one fell swoop. And the blue of the sky was reflected in the river. Spike it with shades of green, inspired by the treetops and lots of white."
March Wind by Pratt & Lambert
Walls lacquered in Pratt & Lambert’s March Wind help brighten this north-facing room in an apartment designed by Nick Olsen.
Caribbean Sea by Glidden
"In Turkey, the sea is so clear and so bright—a true ocean blue, like this color," says designer David Phoenix. He adds: "You see the same blue in the tiles in the Blue Mosque. It has endless depth, and that makes it very calming. I'm imagining it in a high-gloss finish in an entry or a library. After all, it's only paint. Take a risk and go for it!"
Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams
"Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams is a blue bursting with joy," says designer Courtney McLeod, who used it in her own living room. "It strikes a wonderful balance between being bold and bright but also quite livable. It is also a great backdrop for other bold colors."
Major Blue by Sherwin-Williams
"Certain shades of blue immediately take me away to a tropical island, and this is one of them," says designer Debbie Viola. "Even though it's a medium-bright tone, it's still calming yet vibrant enough to make me feel happy as soon as I enter the room." She suggests adding accents of tangerine and lime green to enhance the tropical flavor.
Cruising by Sherwin-Williams
In designer Vern Yip's Florida home, a kitchen with cabinetry painted in Cruising by Sherwin-Williams is the epitome of life at the beach. It offers a welcoming energy that can't be beat, especially considering the rest of the home is covered in other bright colors, patterns, and textures that give it great liveliness.
Celestial Blue by Valspar
"I like real colors, as opposed to those that are just a hint of something," explains designer Harry Heissmann. He continues: "I love clarity, and this is a clear blue. Anything you put against it—a black bamboo bed, a bright abstract painting—will pop. And the light in the room takes on a wonderful atmospheric quality. You feel good in it."
Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore
"This sitting room was inspired by the ethereal blues found in Kandinsky paintings hanging in the Hermitage Museum," says Kirill Istomin of this muted turquoise hue, Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore.
Turquoise Tint by Valspar
"On vacation in the Caribbean islands, I was walking along a street and stopped to sit on a ledge so I could look down at the water, which was exactly this color," says designer Erinn Valencich. She continues: "And suddenly, just three feet away, all these tropical fish were swimming by in the most amazing purples, yellows, and greens. We humans can make many beautiful things, but nothing is more beautiful than what's already here in nature."
Green Blue by Farrow & Ball
"My favorite blue paint color is Farrow & Ball's Green Blue #84," says designer Chad Graci. He explains: "I love using this clear, mutable blue for its chameleon-like quality. It can feel coastal, historic, or just plain fresh when you need it to."
Clare Good Jeans
Designer Ashley Izsak selected Clare Paint's Good Jeans for this entryway because it worked so well with the wallpaper she chose (Endless Summer by York Wallcoverings). "This shade of blue almost feels like a neutral because of its toned down soft qualities and works well in our open-concept space to add a little bit of drama without feeling intense," the designer gushes.
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