45 Blue Rooms That Prove It's the Most Amazing Color in the Rainbow
An ode to azul.
Blue. Even the word itself feels full and soft, like an embrace or a deep breath. Visually, of course, it's even more powerful. Writers have been waxing poetic about the color for eons: "We love to contemplate blue, not because it advances to us, but because it draws us after it," said 18th-century playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Contemporary novelists go on and on about it too: "That this blue exists makes my life a remarkable one, just to have seen it. To have seen such beautiful things," muses poet Maggie Nelson. "The world is blue at its edges and in its depths. This blue is the light that got lost," echoes writer Rebecca Solnit.
Just as this color has enchanted writers, artists, philosophers, and scientists for centuries, it's also the most popular choice for interior designers. From living rooms to bedrooms, kitchens, powder rooms, and beyond, the 45 blue rooms ahead might inspire you to douse your home in this wholly calming, restorative color.
Enhance the Architecture
“Saturated colors balance the strength of the architecture,” says Janie Molster of this 1700s Virginia living room with walls in Benjamin Moore's Mill Spring Blue.
Play With Shapes
Just looking at a blue room can slow your pace and calm you down. A monochrome palette allows us to focus on the incredible interior architecture and dramatic statement pieces in this living room designed by Robson Rak. The soothing tones and shapes, from the marble side table to the bubble pendant light and rounded sofa, make it both understated and bold.
Add Blue Details
Keep everything neutral and then opt for soft blue accents. Here, Cathy Kincaid painted the bed frame and used decorative pillows for a splash of blue. We love the contrast between the high-end, traditional monogrammed bedding, an orate mirror, full drapes, and a canopy bed against the unexpectedly cheeky throw pillow.
Mix In Earth Tones
Designer Nanette Brown opted for a moody color palette in this New York City living room. The dark blue painted walls are a fun surprise, especially when paired with rich chocolate brown fabric and brass accents.
Include Eye-Popping Accents
Setting the tone for the rest home in the entryway is mission critical. Here, interior designer Tamsin Johnson used traditional staples and injected personality with blue accents, from the Art Deco area rug to the abstract painting and elaborate candelabrum.
Mix Materials
Interior designer Shaun Smith's New Orleans bathroom should be your blueprint for decorating with blue. He worked around the retro tiled wall by choosing an all-blue color palette punctuated by rattan pieces. Not only is it a good idea to keep wallpaper out of splashing range, but it can also cut your cost in half if you only buy enough for half the square footage.
Use a Tight Palette
In designer Ann Pyne's New York City apartment, a bright blue velvet sofa with marigold piping reflects the color scheme of the custom mural but brings a touch of soft opulence to the more clean-lined edges of the graphic pattern.
Ground the Space
Color stretches all the way up to the high rafters in this living room designed by Thomas Jayne and William Cullum. As you can see in the mirror, the color of these walls changes depending on the way the light hits it, shifting between sharp mint green and soft sea foam green. The red and blue work nicely, too, grounding the sharp blue-green paint. To elongate your already tall ceilings, hang a pendant light high above the sitting area.
Try Old-Fashioned Patterns
Dubbed "The Blue Room" at Firehouse Hotel—L.A.'s coolest new boutique spot designed by ETC.etera—this bedroom is absolute goals. If you weren't sure you wanted to anchor your space around blue before, you probably do now. The contrast between a classic toile motif and modern geometric is the perfect blend of quirk and tradition.
Lean Into High Shine
The tight prints and splashes of red help marry the playful yellow and turquoise lacquer paints in this wide-open landing that Kati Curtis transformed into a jewel box of a reading nook.
Paint Half the Wall
The sky blue paint sets the stage in this bathroom designed by 2LG Studios while a palm leaf tree brings it to life. To play up the cool tones of the paint, the designers used silver hardware. crisp white materials, and gray-stained wood panels.
Soften It Up
A soothing soft blue feels adds an ethereal, dreamy quality to every space while offering a ton of versatility, making it particularly well-suited for the bedroom. The linen bedding and makeshift side table accent chair contribute to that easy, undone elegance. Even the floorboards have been washed inn a lovely gray-blue!
Embrace Whimsy
A classic blue wall mural gets a burst of contemporary energy with deep pink lampshades and a pinstriped sofa in this sitting room corner designed by Miles Redd.
Play With Texture
This sitting room designed by Janie Molster features unique texture-rich details, from the tapestry wall decor to the elaborate ceiling moldings. The blue paint brings just a touch of grounded coolness to the warmer tones throughout.
Stick to a Theme
Nautical rules in this master bathroom designed by Alexander Angle. Inspired by the occupant's own passions and interests, but with a design-savvy touch, this bathroom feels polished yet personal. The vintage trunks, light blue walls, and gold pendant are tasteful nods to maritime adventure.
Swim in Blue
High-gloss paints are a surefire way to make a bold statement. In this bedroom designed by decorator Alisa Bloom, the rich, liquidy sheen bounces light around a dark room, a spin on that old mirror trick designers love. Bloom used Fine Paints of Europe’s Delft Blue 4003 in Hollandlac Brilliant to illuminate the entire bedroom.
Play with Tone
A smokey gray-blue mural wallpaper pairs unexpectedly well with the warm wood console in this hallway designed by Heidi Caillier. The accessories adorning table, like the plaid lamp shade, metal vase, and hazy mirror, marry the cool tones with the natural browns.
Make a Statement Wall
This master bathroom designed by Regan Baker Design is absolutely hypnotizing thanks to the blue tile statement wall. Rich in both color and pattern, it doubles the room's depth and character.
Go Glossy
This dining room in a family home designed by Cameron Ruppert Interiors gets a dose of glam from lacquered blue paint. The upholstered chairs and beige and cream carpet lighten the mood.
Use as a Neutral
In this blue living room designed by Studio DB, the peach and marigold throws add just the right amount of variance. The matching walls and sectional interact with the light beautifully, casting an ethereal glow throughout. For a similar effect, opt for a pale, barely-there shade of blue paint.
27 Thanksgiving Colors That'll Liven Up Your Home
41 Prettiest Colors to Paint Your Front Door
20 Beautiful Colors That Go With Blue
Easy Ways to Upgrade Your White Kitchen