Perhaps because it's the color of both the sky and the sea: In color therapy, blue tones are said to evoke clarity, pureness, and increased intuition. In the home, the shade is immediately calming and welcoming, whether used in a deep navy for a touch of drama, or a pale robin's egg in a more subtle space. Whatever shade of blue is for you—and whatever decorating style, from nautical to regal—ahead are more than 50 examples of blue-centered design that's just right.
Royal Walls
A daybed in the guest room of this Hampton's home is draped with a vintage throw, and the sofa is by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; the cocktail tables from Tonic Home have custom-made tops by Plexi-Craft, the side tables are by Jonathan Adler, and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore Regal in Patriot Blue.
Blue if by Sea
In this Hamptons home decorated by Victoria Hagan, white furniture is part of a nautical theme that is just as striking as it is cozy. A white armchair and large white coffee table are cushioned by deep blues evocative of the nearby sea.
Pop of Pastel
Fashion designer Lisa Perry stripped her family's Florida getaway to its purest white essence, then filled it with bright colors and bold artworks. The incredibly white living room sofa is by de Sede, the cocktail table is by Cini Boeri and the painting, Elaidyl Alcohol, is by Damien Hirst.
Coordinated Tones
In the living room of a Paris apartment, which was designed by Jean-Louis Deniot, a sofa by Collection Pierre is upholstered in a Brochier fabric trimmed with ribbons by Samuel & Sons; lamps by Paul Evans flank a glass wall sculpture by Christophe Gaignon, the cocktail tables are custom designs, and the walls are painted in Paint Library's Eucalyptus.
Ceiling, Too
The tub in the master bath of this Paris apartment is by Jacob Delafon, with fittings by Waterworks, the sconces are by Niermann Weeks, and the Veere Grenney chair is covered in an Armani/Casa fabric; the chandelier is by Tony Duquette, and the vanity, mirror, and marble flooring are all custom designs.
Upholstered Accents
In the living room of Patrick Printy and Dan Holland’s Arts and Crafts bungalow in Oakland, California, the custom sofa is covered in a linen by Peter Dunham Textiles, a pair of vintage John Stuart Clingman chairs is upholstered in a Ralph Lauren Home tartan, the bust on the custom cocktail table is by Oly and the rug is from Iran. The fireplace, repainted a high-gloss black, the bookcases and the oak flooring are all original to the house and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Smoke Embers.
Room to Room Blue
A foyer opens to a blue-tinted living room, which features crisp blue curtains, in this Oakland home. The walls are painted in White Dove and the ceiling in Stone Brown, both by Benjamin Moore.
Blue With Tan Accents
In the master bedroom of this Oakland bungalow, the bed by Room & Board is dressed with a Libeco duvet, the antique chest is English, the custom love seat is upholstered in a China Seas fabric and the George Nelson pendant light is from Design Within Reach. The rug is an antique Heriz and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Anchor Gray.
Right Light Blue
In this Manhattan townhouse, Quadrille fabric curtains with just a touch of blue play off the bold turquoise walls, painted in C2 Paint Luxe in Bewilder. The sofa and club chair, both by Anthony Lawrence-Belair, are covered in Holland & Sherry wools.
Moody Grey Blue
In the master suite of an Upper East Side home, the curtains in this monochromatic blue room perfectly match the decor. The armchairs are a 1950s Gianfranco Frattini design and the painting is by Friedrich Kunath.
Sapphire Board Room
In an opulent boardroom, deep blue curtains and wallcoverings perk up a cognac table and chair set-up.
Solid and Pattern
A formal living room with colorful furniture and art by Elizabeth Krueger Design
Blue Oval Rug
Play with varying shapes like a spherical chandelier or an oval rug.Design by Kellie Franklin
Blue Trimmed Celing
In this East Hampton house designed by Celerie Kemble, the living room walls are painted in a high gloss by Fine Paints of Europe to match Pantone's Legion Blue. The sofas are by Celerie Kemble for Henredon, upholstered in a Brunschwig & Fils printed linen. The ceiling is inset with a felt paper by Star, the midcentury chandelier is by Stilnovothe and the vintage chairs in front of the faux-mable mantle are from Chariloom.
New Nautical
A blue striped rug is an ideal base for overstuffed club chairs upholstered in a blue pattern of the same tone.
Cerulean Opulence
The custom sofas in the library of this Seville home are upholstered in a Nobilis velvet and a Madeleine Castaing fabric from Kravet. The 19th-century chairs and bronze side table are Italian, the Empire chandelier is French, and the mantel is Louis XVI. The custom wallpaper is by Zuber, and the floor tiles are a combination of Carrara, Nero Marquina, and Bardiglio gray marbles.
Navy Couches
Milan-based designers Miguel Queda and Simone Ciarmoli at the vacation home they built on the Greek island of Folégandros. In the living room, Meridiani sofas are covered in a fabric by Dominique Kieffer, the Charlotte Perriand cock-tail table was found at a Paris flea market, and the flooring is Karystos stone; the artwork over the sofa is by Marco Basta, and the two small oil paintings were found at flea markets in Milan and Athens.
Ombre Rug
In the living room of Jean-Louis Deniot's Miami penthouse, the sofa from Deniot’s collection for Baker is in a Martyn Thompson Studio fabric, the 1930s Jindrich Halabala chairs are in a JAB Anstoetzfabric, the vintage cocktail table is by Paul Frankl, and the gold side table is by Hervé Van der Straeten; the 1920s bronze-and-alabaster chandelier once hung in the Villa Kerylos in France, the indoor-outdoor rug is by Galerie Diurne, the artwork is by Franz Kline, and the shelf holds a Roger Desserprit sculpture (center) and a French 1940s lamp.
Floor to Ceiling
In a French-inspired Chicago penthouse guest bedroom, the headboard covered in a vintage French fabric, and a pillow and coverlet in a Lee Jofa silk.
Teal Tones
Blue gives this dining room in a Bridgehampton farmhouse a calming atmosphere. The Julian Chichester chairs are covered in Lulu DK and Rose Tarlow Melrose House fabrics. The trim is painted in Aegean Teal by Benjamin Moore. The blue is broken up by the white and black curtains.
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