Decorating
9 Ways to Bring Moody Blue Into Your Home
Be brave with this beaut alternative to black or grey – your home will benefit for it
Are you sick of playing it safe with colour? Have you seen the beautiful deep blues being used recently and wondered how to use them in your home? Over the past few years we have seen a proliferation of white (some would say it has been overused) in all areas of the home. While there is definitely still a place for white, it’s exciting and challenging to try a deeper colour palette.
Forget the bright and baby blues and head straight to shades of indigo and navy, and hues from the deep night sky. Deep and moody, a sophisticated rich blue colour palette adds depth of colour to a home, as you’ll see from these inspiring ideas.
Forget the bright and baby blues and head straight to shades of indigo and navy, and hues from the deep night sky. Deep and moody, a sophisticated rich blue colour palette adds depth of colour to a home, as you’ll see from these inspiring ideas.
2. Pop with another colour
Use strong, contrasting pops of another bright colour to lift the dark walls. The deep dramatic backdrop creates a jewel-like effect when paired with rich jades, rubies or earthy tans. Velvet textures add another layer of sumptuousness, too.
Use strong, contrasting pops of another bright colour to lift the dark walls. The deep dramatic backdrop creates a jewel-like effect when paired with rich jades, rubies or earthy tans. Velvet textures add another layer of sumptuousness, too.
3. Break it up with accents
When the space is broken up, for example by bookshelves, you get the depth without creating a dark block that soaks up light. And all your accessories take on gallery-like importance against the deep surrounds.
Brilliant ideas for bookcases
When the space is broken up, for example by bookshelves, you get the depth without creating a dark block that soaks up light. And all your accessories take on gallery-like importance against the deep surrounds.
Brilliant ideas for bookcases
4. Start with one wall
If you’ve been white-white-white, get a taste of using these stronger colours by starting with a single feature wall. The contrast with lighter walls is fresh, and it will give you the confidence you need to progress into using deeper colours elsewhere. Baby steps.
If you’ve been white-white-white, get a taste of using these stronger colours by starting with a single feature wall. The contrast with lighter walls is fresh, and it will give you the confidence you need to progress into using deeper colours elsewhere. Baby steps.
Likewise, if your furniture palette leans towards whites and neutrals, a few deep feature pieces are a great way to ease yourself in. Here the taupe sofa gets amped up with rich navy cushions. Texture, glimmer and gleam help too – velvets, shiny metallics and a deep buttoned ottoman all lift and lighten the scheme. Not so scary after all.
5. Be brave in the tiniest rooms
Add a luxurious look to your bathroom too with deep blue. You can make the walls deep and highlight with bright, white-based tiles or bathroom fittings against the dark background (paint is a lot easier to change later if you’ve chickened out. But you won’t). To make this work, you need to select beautiful tiles and fittings that are worthy of being made a feature, as they’ll stand out much more than in an entirely white scheme.
Add a luxurious look to your bathroom too with deep blue. You can make the walls deep and highlight with bright, white-based tiles or bathroom fittings against the dark background (paint is a lot easier to change later if you’ve chickened out. But you won’t). To make this work, you need to select beautiful tiles and fittings that are worthy of being made a feature, as they’ll stand out much more than in an entirely white scheme.
Or, alternatively, keep the walls light and add the depth of colour to the cabinetry, mirror frames and accessories for a lighter, beachside take on deeps.
6. Bring out the jewels
Deep blue used with silver and white adds sophistication to your dining room. The ceiling in this room has also been painted in a deep blue – terrific for a room that gets used at night (really go for it and use high-gloss paint to catch those candle reflections).
Deep blue used with silver and white adds sophistication to your dining room. The ceiling in this room has also been painted in a deep blue – terrific for a room that gets used at night (really go for it and use high-gloss paint to catch those candle reflections).
Or use a beautiful blue in a stunning texture, such as this velvet, to make a statement in an otherwise neutral dining room. Then start collecting fabulous, old-school, richly patterned china to add character to the scheme.
Elegant dining rooms
Elegant dining rooms
7. Sleep easy
You may be concerned that using a dark colour on your walls will make your room look smaller. But the bedroom is a night-time room and by pairing deep shades with fresh, light bedding, artwork and drapery you have created stylish balance.
You may be concerned that using a dark colour on your walls will make your room look smaller. But the bedroom is a night-time room and by pairing deep shades with fresh, light bedding, artwork and drapery you have created stylish balance.
8. Cosy up for showtime
Media rooms are an ideal room to use a deep blue to enhance the sense of darkness and being shut away from the world in a movie theatre environment. The deeper the colour, the better (but think about a medium shade for the flooring or you’ll forever be vacuuming popcorn off a dark carpet).
Media rooms are an ideal room to use a deep blue to enhance the sense of darkness and being shut away from the world in a movie theatre environment. The deeper the colour, the better (but think about a medium shade for the flooring or you’ll forever be vacuuming popcorn off a dark carpet).
9. Create architecture where there is none
Use a stunning blue for large-scale furniture to anchor it in the room and to create a strong focal point. This is a particularly good for a room that doesn’t have a natural architectural focal point and is also a great way of defining different areas in a large room that may have several seating areas.
YOUR SAY
Would you dare to introduce moody blue into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Expert Tips on Testing Paint Colours
The Case for a Colour-Coded Home
Does Your Home Need a Colour Consultant?
Use a stunning blue for large-scale furniture to anchor it in the room and to create a strong focal point. This is a particularly good for a room that doesn’t have a natural architectural focal point and is also a great way of defining different areas in a large room that may have several seating areas.
YOUR SAY
Would you dare to introduce moody blue into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Expert Tips on Testing Paint Colours
The Case for a Colour-Coded Home
Does Your Home Need a Colour Consultant?
Use a paint with a high pigmentation and a matt finish to maximise the intensity and richness of the blue; lighter furniture and flooring will contrast powerfully. This is blue and white, but not as the ’80s did it.