Blue room ideas: 23 inspiring ways to decorate with blue

Check out these inspiring blue room ideas if you're feeling blue about your current space (figuratively)

Blue room ideas
(Image credit: Fiona Walker-Arnott)

We are LOVING blue room ideas. And although we never thought we would say it, but we think grey may be at risk of being replaced as our fave colour by blue. With its ability to be both bold and subtle, contemporary and traditional, moody and light, blue just has a versatility that grey could never give us – hence why it is undoubtedly becoming one of the most popular decorating colours this year. It is bold enough to make you feel like you are being a bit brave, but classic enough so that you don't have to step too far out of your greige comfort zone. 

So whether you planning to go to big (think an entirely cobalt kitchen) or just want to add some small touches of this on trend colour to a bedroom or living room, we've got you covered with our round up of the best blue room design ideas. 

Find more design ideas and inspiration on our hub page.

1. Be bang on trend with Pantone's Colour of the Year 2020

Pantone colour of the year

(Image credit: Pantone)

Not to boast or anything, but we had a sneaky suspicion that the Pantone Colour of the Year was going to be blue. It felt like it was time for a blue. The 2020 colour is called Classic Blue, and it's just that, a classic blue. It's clean and elegant but it's also really uplifting and (in comparison to the last few years) a really easy colour to incorporate into your home. LOADS more on that, below.

2. Go for on trend navy kitchen cabinets

Dark blue room design ideas in an open plan kitchen

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

If you are fully committed to the cause then blue kitchens are oh-so desirable at the moment. Pick any hue of blue and we are pretty sure you could make it work with all kitchen styles from classic Shaker to modern minimalist, but it's navy blue kitchens that we are particularly loving at the moment. 

The exposed brick walls, pops of bright colour and industrial accessories give this simple Shaker a kick of modernity. If you want to get this look on a budget, or just don't fancy ripping out your current kitchen, you can always paint your kitchen cabinets – just check out our step-by-step guide to painting kitchen cabinets. Find the best paint for kitchen cabinets in our guide.

3. Pick a bright blue paint for a clean look 

blue room design ideas in a kitchen painted in Farrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue

(Image credit: Farrow and Ball)

Feeling blue about your colourless kitchen? Paint is your friend when it comes to quickly transforming your space, quickly and relatively cheaply (especially if you can tackling painting a kitchen yourself). Too replicate this clean, crisp style pick a vivid blue – something like Farrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue , add a heavy helping of white (check out our white kitchen ideas for inspiration) and some zesty yellow kitchen accessories for a the dreamiest of colour combinations. Find more inspiration for your scheme with our dark kitchen paint design ideas, too.

4. Choose the palest of blues for a soothing space

blue room design ideas in a retro kitchen with cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore Normandy

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

If your style in more light and airy than dark and atmospheric, take note from this kitchen and choose the palest shade of blue to paint your walls – something like Benjamin Moore Winter Ice would work perfectly. Just make sure you throw in a few slightly darker hues or some bright colours (love how the apple green works here) to stop the space looking too saccharine. 

If you love this kitchen, make sure you go and check out more of our (grown up) pastel decorating ideas

5. Paint the ceiling blue 

Blue room design ideas in a kitchen with wooden cabinets with blue painted ceiling

(Image credit: Clive Nicholls)

Ooft this kitchen is giving up all the French farmhouse/slightly Mediterranean/holiday home vibes and we love it. Best thing about the room (apart from those exotic looking bottles of booze) has got to be that ceiling! It's almost got a rag paint effect, but we think your could recreate the authentic, paint thats been here centuries effect, with some trusty chalk paint. Try Annie Sloan Greek Blue for a similar colour and then go and follow our step-by-step guide to painting a ceiling to find out how to DIY this look.

6. Contrast your blue kitchen with other rooms

Blue and yellow kitchen

(Image credit: Conran)

Consider the colours of your connecting rooms, too. Add pops of yellows or oranges to hallways or landings so that when you look into the space from the outside, you get this gorgeous contrast that might be too much if they were in the same space. For a similar blue used in this kitchen, go for the classic Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball and contrast it with Citron and Charlotte's Locks.

7. Add some interest with a blue floral wallpaper 

While paint is obvious choice for adding blue hues to your home, wallpaper can be more interesting way to get in those inky colours. Floral wallpapers may remind you of ancient hotel bathrooms and your grandparents' living room, but we promise they are making a comeback! Just be sure to choose a large scale pattern that's not too fussy – case in point, this print from Sandberg

For more proof that florals are back check out these floral room design ideas

8. Use sky blue for a coastal vibe 

Blue room design ideas in a living diner in a Swedish island home

(Image credit: Anne Nyblaeus/A Design Features)

Not planning a beach holiday this year? Chill, you can bring all the beachy vibes to you. Switch out your cushions to some blue striped variants, upcycle your furniture with some blue chalk paint, dot around some sea-themed accessories (just please no miniature ships in bottles) and you are good to go. 

9. Combine light wood with deep blues 

Blue room design ideas in a New Nordic style living room by John Lewis

(Image credit: John Lewis)

Sorry we couldn't get through a gallery without mentioning how you can work in blue with the Scandi trend. But dark blues really do work with a lot of the key elements of Scandi style – particular New Nordic design ideas – the light wooden, slimline furniture in particular, as beautifully demonstrated below. For similar furniture go and check out John Lewis' Croft Collection and for a similar blue paint we recommend Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue

10. Pick a classic blue for a traditional feel

Blue room design ideas in a blue living room with wooden bar cart, paintings and wooden sideboard

(Image credit: Matt Clayton)

The right shade of blue can work just as well in a traditional space as a modern one, as perfectly demonstrated by this living room. Pick out a fresh mid-toned blue like Farrow & Ball's Lulworth Blue, which despite its boldness doesn't overwhelm a space, and pair it which contrasting wooden pieces and touches of burnt orange. 

Find more great living room paint ideas in our paint design gallery.

11. Yellow and blue? Always a winning combo

Blue room design ideas in a blue and white living room by Vanessa Arbuthnott

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

Yellow and blue may sound like a daring colour scheme, but it needn't be reserved for the minimalists amongst us. Take a tip from this lovely living room and choose more muted hues. A sea foam green and a pale lime-toned yellow work together beautifully, especially with a healthy dose of off white and some dark wooden accents thrown in. 

We have loads of tips on how to use a colour wheel for interior design in our guide. 

12. Keep the room light with a pale blue wallpaper

Blue room design ideas in a blue living room with sofa from sofa.com

(Image credit: Sofa.com)

North facing living room? Despite it being a cooler tone, a light blue colour scheme could be your best bet as, it goes without saying, using pale colours in a light-deprived room can make it look brighter. We love how the print of Cole & Son's Cow Parsley  is subtle enough so you can still incorporate other patterns into the space (note the striped cushions), so despite there being a very clear colour scheme here, the room doesn't look too matchy-matchy. 

13. Match your sofas to your walls for a cohesive look

Libra sofa

(Image credit: Libra)

For a really dramatic look, try matching your upholstery to your walls. It creates a lovely enveloping feeling that works really well in rooms that don't get much natural light. Give the look even more of an atmospheric feeling by adding larger houseplants around the edges of the room and in the corners and pick reflective furniture to give just a touch of light. 

We love this Libra blue velvet sofa and matching armchair and if you are after a paint that's just as dreamy and dramatic try the ever-popular Farrow & Ball Hague Blue

14. Embrace the colour blocking trend with deep indigo

Blue room design ideas in a blue living room with Annie Sloane paint

(Image credit: Annie Sloane)

Colour blocking is still going strong, and we are totally okay with that. It's such an easy trend to DIY and can completely transform a space. You don't have to go crazy with loads of colours either, here Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue has been used as a neutral background for the vivid  Napoleonic Blue .

For more colour blocking design ideas make sure you check out our feature. 

15. Go for a blue hued mural as a dramatic backdrop

We are big fans of murals. One up from wallpaper, these large-scale designs have a really dramatic impact. Pick out a mural that will guide the colour scheme for the rest of the room – in this mural from Designers Guild, blue is obviously the key colour, but the hints of green and pink give you a ready made pallet to start designing the space around. Despite the traditional print, the vivid cobalt blue bedding and the bright, boho style cushions give the room a chic contemporary vibe. 

For more glorious mural design ideas head over to our feature. 

16. Paint the floorboards blue

Painting floorboards is a super easy way to update a room on a budget – especially if you have the time to tackle the job as a DIY project. If you love a clean crisp scheme but are itching to play with a brighter colour, your floorboards could be the perfect canvas to experiment on. Choose a bright clear colour like Farrow & Ball St Giles Blue, as seen below, for a really fresh look. 

For tips and tricks, plus a ton of ideas, check out our guide to painting floorboards.

17. Layer up on blue bedding 

Blue room design ideas in a Scandi style bedroom with lots of textures

(Image credit: Secret Linen Store)

Switching up your bedding is probably the easiest way to bring this on trend colour into your bedroom. Layer up all the cool toned blue pillows, blankets, throws and cushions to create a really calming sleep space. You could also invest in a blue headboard to make the colour even more of a focal point in your bedroom. Tie to whole look together by adding matching accessories throughout the space. 

18. Add a touch of teal to the bathroom

Not ready to commit to four blue walls in your bathroom? Take a cue from this gorgeous bathroom and and go halfies, painting the bottom portion of your walls in the beautiful Inchyra Blue from Farrow & Ball. Find more bathroom paint ideas in our guide; and don't miss our best bathroom paints buyer's guide so you can be sure of choosing the right finish.

19. Choose blue bathroom shutters

Blue room design ideas in a Shutterly Fabulous shutter in a traditional bathroom

(Image credit: Shutterly Fabulous)

You could also use your window treatments to bring blue into your bathroom. Colourful plantation shutters make a great alternative to a feature wall in a small room, like a bathroom, and are ideal for creating a focal point. We love how in this bathroom the diddy freestanding bath perfectly matches the shutters and the graphic print rug in a deeper shade creates just the right amount of contrast. 

Convinced you you immediately need shutters in your home? Check out our guide to choosing window shutters. Find more bathroom window treatment ideas in our guide.

20. Match your bathroom door to your tiles

Blue room design ideas in a white scheme bathroom with a pop of blue and freestanding bath and patterned tiled floor

(Image credit: Ton Bouwer)

if you are doing up a bathroom on a budget, you could easily add just a pop of blue by painting the inside of your bathroom door. It's a super quick weekend project that could make a big difference to your space. If you have a bit more of a budget, pick our some tiles (or some very convincing vinyl flooring) that has touches of blue to match your newly painted door. 

We have loads of tips on how to paint doors over in our guide. 

21. Or just paint the whole thing blue 

Blue room design ideas in a blue bathroom with bath and sinks

(Image credit: Quick-Step)

Want to fully commit to the cause? An all blue bathroom really can have a striking effect. We would recommend giving this a go if you have a large, light, airy bathroom that can handle the colour. If you are designing a small bathroom, by all means go for it, but maybe keep the ceiling and the floor light and pick out white sanitaryware to provide some contrast. 

22. Choose a blue colour scheme for your hallway 

Blue room design ideas in a blue hallway with geometric tiles and yellow statement chair

(Image credit: Ca Pietra)

Use a few different tones of the same colour to create a calming, cohesive hallway. We love how a darker blue has been used on the woodwork in this hallway, but the walls have been kept a lighter colour that really lengthens the space. The blue floor tiles bring the whole look together, and that pop of yellow? Perfection. 

Get inspired by more gorgeous hallway paint ideas. And check out our buyer's guide to best paints for hallways for some really tough finishes.

23. Create a calming workspace with a bold blue

Blue is known for its calming, stress relieving qualities, so it just makes sense to incorporate it into your home office. Painting floating shelves the same colour as the the walls stops small rooms (which most of our home offices are) feeling cluttered and keeps the space looking more open.

We have a load of small office design ideas if you are after more tips. 

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Hebe Hatton

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

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