Colorful Interior Design | Tips to Use Blue As A Neutral (2024)

You won’t find anyone happier than me about the shift from true neutrals like grays and beiges to color in contemporary interior design. This fundamental shift in how we think about color composition in interior design has the power to unlock potential we didn’t know was possible. When I redecorate a client’s room, I find adding a little color can be so transformative that it is the difference between going from a film noir to a technicolor spectacular. Color has the power to lift moods, soothe the soul and add a smile to your face – all traits that can aerate and give life to any space.

There’s one color in particular that you may be surprised to learn can actually be used as a neutral in interior design: blue. That’s right: rich navy blue, noble royal blue, the cerulean hues of the sea – they all complement nearly any color on the spectrum.

There’s a bit of color science and artistry behind blue’s emergence as a neutral in the design world. Blue is a true cool tone, meaning it’s often added to other colors to change their tone from warm to cool (or the other way around). This also gives blue the power to pair with all other colors. It can lay the foundation of a near-neutral palette while still infusing vibrancy into a room.

What’s more, blue is simply natural. It serves as the backdrop to our lives as the color of the sky and, for those who live near the coast, the water. Think of how vividly trees, animals and flowers appear when set against sky blue; or how the sailboats pop from a distance as they bob along deep blue waters.

Close your eyes and think of picturesque postcard images from places like Santorini, where the white homes built into the hills overlooking the ocean look even whiter and more beautiful against the brilliant blue sea and sky.

Because we are so surrounded by blue, we don’t really notice it the way we do other colors in a room – but we do take note of how gorgeous other colors and things look when paired with blue, just like in nature. It’s a pretty compelling reason to use blue as a neutral, right? It’s another way nature serves as the basis for inspiration in art and design, and colorful home decor is no exception!

Blue is versatile, so you can use it just as you would any other neutral – as a background color, an accent color or as the defining color in a room’s story. Perhaps you’re considering a gray sofa or rug to anchor your living room – choose blue instead and you’ll notice other colors in the space more readily than those blue tones. Think of using blue in your home like you do your favorite pair of jeans – they’re an everyday wardrobe staple, and there’s really nothing that doesn’t look great with them!

Here are some other ways you can use blue as a neutral:

• Bring the sky inside by painting your ceiling a pale blue, like Benjamin Moore Lily White (yes, despite the name, this paint has a light blue hue so it’s not overpowering.)
• Add a pale blue or navy blue island in a crisp white kitchen to liven it up in a way a gray island never could.
• Restore an antique piece of furniture by painting it a glossy cobalt blue and you’ll see how well it works with everything else in the room.

Just as you see blue in nature in various tones and hues, so too can you play with different shades and saturations to achieve the look you want for your space. I personally love chambrays and other pale blues for two reasons: one – they pair so well with true neutrals like grays, beiges and metallics, and two – they allow other colors like green, lavender and mint to shine beautifully.

Take a look at how I used pale blue as a neutral in this master bedroom. My goal was to refresh the room and create a soothing and calm space to relax without sacrificing color. The blue lets the greens in the fabric and art stand out without dominating the entire space. At the same time, it adds a certain liveliness that another neutral wouldn’t be capable of.

One reason people opt for gray, white or cream is so they have the option to change out accessories down the line to freshen up a space, making a neutral palette a must. Using various tones of blue to define the look of a room has the same effect as using true neutrals. Try it and see how versatile a room can be. You’ll still have the option to refresh the accents every 5-10 years.

For example, changing up the pillows every so often in the living room featured above is one way to revamp a space with minimal investment compared to reupholstering or buying new furniture… and any color pillow will look just gorgeous against that blue sofa.

So there you have it: Blue has the power to channel the energy of a room – whether calm and serene or bright and vibrant – and it also carries and enhances other colors just by being blue! Add blue to your home’s color design and palette and let it change your space… and even your mood. Try it – you just might like it!