35 Beautiful Colors That Always Go With Blue, According to Designers

Few colors are as versatile and timeless as blue. Whether it's cobalt or navy, sky or cornflower, shades of blue can work anywhere in a home. Because a truly cohesive design scheme involves more than one color (although we do love a color-drenching moment), knowing what hues to pair with blue is difficult if you’re not a color consultant, interior designer, or paint expert. Luckily, we gathered 35 designer spaces to prove that nearly every shade of blue has a perfect pairing.

Evoking natural elements like the sky and the sea, blue inspires feelings of serenity and calmness. This is ideal for spaces you want to feel restorative, like a bedroom or spa-like bathroom. Blues also fit with any design aesthetic, from stark minimalist environments to warm and vibrant backdrops for the maximalist.

This list of 35 colors that go with blue serves as evidence that the hue is as versatile as a neutral and can elevate any space you use it in. Read on to find your new favorite color scheme here.

Goldenrod

To contrast the fanciful chinoiserie wallpaper in this San Francisco apartment, interior designer Caitlin Jones Ghajar and her team went bold and chose a warm yellow for the velvet bed frame. “This particular kind of blue lends itself really well to the vistas that are beyond, so you get some Bay view looks,” she says.

 

Rust Red

In this Amber Lewis–designed kitchen, the duck egg blue cabinetry is grounded by the rust red and cream floor tile. The hue, Light Blue by Farrow & Ball, can lean almost gray in soft lighting, making it a versatile neutral ready to pair with warm tones.

 

Black

The deep, black accents in this kitchen add drama and depth to the slate blue cabinetry. The graphic color pairing is modern and masculine, while not trying to compete with the lush nature outdoors. Melissa Anderson of OAD Interiors designed this immersive space in Woodstock, New York.

 

Chartreuse

Blue and yellow is a classic and cheerful color pairing. Elevate the duo by choosing a hue with a slightly greener tone, like a chartreuse. In this guest room by French & French, the cool light blue prevents a too-neon appearance.

 

Golden Tan

Pairing a cool tone with a warm tone is a failsafe approach, and this bedroom by Serena Dugan does it expertly. A golden tan wallpaper softens the vibrant indigo accents on the headboard and window treatments. If you’re feeling bold, throw in some orange for added impact.

 

White

When you're unsure of what colors go with blue the best, simply opt for more of the same, as French & French did here. Perfect pattern play is achieved in this lounge through the matching blue and white palettes. A cobalt blue wall ties it all together.

 

Bronze

For an impactful palette, add some glitz to your shade of blue. This living room, designed by Suzanne Kasler, utilizes metallics like brass and bronze to elevate the everyday hue to glamorous new heights.

 

Terra-Cotta Red

In this Sante Fe home designed by the duo behind French & French, a rich, terra-cotta red balances the vibrant blue tones. To ground the swirling marbled wallpaper on the ceiling, the grand bookcases and coordinating rug (and sneaky chair piping!) incorporate the hue throughout the entire space.

 

Mustard

In House Beautiful’s 2024 Whole Home, the guest room is cocooned in a mustard and navy color palette. Blue and yellow primary colors play off one another for a vibrant interior. Use neutral bedding to ground the bright shades.

 

Peachy Pink

Pink and blue can often feel like a baby shower or gender reveal, but take inspiration from designer Dane Austin to know how to use them correctly. By combining a pastel with a more vibrant tone, you can elevate the color pairing from juvenile to sophisticated.

 

Grass Green

Look to nature for hues to use with blue. This chic powder room, complete with a navy blue sink, is swathed in a floral green wallpaper. This color pairing is cheerful and can brighten up a smaller space, especially this one by Liz Carroll, which lacks windows.

 

Ochre

Adorned in shades of cobalt and navy, the primary bedroom in our 2024 Whole Home in Asheville, North Carolina, continues the moody color palette with an ochre wallpaper. The hues are simultaneously subdued yet impactful, ideal for a serene night’s sleep.

 

Gray

A spa-like and timeless blue and gray color palette can brighten even the dingiest basements. To ensure nothing looks out of place, keep both hues at the same vibrancy level (e.g., a light blue and a light gray).

 

Dark Red

To add drama to this teal bedroom, designer Lisa Tharp opted for a totally red upholstered bed frame, and somehow it works. Blue and red are both primary colors, which means they pair well when one starts to lean toward the other’s complement (like the slightly green-toned blue walls).

 

Burnt Orange

In this playful kids' bathroom, a bright blue is the focal point color in the space. Looking to the color wheel for a clue, homeowner Ashley Maddox and designer Hilary Walker opted for a burnt orange shower curtain as the accent hue.

 

Lilac Purple

Pairing a myriad of cool-toned colors can create a sophisticated palette when done well, like in this Boston apartment. A purple rug complements the blue sectional sofa because they have similar textiles, tones, and brightness levels.

 

Brass

If you’re a fan of the blue and yellow primary pair, you’ll love this elevated option. Pairing a deep, rich blue, like this navy kitchen, with a metallic brass accent is a great way to add some glamour and texture to your space.

 

More Blue!

Monochrome color palettes can be really impactful when done with various shades of the same hue. Take this living room by Mark D. Sikes for example. The deep blue upholstery on the sofa and ottoman ground the lighter blue used to color drench the walls and ceiling.

 

Bubblegum Pink and Citron Yellow

Avery Cox of Avery Cox Design used a tonal blue for the wall to give this room an immersive effect and paired it with pops of bubblegum pink, purple, and citron yellow. The colors are the perfect pick-me-up when you're lounging indoors on a rainy day.

 

Ivory and Forest Green

This robin's egg blue wallpaper is speckled with ivory and forest green to make daydreaming easy. The ivory mirror and green accessories designer Shannon Eddings added to this dining room are the supporting characters that soften the blue so it doesn't overwhelm the space.

 

Ivory and Dark Wood

For a calming blue palette, Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors pairs a blue-gray denim hue with warm ivory walls and a dark wood bed frame. "It evokes a feeling of femininity and care but also feels grounded, warm, and stable. We think it's best suited against the backdrop of darker stained woods and love it layered with textural bouclés and jacquard," says Macuga.

 

Mauve and Plum

Seafoam blue will give you all the feels! Reset your bedroom with mauve and plum to bring in warmth and calm as shown by Annie Downing of Annie Downing Interiors. The gray and pink undertones create the tranquility you need before bed.

 

 

Turquoise

Peacock blue lacquer combined with turquoise is a bold choice that infuses a new house with style and talking points. Steven Gambrel chose to merge brilliant colors, lush fabrics, and custom and vintage furnishings for a grand effect in the library of a Chicago townhouse. The walls have a rich depth that sets off the Warhol print.

 

Metallics

Blue and white take center stage in this fresh yet classic bedroom by Eliza Crater. With layers of prints and fun fabrics as well as metallic accents and artwork, this color scheme has so much depth and dimension while still remaining cohesive and tight.

 

Hot Pink and Olive Green

When you don't want to overpower the room with blue but still want it to get some of the attention, limit it to the artwork, lighting, and other accent pieces. Here, the blue pieces still stand on their own while also sharing the spotlight with other bold colors like hot pink and olive green. The worn orange rug ties the room together and also softens the more saturated items.

 

Marigold

When decorating with deep, bold, and saturated blues, punctuate the space with a marigold accent. In this bedroom designed by Mathew Bees, the marigold is introduced via the trim of the canopy fabric as well as the lamp shade. That's all it takes!

 

Off-White and Cream

You can't go wrong with a classic blue-and-white color scheme. Instead of cool whites, opt for creams, and instead of dark wood, go for a blond finish. The toile wallcovering and crystal floral chandelier in this vestibule designed by Heather Hilliard segues into the blue bedroom beyond seamlessly.

 

Hot Pink

Proof that opposites attract, this neon pink and bright blue living room designed by Katie Ridder is absolute color palette goals. The intense, eye-catching, and adventurous shade of pink, Mulberry from C2 Paints, makes the blue sofa and gallery wall pop even more.

 

Rainbow

The lesson here is that blue looks good with literally every color in the rainbow. Designed by Kingston Lafferty, the artwork above the fireplace sets the tone for the bold color-blocking happening throughout the space, including the light green ceiling, the tonal walls and mantel, the sputnik light, and the patterned chairs and drapes.

 

Purple

Eggplant and rich purples look elegant and romantic with the earth-toned neutrals and metallic fixtures in this dressing room by Heather Hilliard. The soft velvet blue upholstery on the chair brings in a cooler touch without clashing.

 

Sage Green

Here's a great example of a stylish space that uses blue as an accent rather than the foundational color. The sage features and orange details throughout this dining room designed by Heidi Caillier are complemented by the antique cream and blue rug, classic wood table, and black chairs for a nicely balanced and eclectic finish.

 

Brown and Yellow

Blue goes nicely with chocolate brown, making this cheetah-print and floral motif fabric in a bedroom by Anna Spiro Design the perfect accessory for bright sky-blue walls.

 

Turquoise and Red

When it comes to designing a guest bedroom, you can't go wrong with a timeless and contemporary approach. And in that case, neutral colors and primary mainstays usually reign supreme. Here, Heather Hilliard anchored the space with a turquoise bed frame and crisp white bedding, then used a fun curtain to introduce some splashes of cobalt blue and red to the mix.

 

Mint Green

In this living room designed by Thomas Jayne and William Cullum, mint green fills the space with a fresh, invigorating mood. The red and blue introduce more depth and intensity to the light paint.

 

Pale Peach

A mix of layered muted yellows, greens, and pinks blends well in this eclectic bedroom designed by Heidi Caillier. The blue coverlet ensures that the color scheme doesn't look too matchy-matchy and formulaic, and the pink pieces' peachy undertones complement the yellow armchair.

 

Red and Gray-Brown

Kim Alexandruik's motto is, "Go for impact." Use an entry or hallway as an excuse to play with unusual seating and colorful artwork that may be harder to integrate into other rooms. Her color of choice is a "putty-colored gray, with a hint of pink and lavender. Not too light, so it doesn't go vapid," says Aleandruik. Use this hallway designed by Mally Skok, which incorporates gray-brown, red, and several shades of blue, as inspiration.

 

Burnt Orage

If you weren't sure you wanted to use blue in your bedroom before, you probably do now. ETC.etera gave classic blue and white toile a new life by mixing it with cheeky faux molding walls and a geometric burnt orange pillow.

 

 

Tangerine

Country-style terra-cotta tiles get a modern update in this kitchen designed by Dries Otten with a playful bright orange backsplash and sky blue cabinetry. Sky blue and bright tangerine sit opposite one another on the color wheel, which makes them perfect complements. Here's how the combo plays out in a fun, well-designed kitchen.