12 blue bedroom ideas – from dark and moody schemes to light refreshing retreats

Blue bedroom ideas are a classic, no matter what shade you go for, blue is a look that's never going out of style. So you if you are ready to leave behind your neutral bedroom ways and test out color, we'd say blue is a safe place to start, and we have plenty of gorgeous spaces to inspire you. 

'Colors have psychological effects - it's science. The overall color and shade chosen can make a big difference to how you feel in a space. We're huge fans of blue, as it's so versatile and spans a lot of shades, from pale baby blue through to mid blues, and right up to the darkest blues that are almost black.' say Rob Abrahams and Rob Green of COAT Paints

Plus, blue is super versatile and can work with any style from uber-modern to rustic and beachy. It's also a color that can be paired with so many different shades so you can get really creative and bold with your bedroom color scheme.

1. Pick a grey toned blue for a cool contemporary look

Cool, denim blues always have a very calming laid back look that's perfect for bedrooms. Paint the walls with a grey/blue and then add in depth by layering up deeper, indigo tones and steely grey shades. If the space is then feeling a little too cool, be inspired by this blue bedroom and add in a few accents of deep red. 

2. Ground light blues with dark accents

Love a neutral bedroom but want to add just a hint of subtle color? A soft wash of pale blue creates a serene scheme that looks wonderful when layered with light greys, creams and white. Ground all those lighter shades and create a striking contrast by bringing in some darker accents – see how in this bedroom the deep wood of the four-poster bed, plus the black marble desk and lamp give the baby blue a more contemporary edge. 

'Rooms benefiting from natural sun light work well with nautical or coastal themes, the perfect combination of blues and whites can determine intensity of the look.' says Helen Shaw, Director of Benjamin Moore. 'Off white walls offer the perfect backdrop allowing you to layer the room with blue and rattan accessories, which ties in another key trend for this year. Blue walls also frame a coastal interior perfectly as it  balances intense sunlight while also maintaining a fresh and restorative feeling.'

3. Fake a dado rail in a small bedroom

In a small bedroom sometimes going all over with one color can be overwhelming, so instead, why not copy this look and go a quarter of the way up the wall with a blue and keep the rest of the walls neutral with a white or grey. Add more blue accents throughout the rest of the room with cushions and bedlinen to give it more of an overall blue scheme. This paint effect is also a great trick for creating the allusion of higher ceilings too. 

4. Go for a classic blue and white combo

You can't go wrong with a classic blue and white combination. It's fresh, light, and breezy, perfect for a bedroom. However, don't just stick with one tone of blue, bring in lots of different shades so the white and blue that doesn't feel too flat and there's depth to the room. 

And mix patterns too. With such a simple color scheme you can afford to be a bit bold with your prints, as can be seen here with the ornate details of the paneled walls, the bold botanical bedding and matching headboard, and the more traditional floral print of the throw pillows.

5. Add depth to a blue bedroom with forest green 

Blue and green should never be seen is something we all have seem to internalized and yet it's just not true. Blue and green come from the same side of the color wheel so it makes sense that these cooler tones would in fact complement each other as this bedroom proves. 

Pair cool-toned blue walls with touches of deep forest green for a serene space, and bring in plenty of crisp white to add some contrast and to lift those deeper tones. Up that calming feel by choosing soft textured fabrics like linens and velvet. 

6. Pick a barely there sky blue for a light and airy feel

A barely-there blue can almost act as a neutral in a bedroom, adding just a very subtle swathe of color, however, it's when you pair it with bolder colors the scheme really comes alive. 

In this bedroom splashes of pink and accents of dark red really pop against the pale blue walls in a way they just wouldn't if the walls were kept white. The blue is calming and cooling and the pink adds some punch but also warms up those cooler tones – it's the perfect balance.

7. Paint the ceiling as an alternative feature wall

Far more statement and on-trend than a feature wall, painted ceilings are everywhere right now. Say goodbye to a bland white ceiling and get creative with color. A blue ceiling, whether you opt for something dark and dramatic or light and airy will create an instant calming, cocooning feel. This works particularly well in smaller bedrooms, or ones that lack natural light as you can keep the walls light and bright and add the more dramatic hues on the ceiling. 

8. Choose dark and moody blues for a enveloping scheme 

Let's not ignore the other end of the spectrum, those dark moody blues that are having a bit of a moment right now. Despite being quite dramatic, a deep blue is actually a far more livable shade than you might first think, especially if instead of going in with a dark blue paint pick a wallpaper instead filled with soft inky blues, so the walls feel less two dimensional. 

And don't be afraid to go dark in a small space either, in fact, these moodier hues are some of the best colors for small bedrooms. As Rob Abrahams and Rob Green, founders of COAT Paints say, 'Contrary to what people think, darker blues can actually make a small bedroom feel bigger, as they blur the hard edges of a space by absorbing the light, so you can actually get a really cozy feel with these darker shades.'

9. Design a blue scheme with prints and furnishings

Speaking of bedroom wallpaper ideas, design a stylish blue bedroom isn't all about the paint. You can bring in those blue tones with prints, decor, and furniture too. Pick a wallpaper that has hints of blue and choose a blue headboard to be the focal point of your space. Having just these accents of color creates a color scheme that feels bluer without overwhelming the space with solid blue walls. 

10. Warm up cool toned blues with rusty red shades

Red is having a bit of a renaissance in the world of interiors right now, and while it can be a bold shade to decorate with, especially in the bedroom, you can balance out this fiery shade with a calming blue. To get this pairing right, avoid a 50/50 split, you want the room to be more blue than red, and choose more rusty reds rather than anything too primary.

This blue bedroom gets it spot on. Simple sky blue walls with a lovely traditional muted red brought in subtly with the striped headboard and matching lampshade. There's a vintage feel here that makes this bold combination more calming and suitable for a bedroom. 

11. Make bright colors pop against darker walls

Dark walls always make bolder, brighter colors pop as demonstrated here with the accents of yellow and orange. While, yellow and blue may sound like a bold combination, you can easily tone it down by adding in some neutral shades, as the grey headboard and bedlinen do in this bedroom. You still get that vibrant mix of colors but it keeps that overall calming vibe. 

12. Create a soothing sophisticated space with blue and grey

Lean into blues cool tones and create a space that feels really soothing and sophisticated by pairing blue with grey. Pale greys and deep indigo blues work beautifully together in this space. It's a steely color palette, but as this bedroom shows that doesn't mean it can't be cozy and inviting too – it's all about adding in plenty of texture. Tactile fabrics like rich velvet and slubby linen, plus the raw edges of the throw, soften the cool tones creating a cocooning, inviting space. 

What color blue is good for a bedroom?

The best shade of blue for a bedroom will depend on the overall look you want to achieve, plus the size and aspect of your space should be taken into consideration too. 

If your room is filled with light and you want to embrace that bright and airy feel, stick with light blues and pair them with whites and layers of neutral tones for a classic, calming look. If you prefer a more dramatic look, opting for deep navy blues and midnight hues will create a cozy cocooning space that actually works perfectly in a smaller bedroom or in spaces that lacks natural light. Just be sure to order samples so you can test out different shades in your space and see how it looks in different lights at different times of the day. 

What color goes with blue in a bedroom?

Blue pairs well with so many different colors since there are so many variations to choose from. It means you can quite easily pair it with most other shades on the color wheel. However,  there are some pairings work that better than others, and you do want to be just a bit wary of how certain undertones will work together.

White and blue are a classic combination that's always going to work and despite its traditionally nautical feel it can be adapted to suit any style. Orange and blues can create a gorgeous bedroom color scheme too, with those warmer tones adding some vibrancy into a cool color palette. And of course, there's everyone's favorite, pink and blue, these rosy tones work wonderfully with a dark blue, for a look that's both bold and timeless.