Blue Bedroom Ideas — 15 Spaces That Play Up the Calming and Relaxing Quality of This Color
From deep, dark shades to cool, tranquil tones, here's a how to use blue to create bedrooms that are restful, moody or even fun
- 1. Go for a moody wall color
- 2. Choose a bright blue rug
- 3. Or blue wallpaper
- 4. Paint the ceiling blue
- 5. Color drench the room in blue
- 6. Get creative with blue paint
- 7. Go for a bold blue four poster bed
- 8. Consider blue fitted storage in your bedroom
- 9. Pick a gray toned blue for a cool contemporary look
- 10. Pair blue with tones taken from the color wheel
- 11. Go for a classic blue and white combo
- 12. Add depth to a blue bedroom with forest green
- 13. Warm up cool toned blues with rusty red shades
- 14. Make bright colors pop against darker walls
- 15. Create a soothing sophisticated space with blue and gray
It's safe to say that blue bedrooms are a safe choice. It's a common color to find in a bedroom because of its restful qualities This shade, seen abundantly in nature, can create a perfectly calming oasis.
It's a versatile hue, too. The deep, dark shades of navy look elegant and modern, and play well with almost any style of decor. Lighter tones of baby blue, or pastels can conjure up a playful, contemporary sceme. Colors such as turquoise and cobalt have a vibrancy and can work well in more maximalist bedrooms. There's a whole world to explore when it comes to blue.
If you too are allured by this crowd-pleasing hue and want to update your bedroom color scheme, then these examples will help you out.
1. Go for a moody wall color
For a soothing and restful bedroom, go for a dark green-blue that creates a moody, tranquil vibe and layer the scheme with a gray bedding, as seen in this bedroom idea. Wood tones especially look great in such a scheme.
“Similar to the living room in this project, we wanted to give this heritage space a unique color palette separate to the rest of the home," shares Sarah Reid, design principal at S R & O. "Using the millwork timber color scheme as our base, we formulated a deep, moody blue-green which creates an intimate, calm and peaceful environment.”
2. Choose a bright blue rug
If you want to go in for a bold teal or navy blue bedroom but are worried you might tire of the look in a few years, consider using this tone on elements that are flexible and replaceable. For instance, the bedroom rug or curtains. Limit the hue to a single accent and drench the rest of the room in more subdued tones. This will also allow your colorful accent piece to become the most eye-catching element in the room.
"I wanted to design a statement bedroom, using unique colors, textures, and even the shape of the furniture," says interior designer Tim Veresnovsky, who used a bright blue carpet n this intriguing scheme. "The bed itself is finished with artificial leather, to match the walls and the carpet adds an accent to the room."
3. Or blue wallpaper
"This bedroom was designed to be soothing but also hotel chic," shares Michelle Gage, founder and creative director at Michelle Gage Interior Design. "We wanted the bedroom to feel like a boutique hotel so we started with the gray and white palette — clean, simple. From there, we layered in bits of blue — lighter tones in the wool rug and bone console and dark navy tones in the window treatments, bedding, and poufs."
For a truly whimsical, country feel, choose a bedspread in similar patterns to the bedroom wallpaper. You can balance the scheme with muted furniture.
4. Paint the ceiling blue
If you're in the process of designing the kids room and want to give it a fun flair, consider interesting blue bedroom ideas to create a fun, engaging space. Perhaps paint the ceiling a watery-blue, while covering the walls in wallpaper. Using this tone on the ceiling will allow it to double up as a neutral upon which you can add brighter accents.
"I love to spread out our design onto all surfaces," says interior designer Lucy Harris. "I wanted to celebrate the huge structural beams on the ceiling in this room. I also like the idea of the kids lying in bed and looking up at the sky. We did this by painting the ceiling a color that we picked out from the wallpaper. I love that the ceiling beams form an irregular pattern."
5. Color drench the room in blue
Look at interesting blue color bedroom ideas to truly set the stage for a meditative space. To design a indulgent room, consider color drenching it in a relaxing, mid-tone shade of blue. "In the bedroom, we want to feel rejuvenated and energized as we wake up, and safe and relaxed as we wind down for sleep, so colors should be soothing and not overwhelming," says health and wellbeing-focused interior designer Oliver Heath. "Choose calming, natural color schemes of blues, greens, and browns."
If you choose a slightly darker shade of blue, the room could feel a bit too closed in. This is why, it's important to choose the right bedroom lighting to ensure your space doesn't feel too dingy. Experts recommend a good combination of ceiling lights and table lamps.
6. Get creative with blue paint
If you have a smaller bedroom, you might be tempted to keep the scheme white or pale to try and reflect any natural light you have coming in through the windows, but this doesn't mean you can't have fun with colored paint on the walls.
Instead of going over the walls and ceilings in blue hue, do as Studio Nato have done in this Brooklyn home, going just a third up the wall with the blue-green paint while keeping the ceiling and upper part of the walls white and bright. "Painting datum lines like this is something we have done in other projects too, where we used lime wash," says Nathan Cuttle, founder of Studio Nato. "We find it often works well in brownstones or apartments with period details. It acts as a nod to the period style, like a modern interpretation of a wainscot or chair rail. It can be playful as well when you start layering in colorful furniture or when you continue the painted line across doors or window trims."
7. Go for a bold blue four poster bed
Blue bedroom ideas aren't just about paint, why not go bold with your use of blue in the bedroom with a brilliant canopy frame like this, by designer Shawn Henderson? This four-poster bed adds drama and interest to the room and can make for a beautiful focal point in the center of the space. Four poster beds aren't just about using metal, it can be a great way to add a color pop and texture.
Here, this electric blue upholstered frame works beautifully against the elegant crown molding details, and the ottoman at the end of the bed adds to the color theme. Although draping fabric over the canopy softens the look, leaving the structure bare is even more striking. "Canopy beds offer an element of refined romance to a bedroom space," says Nidhi Kapur, founder and CEO of Maiden Home. "The statuesque profile of a four-poster bed creates a natural statement, and choosing a mixed material piece in bold colors can add a modern feel."
8. Consider blue fitted storage in your bedroom
Bedroom storage is typically fitted in creams, grays, and neutral tones that are flexible over time, adjusting nicely to any interior design changes you might make in your bedroom. But why not go for blue fitted storage, as seen here in a beautiful dusky, grey-blue shade from LEMA?
This makes for a good look if you want a bit of color in a pared-back scheme. Invest in beautiful bronze or brass handles, T bars or edge pulls to give the door a beautiful shine, and go floor-to-ceiling height to make the most of the space. Yes — it’s a difficult-to-reach space, but the simple addition of a ladder can help you out and make for a charming, rustic addition to your room.
"More than materials and colors, today’s general trend is to favor wardrobes that can fully maximize the spatial layout of a specific living environ," says Steve Leung of Steve Leung Design. "Generally speaking, fitted wardrobes are now taking the centre stage."
9. Pick a gray toned blue for a cool contemporary look
Cool, denim blue color bedroom ideas have a very calming laid-back look that's perfect for bedrooms. This is also a good color for getting a good night's sleep. Paint the walls with a grey/blue and then add depth by layering deeper, indigo tones and steely grey shades. If the space feels too cool, add few accents of deep red.
"Colors have psychological effects — it's science," say Rob Abrahams and Rob Green of COAT Paints. "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."
10. Pair blue with tones taken from the color wheel
If you have a neutral bedroom but want to add a touch of color, consider blue bedroom ideas that lean more towards a soft, pale shade of the color. In this Upper East Side home designed by Ries Hayes, the rust-red tints and browns in the room balance beautifully with the choice of blue on the walls and the ottoman at the end of the bed, creating a layered and relaxed scheme.
"Layering different shades of blue and brown, and mixing in textiles enhances the impact of an uncomplicated yet sophisticated color palette in a small space," says Priscilla Elasi of The Stylesmiths.
11. Go for a classic blue and white combo
You can't go wrong with a classic blue and white bedroom 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 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.
"Blue and white is a classic color combination," says Helen Shaw, director of Benjamin Moore. "Usually associated with a nautical look and aspiring to evoke a sense of the freedom associated with holidays/vacations and the allure of nature. With hundreds of shades to choose from blue and white can be paired to create a breadth of interior styles. Deep rich colors such as deep navy and dark blue look fantastic against a crisp white as the contrast is dramatic, yet calming. Lighter shades of blue also work well with whites, especially when trying to create an airy, clean feel."
12. Add depth to a blue bedroom with forest green
'Blue and green should never be seen' is something we all seem to have internalized and yet it's just not true. Blue and green come from the same side of the color wheel in color theory, so it makes sense that these cooler tones would complement each other as this bedroom proves. "Blue is a wonderful color to use in rooms where there are low levels of natural light and it is brought to life by layering it with highly contrasting colors such as green," says interior designer Nicola Harding.
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 lift those deeper tones. Up that calming feel by choosing soft textured fabrics like linens and velvet.
13. 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 as a color that goes with 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 bring subtlety 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.
14. Make bright colors pop against darker walls
Dark colour schemes often use 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 some neutral shades, as the gray headboard and bedlinen do in this bedroom. You still get that vibrant mix of colors but it keeps that overall calming vibe.
While creating such a scheme,ensure your room is well-lit. "Look to the ceiling lights and lamps, and make sure the bulbs have the maximum light output that is comfortable and functional," says Jennifer Morris, founder of JMorris Design. "A shift from 40 to 60 watts can make a big difference."
15. Create a soothing sophisticated space with blue and gray
Lean into blues cool tones and create a space that feels soothing and sophisticated by pairing blue with gray. Pale grays 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.
"I like to pair light gray with deeper colors as the most harmonious interiors mimic the natural world by combining warm with cool, and dark with light colors in an environment," says Amy Krane, architectural color consultant and founder of Amy Krane Color. "Light gray with navy or blue creates dynamic and interesting rooms."
What shade of 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 a light blue scheme and pair it 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 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.
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Aditi Sharma Maheshwari started her career at The Address (The Times of India), a tabloid on interiors and art. She wrote profiles of Indian artists, designers, and architects, and covered inspiring houses and commercial properties. After four years, she moved to ELLE DECOR as a senior features writer, where she contributed to the magazine and website, and also worked alongside the events team on India Design ID — the brand’s 10-day, annual design show. She wrote across topics: from designer interviews, and house tours, to new product launches, shopping pages, and reviews. After three years, she was hired as the senior editor at Houzz. The website content focused on practical advice on decorating the home and making design feel more approachable. She created fresh series on budget buys, design hacks, and DIYs, all backed with expert advice. Equipped with sizable knowledge of the industry and with a good network, she moved to Architectural Digest (Conde Nast) as the digital editor. The publication's focus was on high-end design, and her content highlighted A-listers, starchitects, and high-concept products, all customized for an audience that loves and invests in luxury. After a two year stint, she moved to the UK, and was hired at Livingetc. Currently, as the design editor, her focus is on kitchens and bathrooms and she covers exciting before/after projects, writes expert pieces on decor, color, and occasionally reviews exciting travel destinations.
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