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Cold tones often cause fear that the room will seem gloomy and uncomfortable. But in the right company, they add elegance to the interior, make it more spacious and voluminous, and emphasize the nobility of other colors. Blue looks especially beautiful in different manifestations: from thick indigo to light cornflower blue. In this article, we tell and show with illustrative examples what colors the blue color is combined with and how to organically fit it into any palette.

The best color combinations with blue — in our video

What colors go with blue in the interior

Peculiarities
The best combinations
— With white
— With beige
— With gray
— With orange and red
— with yellow
— With green and blue
Table

Peculiarities

In psychology, this color is associated with calmness, peace, stability, inner strength, wisdom. Thanks to these qualities, the combination of blue with other colors with a similar mood makes the interior truly relaxed and comfortable. But it is important not to overdo it with blue, because in large quantities, especially in decoration, it can put pressure on the psyche and cause blues. Therefore, complex cold shades are necessarily diluted with light and more cheerful ones.

This color scheme is quite versatile. It will suit creative individuals, businessmen, those who work a lot at home, just connoisseurs of elegant comfort. The perception of the interior at the same time can be completely different — depending on what colors the dark blue color or its lighter shades are combined with. He will find a place in both modern and classical directions.

When choosing a palette, consider a few important points:

• Cold tones create a feeling of coolness. Therefore, for example, cobalt or bluish-gray walls are suitable for a kitchen where it is often hot, a loggia or any room with large windows facing the sunny side. If there is little natural light or the room seems uncomfortable, it is better to take light neutral tones as a basis, and leave a bright cold tone for local accents.
• In any color scheme, it is important to adhere to a single color temperature. This does not mean that only warm or only cold spectrum can be used. The main thing is to maintain balance and avoid sharp contrast: for example, deep sapphire and yellow-beige in one area, without any halftones or smooth transitions.
• There should be only one bright element in a color pair. For example, a combination of red and blue colors in its pure form will quickly tire you, since both are active and will compete in the palette. Another thing is if you replace bright red with noble wine or signal blue with a more subdued option.
• Itten’s color wheel will help create a harmonious combination. This is the most popular palette selection tool used by professional designers. You just need to decide which combinations of colors with blue you like best (monochrome, complementary, contrasting), and find suitable elements on the circle. It is easiest to work with two or three components.
• Remember the 60/30/10 rule. The main tone accounts for about 60% of the palette, the additional one — 30%, the accent tone (there may be several) — about 10%. Blue in this case can play any role. The more part of the palette it will occupy, the more neutral the shade should be.

What colors go with blue in the interior

Let’s take a closer look at what colors blue goes best with.

White

White is a universal achromat that is “friends” with any elements of the palette, regardless of their color temperature and saturation. In fact, this is a blank canvas that does not draw attention to itself and does not distort the perception of other colors. In addition, white refreshes, fills the space with light and visually enlarges the area. To match it, you can choose the same airy blue or darker and more saturated variations: indigo, signal, sapphire, etc. This is a classic pair for the Mediterranean style, but it can be used in almost any direction: from scandi to neoclassical. If the room is small, it is better to use white for the walls and ceiling to correct the actual proportions.

Beige

This pair is often found in nature (sea and sand, cornflowers among the ears, etc.), so it always looks harmonious.

Most often, beige is taken as the basis — this is the ideal base tone for decoration and large furniture. Cool bluish and bluish accents will refresh it and keep the interior from turning into a boring flat space. And beige, in turn, will solve the main problem of all cold colors, making the room more comfortable. Such a pair will look good in any room, whether it be a bedroom, hallway, living room or nursery.

Grey

Just like white and black, gray is an achromat, so it feels great in any combination.

In the company of cobalt or celestial, it opens up, looks more elegant and more expensive. At the same time, it emphasizes the depth of blue without taking too much attention. Saturated shades are suitable for the role of an accent, but for wall decoration it is better to take more muted and diluted ones. The blue-gray gamma gives a sense of composure, is associated with the sky and air, makes the room cooler and fresher. Therefore, if the windows face north and there is little sun in the room, complement this pair with warm accents.

orange and red

One of the most spectacular is the combination of blue with orange and red.

Each of the elements is self-sufficient and active, so it is important to balance them correctly. Depending on the chosen shades, proportions and textures in the interior, such a combo will create a different mood: chamber, mysterious, solemn, active.

• A calm bluish background and any “edible” variations of red and orange are suitable for the kitchen: berry tones, peach, wine.
• Deep shades of red — burgundy, burgundy, ruby, pomegranate — will add intimacy to the bedroom.
• If you want to recharge your interior with cheerfulness, complement the blue-blue elements with slightly muted nuances of orange.

Yellow

Another pair conceived by nature itself is the sky and the sun on a clear day.

Yellow is «friends» with bright turquoise, muted cobalt, delicate cornflower blue. But since both elements are quite active, it is better to dilute them with a calm base. In the classic 60/30/10 scheme, most of the palette should be occupied by a neutral tone (for example, white, gray or beige), 30% — blue, 10% — accent yellow. Such a combo is associated with relaxation and the sun, fresh fruits, vacation at sea. Suitable for kitchen, nursery, living room.

Green and blue

To understand what colors dark blue is combined with, just look at Itten’s color wheel.

Harmoniously and at the same time, analog pairs and triples look spectacular — that is, combinations of 2-3 neighboring tones. In this case, the companions will be blue and green. Together they form a refreshing, but not flashy-bright ensemble that is suitable for decorating any room: kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, nursery, etc. Natural colors are easy to combine with each other, so you can experiment with such an analog combination. But do not forget to balance the colorful palette with neutral tones: gray, white, black, beige.

Combination table

This visual table will help you figure out what blue goes best and worst with. It is impossible to single out frankly unsuccessful combinations, however, there are classic win-win options and more complex pairs that require some experience in coloring in order to “make friends” shades.