Is there any meaning behind blue walls?

Walls are often painted blue to create a calm, serene space. However, this relaxing environment only applies to some blues. Bright cobalt can be over-stimulating, and pastel blues can feel cold and icy.

What kinds of flooring go well with blue walls?

Depending on the shade of blue, wood floors in gray, cream, and dark brown all work well. Use the same colors for carpeting or tile, or try yellow or pink carpeting for a playful note of color. Keep the floors warmer since blue tends to be a cool color.

How can you make blue walls feel warm?

Pick a blue with more gray or yellow undertones for a warmer feel. Accessorize and furnish the room with warmer tones, such as orange, yellow, or brown, to make cooler blues feel more welcoming. Doors, moldings, and window treatments in white or gray with hints of yellow can also add warmth to a blue room.

17 Distinctive Ways to Decorate with Blue Walls in Every Shade

Blue Bedroom Walls

dark blue guest bedroom with moroccan-inspired colorful decor — Kim Cornelison

A saturated shade of teal blue walls brings warmth to this boho-inspired blue bedroom. The dark wall color is lightened up with an eclectic mix of textures and colors, including mustard yellow and hot pink. White bedding and furnishings stand out against the blue walls for a high-contrast look.

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Blue-Gray Walls

dining room with muted blue painted interior brick — David Land

Blue walls with distinct gray undertones can act more like a neutral than a traditional color. This blue-gray wall color creates a sophisticated backdrop that lets an oversized, colorful artwork take center stage. Pale wood flooring and window treatments with a subtle ombre effect visually recede to keep the focus on the vibrant yellows, pinks, and greens in the art.

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Glossy Blue Living Room Walls

Living room with patterned rug and blue walls — Helen Norman

Dark colors are often assumed to make rooms appear smaller, but a high-gloss sheen can help achieve the opposite effect. Here, deep blue walls reflect light around to help visually expand the small living room. Warm brass accents pair with coral and magenta tones to create a lively space that feels anything but dark and gloomy.

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Navy Blue Walls

Dining Room with Navy Woodwork Blue White Rug — Anthony Masterson Photography

Navy blue is a classic wall color that works well in formal spaces like dining rooms. However, try pairing the color with energetic shades of pastel pink, mint green, or turquoise for a look that's more whimsical than serious. Incorporate off-white or ivory hues elsewhere to balance the palette.

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Blue Living Rooms Ideas

blue living room payphone art on fireplace mantel — Annie Schlechter

Painting an entire room one color can foster an intimate, comforting atmosphere. The sapphire blue walls in this living room are the same shade that covers the fireplace mantel, surround, wall trim, and ceiling. Accented with brown leather and faded red, the effect is luxurious and inviting.

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Steel-Blue Walls

blue green master bedroom with rug dark wood accents and white bed sheets — Designer Cecily Mendell's bedroom painted with Caspian from Portola Paints. Erin Kunkel

Blue walls pair well with nearly all neutral shades, including white, brown, gray, and black. When selecting the right color to pair with blue, try varying the temperatures in your palette. In this bedroom, for example, warm neutrals supplied by wood floors, a cowhide rug, and accents made from natural materials help balance the cool tones of the steel-blue walls.

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Blue Color Combinations

Dark blue walls with orange chair and shelving — Dustin Halleck

Hues that appear opposite each other on the color wheel, called complementary colors, form dynamic combinations that naturally work well. Blue and orange are two such colors that look good together in a variety of tints. When used in saturated shades, like the cobalt blue walls and vibrant orange chair seen here, this color scheme creates a high-energy, striking look.

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Navy Blue Bedroom Walls

high-contrast navy blue bedroom — Anthony Masterson

Considered one of the most relaxing colors, navy blue walls are ideal for bedrooms. This soothing shade helps create a cocoon-like atmosphere ideal for sleeping spaces. Lighten the look with white trim or cream-colored bedding and decor to keep dark navy walls from looking too somber.

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Blue and White Walls

If an all-blue living room feels like too much of a commitment, use wall treatments to embrace a two-tone look. In this living area, dark navy and burnt orange hues are balanced out with clean white wainscoting. The chocolate brown sofa is a steady anchor in a room full of interesting wall treatments and contrasting colors.

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Blue Dining Room

blue and white dining room — Laurie Black Photography

Pairing icy blue walls with plenty of white accents helps the color come off as cool, not frigid. In this dining room, clean-lined chairs and light fixtures stay true to the simplistic mentality of the room. Wood finishes and a natural weave area rug soften the space, giving it a more organic feel.

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Dark Blue Walls in Small Spaces

teal entry way with mirror and tan dresser — Werner Straube

When using dark colors in small spaces, pair dark teal or navy blue walls with lighter woods such as maple, ash, or birch to make the room feel lighter. Incorporate whites or even very light grays to soften the look even further. Lighter oranges and yellows are accent colors that will always pop against deeper blues like teal and navy. Add gold picture frames and lamps for a little shine. The reflective surfaces will bounce light around the room.

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Light Blue Bedroom

bright bedroom with white, blue and green color scheme — Michael Garland

A delicate blue paint color covers the walls in this bedroom and is picked up again in the patterned curtains, stools, and throw pillows. The wall color is tinged with gray, which helps the hue read as neutral. The muted shade stands back to let other elements, such as the sculptural ivory headboard, stand out. Subtle patterns around the room draw the eye in for a closer look, while the few touches of pink create visual interest without overpowering.

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Blue Walls with Natural Colors

green and blue sitting room with paintings on walls — Werner Straube Photography

Natural colors like chocolate, mossy green, grays, and whites pair well with blue walls. The gray-blue paint color in this room has a plucked-from-nature look that works well with other cool, earthy colors. The green pillows and dove-gray couches help create a tranquil space. The walls are trimmed with bright white to keep the room from feeling too dark.

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Pale Blue Walls

pale blue sitting room with cream and crimson accents — Michael Partenio Productions

Blue takes a delicate turn when paired with shades of pink and furniture with graceful lines. The pale blue walls are subtle, but the hot pink hydrangeas and pillows pack plenty of punch to give the room a friendly ambiance. The cream furniture and area rug create a clean palette, leaving room to experiment with other colors in the future. Gilded picture frames jump off the powder blue walls.

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Blue Bedroom Ideas

pastel blue and white bedroom with poster beds — Ed Gohlich Photography Inc

Pale blue walls create a relaxed atmosphere in this bedroom. Shades of the wall color are used throughout the room, and the monochromatic palette is restrained yet serene and classic. Navy blue on the accent pillows, bed skirts, and accessories anchor the color palette. White linens bring extra light to the room without overpowering the shades of blue.

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Bold Blue Walls

blue sitting room with green chairs and fireplace — Michael Partenio Productions

For saturated paint colors like on these living room walls, timid accent colors in barely-there shades won't register against the intense wall color. Pair blue walls with equally vibrant colors to create a bold, daring look. Here, pea-green chairs stand out against the teal walls, while a coral color is used sparingly in the pillows, adding another punch of color to wake up the room.

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Blue Walls with Red Accents

blue living room with red and gold accents — Jean Allsopp

Sapphire blue finds a solid companion in ruby red. The classic color combination, especially jewel-box tones, adds a sense of tradition. This space has dark blue walls for a backdrop to the red accents scattered throughout the room. The neutral couch, chair, and area rug balance the bold hues. A white ceiling and trimwork brighten the look, making the small room feel slightly taller and more open.

More Paint Colors to Make Your Home Your Own

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any meaning behind blue walls?

Walls are often painted blue to create a calm, serene space. However, this relaxing environment only applies to some blues. Bright cobalt can be over-stimulating, and pastel blues can feel cold and icy.
What kinds of flooring go well with blue walls?

Depending on the shade of blue, wood floors in gray, cream, and dark brown all work well. Use the same colors for carpeting or tile, or try yellow or pink carpeting for a playful note of color. Keep the floors warmer since blue tends to be a cool color.
How can you make blue walls feel warm?

Pick a blue with more gray or yellow undertones for a warmer feel. Accessorize and furnish the room with warmer tones, such as orange, yellow, or brown, to make cooler blues feel more welcoming. Doors, moldings, and window treatments in white or gray with hints of yellow can also add warmth to a blue room.