Designer Picks: 9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Bold cobalt, inky indigo and moody midnight are just a few of the hues that can set a dramatic tone
We hear about designers making rooms “light and airy” all the time. The right blue paint, on the other hand, can set a dramatic tone. Blue hues can add some East Coast preppiness, tie antiques and modern furnishings together, cozy up a bedroom or provide crisp contrast to bright white. Below, the right saturated blues inspire everything from fashion designs in the office to a wonderful night’s sleep in the bedroom. Nine designers share the blue paints they used and why they love them.
2. Blue Note by Benjamin Moore
Rich blue wall paint helps tie together a range of styles in this New York City townhouse. “This was a really successful color — it made a great background for our mix of antiques, vintage and modern pieces. It really served to anchor them in a unifying surrounding,” architect and interior designer Joan Dineen says. “I think it is really unique in that ability.”
The designer also notes that the color can change along with the time of day. “It also responds beautifully to changes in light,” she says. “At night it is quite restrained and elegant, and daylight brings out its exuberance — we love it!”
Rich blue wall paint helps tie together a range of styles in this New York City townhouse. “This was a really successful color — it made a great background for our mix of antiques, vintage and modern pieces. It really served to anchor them in a unifying surrounding,” architect and interior designer Joan Dineen says. “I think it is really unique in that ability.”
The designer also notes that the color can change along with the time of day. “It also responds beautifully to changes in light,” she says. “At night it is quite restrained and elegant, and daylight brings out its exuberance — we love it!”
3. Compass Blue by Behr
An accent wall in deep cobalt energizes this multifunctional Los Angeles room, which primarily serves as an office for a clothing designer but doubles as a dining room. “She wanted something that was thought-provoking, which helps while she’s creating beautiful garments,” designer Beth Yuen says. “However, it also needed to be relaxing to set the mood when hosting a posh dinner with friends.”
The choice is working out swimmingly for creative work and elegant dinners. “We love the deep, true color of this paint, and it was the best fit. We find it similar to a sapphire,” Yuen says. “Our client couldn’t be happier with the result. She has found it to be inspiring to her latest designs.”
Browse dining room tables in the Houzz Shop
An accent wall in deep cobalt energizes this multifunctional Los Angeles room, which primarily serves as an office for a clothing designer but doubles as a dining room. “She wanted something that was thought-provoking, which helps while she’s creating beautiful garments,” designer Beth Yuen says. “However, it also needed to be relaxing to set the mood when hosting a posh dinner with friends.”
The choice is working out swimmingly for creative work and elegant dinners. “We love the deep, true color of this paint, and it was the best fit. We find it similar to a sapphire,” Yuen says. “Our client couldn’t be happier with the result. She has found it to be inspiring to her latest designs.”
Browse dining room tables in the Houzz Shop
4. Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore
Preppy and classic, navy blue was an apt choice for this New England bedroom. “Hale Navy is a classic, true navy blue — it can ground a moody space or highlight a more poppy, energetic space,” interior designer Tyler Karu says. “It looks especially beautiful with clean, white elements or various wood tones.”
Bedding: Bellora and Garnet Hill
Preppy and classic, navy blue was an apt choice for this New England bedroom. “Hale Navy is a classic, true navy blue — it can ground a moody space or highlight a more poppy, energetic space,” interior designer Tyler Karu says. “It looks especially beautiful with clean, white elements or various wood tones.”
Bedding: Bellora and Garnet Hill
5. Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
In this Los Angeles bedroom, indigo walls inspire a deep slumber. “I love to employ deeper, darker colors on bedroom walls to establish mood and coziness,” interior designer Lindsay Pennington says. “Hague Blue is an inky indigo that is neither too green nor too purple. Though it’s quite dark, it’s not oppressive, as the white bedding, mirrored nightstands, crystal lamps and metallic ceiling reflect the light pouring in from the windows.” The designer also notes that this paint is timeless and that in addition to walls, it also works beautifully on cabinetry and millwork.
In this Los Angeles bedroom, indigo walls inspire a deep slumber. “I love to employ deeper, darker colors on bedroom walls to establish mood and coziness,” interior designer Lindsay Pennington says. “Hague Blue is an inky indigo that is neither too green nor too purple. Though it’s quite dark, it’s not oppressive, as the white bedding, mirrored nightstands, crystal lamps and metallic ceiling reflect the light pouring in from the windows.” The designer also notes that this paint is timeless and that in addition to walls, it also works beautifully on cabinetry and millwork.
6. Devine Macaw by Devine Paints
“I love this description from the Devine Paints website: ‘An independent pigment that sings its own song,’ ” architect Meriwether Felt says. And it certainly sings a pretty song in this crisp Minnesota kitchen, which belongs to a homeowner whose favorite color is blue. “This blue color also contains a fair amount of gray, which helps it play so well with other colors,“ Felt says.
Here those colors include warm honey in the wide-plank fir floors, contrasting white on the walls and trim and leafy greens outside the window. “This remodel is such a warm and happy home,” the architect says. “Putting the blue on the base cabinets helps ground the room and pair it with the complementary color of the floor.”
“I love this description from the Devine Paints website: ‘An independent pigment that sings its own song,’ ” architect Meriwether Felt says. And it certainly sings a pretty song in this crisp Minnesota kitchen, which belongs to a homeowner whose favorite color is blue. “This blue color also contains a fair amount of gray, which helps it play so well with other colors,“ Felt says.
Here those colors include warm honey in the wide-plank fir floors, contrasting white on the walls and trim and leafy greens outside the window. “This remodel is such a warm and happy home,” the architect says. “Putting the blue on the base cabinets helps ground the room and pair it with the complementary color of the floor.”
7. Deep Royal by Benjamin Moore
This paint was a great fit for a waterfront home bathed in Florida’s bright light. “This hue creates a tranquil mood and reflects the deep color of the water in late evening,” interior designer Priscilla Hyatt says. “It is also a perfect backdrop for crisp white furnishings.”
This paint was a great fit for a waterfront home bathed in Florida’s bright light. “This hue creates a tranquil mood and reflects the deep color of the water in late evening,” interior designer Priscilla Hyatt says. “It is also a perfect backdrop for crisp white furnishings.”
8. Old Navy by Benjamin Moore
Interior designer Noz Nozawa loves this hue so much she used it in her own bedroom. “I painted the bedroom this very rich navy because the room is actually larger than I’d like — my favorite bedrooms to sleep in feel cozy and den-like,” she says. “These navy walls make the corners fade away so the bed feels draped — almost hugged — by the room.”
Nozawa also loves the way dark bedroom walls make white sheets feel “extra crisp and clean” by contrast. “Old Navy in particular just has a Goldilocks perfection about it: not too saturated, not too mute, not too dark, not too blue-blue … it’s just right,” she says.
Interior designer Noz Nozawa loves this hue so much she used it in her own bedroom. “I painted the bedroom this very rich navy because the room is actually larger than I’d like — my favorite bedrooms to sleep in feel cozy and den-like,” she says. “These navy walls make the corners fade away so the bed feels draped — almost hugged — by the room.”
Nozawa also loves the way dark bedroom walls make white sheets feel “extra crisp and clean” by contrast. “Old Navy in particular just has a Goldilocks perfection about it: not too saturated, not too mute, not too dark, not too blue-blue … it’s just right,” she says.
9. In the Midnight Hour by Benjamin Moore
Blue walls make this bedroom extra inviting during cold Minnesota winters. “This deep blue shade is calm and tranquil,” interior designer Carrie Ellington says. “The color looks inviting against white trim and millwork but also casts a moody backdrop in a space.”
Blue walls make this bedroom extra inviting during cold Minnesota winters. “This deep blue shade is calm and tranquil,” interior designer Carrie Ellington says. “The color looks inviting against white trim and millwork but also casts a moody backdrop in a space.”
Ready to do a deep dive into blue? Please note that paint colors can look very different depending on the light in your space, and it’s really tough to gauge from your computer screen or a tiny paint chip. To really know what you’re getting, test a large swath of paint and look at it during different times of the day and night with different lighting options.
Wall paint: AF Mysterious, Benjamin Moore
Tell us: Have you used saturated blue in your home, or would you? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
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Wall paint: AF Mysterious, Benjamin Moore
Tell us: Have you used saturated blue in your home, or would you? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Join the Navy: Deep, Dark Blue Is a Team Player
How to Hire a Painter to Do Your Interiors
Find a painting professional
Shop for paint products
Saturated blue makes a soothing and nostalgic first impression in this California entry. Since the family has East Coast roots, interior designer Benjamin Dhong wanted to infuse some of that flavor into the home. “The color reminded me of old Williamsburg — a Colonial feel — but still felt fresh,” he says.
The designer painted the walls and the trim in the same hue. “It’s a very deep color but still has an inner light and plays with the light beautifully,” Dhong says. He also notes that the antique French barometer on the wall “really pops” against this blue.
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