The Best Blue Paints—From Calming Hues To Statement Shades
Bring on the blues for statement-making nooks that serve as calming retreats. Here, top designers share their best blue colors for creating beloved spaces that zhuzh up the zen.
ELEMENT OF STYLE
Photo: Julie Soefer
Nina Magon
Nina Magon Studio, Houston
Nickel by Benjamin Moore
“The lightness of the grayish blue color produces a calming and peaceful aesthetic, which is nice when work gets stressful. The blue hues stimulate the mind, leading to more productivity; they are ideal for staying focused!”
COLOR CRUSH
Photo: Matthew Millman
Jay Jeffers
Jay Jeffers, San Francisco
Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore
“We used this calming blue in a traditional San Francisco home. It gave the room some edge without compromising its original charm.”
NAUTICAL NODS
Photo: Cam Richards Photography
Cheryl Luckett
Dwell by Cheryl Interiors, Charlotte
Whirlpool by Sherwin Williams
“When we think calming, we often think light, but this deep blue with a touch of green feels like the bottom of the ocean and creates a soothing and enveloping look and feel.”
SATURATED STATEMENT
Photo: Gordon Gregory
Janie Molster
Janie Molster Designs, Richmond
Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
“The pigments are always consistent, staying true to tone regardless of exposure. The saturation makes it a fabulous foil for a dynamic contrast, say lemon yellow or petal pink. Paired with caramel leather and a Persian rug, it sings as the backdrop for this gentleman’s study.”
AIRY ALTERNATIVE
Photo: Tim Street Porter
Jeff Andrews
Jeff Andrews Design, Los Angeles
Skylight by Farrow & Ball
“This blue is more bright than gray. It looks perfect in a bedroom with bright, natural light.”
METROPOLITAN PALETTE
Photo: Brie Williams
Cathy Austin
Catherine M. Austin Interior Design, Charlotte
New York State of Mind by Benjamin Moore
“Using a vibrant color found in a painting as the background is a favorite design trick of mine. For this scullery, Benjamin Moore’s New York State of Mind was the perfect hue to highlight blue chip contemporary art by Bridget Riley, Lee Ufan and Tom LaDuke—and the lacquer adds another wow factor!”
UNDERSTATED GLAM
Photo: Tim Lenz
Heide Hendricks
Hendricks Churchill, Connecticut
Light Blue by Farrow & Ball
“We knew this color, with its serene properties and silvery gray tones, would lend depth of character to this space. The room has a wall of windows facing a river, so it offers the gentlest nod to the natural surroundings.”