Shades of blue: Don’t be too matchy-matchy
Over at The Design File, we’ve talked about the fact that turquoise is the Pantone color of the year, but it may actually be a combination of turquoise and blues that really makes things seem effortless.
“The classic color combination of blue and white will never go out of style,” reports 
MyHomeIdeas.com. “But the modern way to use blue is a confident mix of related colors: turquoise, aqua, cobalt, and robin’s egg all layered for an easy, fresh look.”
Look at the contemporary room at right from BHG.
The shades of blue – sky blue, cobalt and gray-blue – all come from the abstract painting in the dining area.
The painting just brings together all the various shades, making the mismatch intentional.
But you don’t necessarily need art or a pattern or some other accent to bring it together. You can use a whole palette of blue shades and still have a cohesive room.
Look at the bedroom below from Southern Accents and now on MyHomeIdeas.com. The photo by Roger Davies shows just how many shades this designer used – in the headboard, the pillows, the dhurrie rug, even the curtains. And then that lamp is the perfect pop of turquoise.
The country living below from All You also brings together a large number of blue shades for a completely different – yet still quite cohesive – look. In this case, the colors are largely pulled from the beautiful patchwork quilt.
I really love that in the Bohemian-chic room from BHG below the turquoise sheers are used with the sky blue wall. I would not have thought to do it but the result – particularly when combined with the orange accents and yet another shade of blue in the rug – is modern and fun.
Finally, the Coastal Living bedroom below combines a pale aqua with cobalt – and leaves the walls white so the blues become the focal point. The photo at MyHomeIdeas.com was taken by Savage Gibson.
Want more color ideas for your home? Try out these posts:
More orange – a beautiful accent too
Black and white rooms to honor the Indy 500
Color trends for kids’ rooms
Popularity: 1% [?]
Welcome back!
#1 Lauralee Hensley on June 16, 2010:
I agree, it looks better if it’s not so matchy, matchy.