Decorating: Is Indigo the New Grey?
Is dark blue the new grey? Find out how this stunning deep blue can transform your home
Do you find yourself leaning towards the darker end of colour swatches, but don’t quite fancy the deep greys and charcoals that seem to be everywhere? If so, perhaps it’s time to experiment with indigo in your interior.
This classic shade is a deep, dark, inky blue with a slight hint of warm violet that can transform a room into a wonderfully cosy cocoon. Although it’s not exactly new – Indigo Night was Dulux’s colour of the year for 2013 – it’s catching on in a big way. So, take the plunge and get the blues – but in a good way!
This classic shade is a deep, dark, inky blue with a slight hint of warm violet that can transform a room into a wonderfully cosy cocoon. Although it’s not exactly new – Indigo Night was Dulux’s colour of the year for 2013 – it’s catching on in a big way. So, take the plunge and get the blues – but in a good way!
Mix with mustard and violet
Try describing it to a friend and you’re likely to be met with a puzzled expression, but somehow this elegant colour combo works perfectly. With indigo as the backdrop, mustard (from the opposite side of the colour wheel) is perfect on accessories as a contrasting counterpoint. And deep violet works brilliantly alongside it because indigo already contains a hint of this warm shade.
Try describing it to a friend and you’re likely to be met with a puzzled expression, but somehow this elegant colour combo works perfectly. With indigo as the backdrop, mustard (from the opposite side of the colour wheel) is perfect on accessories as a contrasting counterpoint. And deep violet works brilliantly alongside it because indigo already contains a hint of this warm shade.
Enhance a bedroom
Here, a combination of indigo, mustard and violet – along with dashes of green – have been used to create a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing sleep space. To avoid overpowering the room, the indigo element has been limited to the panelling, with white walls above and simple bedding to keep the space feeling clean and fresh.
Here, a combination of indigo, mustard and violet – along with dashes of green – have been used to create a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing sleep space. To avoid overpowering the room, the indigo element has been limited to the panelling, with white walls above and simple bedding to keep the space feeling clean and fresh.
Bring it into the kitchen
A shot of indigo, particularly when teamed with white, can do wonders to revive a tired kitchen scheme. Paint an island unit or a tall bank of cupboards in this shade to add character, or perhaps experiment with a few smaller hints of it by painting shelves and stools. Finish by adding indigo pendant lights to dot the colour around the room.
Discover tips on choosing the perfect kitchen cupboards
A shot of indigo, particularly when teamed with white, can do wonders to revive a tired kitchen scheme. Paint an island unit or a tall bank of cupboards in this shade to add character, or perhaps experiment with a few smaller hints of it by painting shelves and stools. Finish by adding indigo pendant lights to dot the colour around the room.
Discover tips on choosing the perfect kitchen cupboards
Combine with white
Indigo is a bold shade and it’s not for the faint-hearted in large quantities. So try distilling its impact by teaming it with lighter shades of blue, such as aqua and turquoise, and crisp white for a fresh, funky edge. It’s a great colour combo for a midcentury scheme with geometric patterns, like this one, and works brilliantly teamed with vintage teak furniture.
Indigo is a bold shade and it’s not for the faint-hearted in large quantities. So try distilling its impact by teaming it with lighter shades of blue, such as aqua and turquoise, and crisp white for a fresh, funky edge. It’s a great colour combo for a midcentury scheme with geometric patterns, like this one, and works brilliantly teamed with vintage teak furniture.
Create a Moroccan feel
From highly decorative tiles to the rich blue of Berber robes, indigo is used extensively in Morocco, and orange is its perfect contrasting bedfellow. It’s a failsafe combo. Team it with swathes of crisp white, geometric motifs and punched-metal pendant lights that throw patterns across the walls and ceiling to create a wonderful Marrakech vibe in your home.
From highly decorative tiles to the rich blue of Berber robes, indigo is used extensively in Morocco, and orange is its perfect contrasting bedfellow. It’s a failsafe combo. Team it with swathes of crisp white, geometric motifs and punched-metal pendant lights that throw patterns across the walls and ceiling to create a wonderful Marrakech vibe in your home.
Paint the fireplace, too
Sometimes it’s tricky deciding what to do with your fireplace when embarking on a complete change of wall colour. Will a light shade jar and look incongruous alongside indigo walls? Painting the fire surround indigo as well as the walls could be the answer, especially in a quirky room like this, where there’s a lot going on. Notice how the mustard curtains and antique gold picture frames provide a welcome contrast, too.
Browse 10 easy ways to improve a period fireplace
Sometimes it’s tricky deciding what to do with your fireplace when embarking on a complete change of wall colour. Will a light shade jar and look incongruous alongside indigo walls? Painting the fire surround indigo as well as the walls could be the answer, especially in a quirky room like this, where there’s a lot going on. Notice how the mustard curtains and antique gold picture frames provide a welcome contrast, too.
Browse 10 easy ways to improve a period fireplace
Blend in a bookcase
If you’re aiming for a cocoon-like feel in your home office, you’ll want your built-in furniture to blend in with your freshly painted indigo walls. Use a satinwood paint in the same shade for your woodwork to achieve this. If you want to go even further, give radiators a makeover, too, by painting them in the same shade.
If you’re aiming for a cocoon-like feel in your home office, you’ll want your built-in furniture to blend in with your freshly painted indigo walls. Use a satinwood paint in the same shade for your woodwork to achieve this. If you want to go even further, give radiators a makeover, too, by painting them in the same shade.
Highlight a statement piece
If you’re a fan of the unfitted mix-and-match approach to kitchens, and like to blend inherited or vintage freestanding furniture with fitted units, then try painting a favourite dresser or cabinet in indigo. It’s a great way to make your treasured piece stand out and create a fabulous focal point.
See 11 ways to incorporate inherited pieces into your décor
If you’re a fan of the unfitted mix-and-match approach to kitchens, and like to blend inherited or vintage freestanding furniture with fitted units, then try painting a favourite dresser or cabinet in indigo. It’s a great way to make your treasured piece stand out and create a fabulous focal point.
See 11 ways to incorporate inherited pieces into your décor
Keep it subtle
If you’re after something a little less full-on for your bathroom, try a nod to indigo with a small amount of painted woodwork, like this basin unit, instead. Transforming an old chest of drawers or table into a vanity always scores highly in the style stakes, so highlight your fantastic find with a shot of indigo. Incidentally, this shade works wonderfully with a copper basin, too.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of indigo, and have you used it in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
If you’re after something a little less full-on for your bathroom, try a nod to indigo with a small amount of painted woodwork, like this basin unit, instead. Transforming an old chest of drawers or table into a vanity always scores highly in the style stakes, so highlight your fantastic find with a shot of indigo. Incidentally, this shade works wonderfully with a copper basin, too.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of indigo, and have you used it in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Blue has always been a popular shade for the bathroom, but often veers towards the lighter, aqua end of the spectrum. In a larger space, however, bold indigo can create a sumptuous and elegant feel. This homeowner has been particularly brave and covered the ceiling and woodwork in indigo, making bathtime feel like stepping into an entirely different world.