How to Create a Timeless Blue and White Scheme
For a fresh, calm look in your home, go for this effortlessly stylish colour combination
Laura Wheat
16 May 2019
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
Some colour pairings go beyond trends to become true style perennials. Blue – from deep navy to palest duck egg – and white is one such classic that works in urban and country settings alike.
Try introducing simple white and blue elements into your home to see how this timeless combination imparts tranquillity and softness.
Try introducing simple white and blue elements into your home to see how this timeless combination imparts tranquillity and softness.
Let white shine
For an easy and subtle way to introduce blue into a white kitchen, showcase Delft-style ceramics. Here, pieces in numerous patterns – but all in blue and white – make a pleasing display. If you don’t have shelves in your kitchen, try hanging plates on the wall instead.
Copper pans and brass hardware add a little warmth while enhancing the homely vibe. A baby blue range cooker is a desirable addition, but stainless-steel would work, too.
Browse more images of brass-accented kitchens
For an easy and subtle way to introduce blue into a white kitchen, showcase Delft-style ceramics. Here, pieces in numerous patterns – but all in blue and white – make a pleasing display. If you don’t have shelves in your kitchen, try hanging plates on the wall instead.
Copper pans and brass hardware add a little warmth while enhancing the homely vibe. A baby blue range cooker is a desirable addition, but stainless-steel would work, too.
Browse more images of brass-accented kitchens
Try alongside timber
If blue’s a little on the cool side for you, try introducing lots of texture via natural materials, such as timber. The colour palette in this immaculate open-plan living space is warmed nicely by the oak chevron parquet floor and the rustic dining table, which bring the subtle shades to life.
Other organic elements that can add warmth are woven baskets or lampshades, neutral-coloured leather, linen upholstery and plenty of leafy houseplants.
If blue’s a little on the cool side for you, try introducing lots of texture via natural materials, such as timber. The colour palette in this immaculate open-plan living space is warmed nicely by the oak chevron parquet floor and the rustic dining table, which bring the subtle shades to life.
Other organic elements that can add warmth are woven baskets or lampshades, neutral-coloured leather, linen upholstery and plenty of leafy houseplants.
Create maximum contrast
For the full effect of this classic colour combination, set pure white against a rich, deep blue. This works particularly well if you have decorative joinery and/or architectural features – the dark hue on the walls of this living room, for instance, really showcases the crisp detailing on the white fireplace, cornicing and panelled cupboard.
Glassware on the white shelves creates sparkle without detracting from the scheme, while a sprinkling of lemon and lime adds a little zest.
Find an interior designer or decorator near you to pull your colour scheme together
For the full effect of this classic colour combination, set pure white against a rich, deep blue. This works particularly well if you have decorative joinery and/or architectural features – the dark hue on the walls of this living room, for instance, really showcases the crisp detailing on the white fireplace, cornicing and panelled cupboard.
Glassware on the white shelves creates sparkle without detracting from the scheme, while a sprinkling of lemon and lime adds a little zest.
Find an interior designer or decorator near you to pull your colour scheme together
Ready your retreat
If gentle shades are more your thing, veer towards the pale end of the spectrum with relaxing duck-egg blue. Soft, off-white tones make an elegant partner for this delicate classic and together they can give a bedroom a romantic quality.
Unbleached linen bedding is an easy go-to for a classic slumber set-up, and it works beautifully with these soft shades. It also looks better rumpled, so that’s one less addition to the ironing pile, too.
If gentle shades are more your thing, veer towards the pale end of the spectrum with relaxing duck-egg blue. Soft, off-white tones make an elegant partner for this delicate classic and together they can give a bedroom a romantic quality.
Unbleached linen bedding is an easy go-to for a classic slumber set-up, and it works beautifully with these soft shades. It also looks better rumpled, so that’s one less addition to the ironing pile, too.
Call it contemporary
A blue-and-white combination doesn’t only suit Shaker-style kitchens – this duo lends itself equally well to sleek doors and clean-lined islands.
In this spacious kitchen, the cabinetry represents such a vast surface area, it’s almost equivalent to a painted wall. Keeping the rest of the scheme white ensures no colour competition to distract from the linear design.
A blue-and-white combination doesn’t only suit Shaker-style kitchens – this duo lends itself equally well to sleek doors and clean-lined islands.
In this spacious kitchen, the cabinetry represents such a vast surface area, it’s almost equivalent to a painted wall. Keeping the rest of the scheme white ensures no colour competition to distract from the linear design.
Make the switch
For an alternative way to incorporate this colour combination, how about off-white walls and blue timberwork? Low-shine eggshell paint in a baby-blue hue enhances the elegant alcove storage and French windows in this period home.
For a still sweet but more subtle nod to this theme, try painting the inside of an interior door in an all-white room.
For an alternative way to incorporate this colour combination, how about off-white walls and blue timberwork? Low-shine eggshell paint in a baby-blue hue enhances the elegant alcove storage and French windows in this period home.
For a still sweet but more subtle nod to this theme, try painting the inside of an interior door in an all-white room.
Tweak your tile choices
If you feel a large expanse of white subway tiles might feel a bit sterile in your bathroom, try a wall or two of blue. This shower, lined in airforce blue tiles and surrounded by fresh white, gives the space depth and zones the room.
A painted vanity unit in a slightly paler shade sets off this chic bathroom, ensuring the perfect colour balance. Using a marble surround for the basin and contrasting hexagonal floor tiles builds a luxe, layered look.
If you feel a large expanse of white subway tiles might feel a bit sterile in your bathroom, try a wall or two of blue. This shower, lined in airforce blue tiles and surrounded by fresh white, gives the space depth and zones the room.
A painted vanity unit in a slightly paler shade sets off this chic bathroom, ensuring the perfect colour balance. Using a marble surround for the basin and contrasting hexagonal floor tiles builds a luxe, layered look.
Choose carefully
When putting together a blue-and-white look, especially when there’s a lot of white as in this scheme, small details contribute a lot to the overall aesthetic. Rather than standard ‘brilliant’ white, look for emulsion without optical brighteners.
These fluorescent whitening agents absorb invisible ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light in the blue region of the spectrum, creating icy undertones that can deaden a space. Shirting by Little Greene is one example of an alternative, mineral-based white.
Your turn
Are you a fan of classic blue-and-white schemes? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more design inspiration? Don’t miss last week’s Award-Winning Homes With Inspiring Colour Schemes
When putting together a blue-and-white look, especially when there’s a lot of white as in this scheme, small details contribute a lot to the overall aesthetic. Rather than standard ‘brilliant’ white, look for emulsion without optical brighteners.
These fluorescent whitening agents absorb invisible ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light in the blue region of the spectrum, creating icy undertones that can deaden a space. Shirting by Little Greene is one example of an alternative, mineral-based white.
Your turn
Are you a fan of classic blue-and-white schemes? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more design inspiration? Don’t miss last week’s Award-Winning Homes With Inspiring Colour Schemes
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I love the 'teal' end of blue and had it throughout our MA house. This is our last kitchen, with Historical Whythe Blue by BM on the wainscot and trim. It helped sell the house this year. I followed it with bits and pieces of the same color accessories in the living room, hall and bath.
Love this article, it’s been helpful.
I am buying a beach condo and plan to use a navy and white color scheme.
I do have a few questions. Currently it has paneling which I want to paint white.
Any suggestions on what exact color would be best? I’d like a clean crisp feel.
I’ve attached a picture.
I am definitely a blue person. When I renovated in 2005 I had blue tiles laid in the loo and bathroom - a version of delphinium blue not so bright. In the kitchen I had a similar blue Laminex for the bench tops (which I am told is old fashioned nowadays - nevertheless I like it). The second renovation in 2017 brought in my beautiful blue King furniture sofa - it is repeated in the Persian rug I bought years ago. With navy and cream, plus a velvet blue recovered chair, I feel very happy with this arrangement. Lots of plants, always flowers