It’s no coincidence that blue is one of the most popular living room colours in the UK. Timeless, stylish and soothing, you pretty much can’t go wrong with blue in your lounge – but if you are after a little helping hand in choosing the best shades of blue or what other colours to pair it with, these blue living room ideas are made for you.
This particular living room colour scheme is a real crowd pleaser, as Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick and author of Master the Art of Colour (available on Amazon), attests, ‘Blue has become incredibly popular for living rooms. Around 40% of my colour consultation clients now ask for it, which just shows how much it’s grown. It’s the world’s favourite colour, and it’s taken over Pinterest, too.’
Blue living room ideas
Lucy Steele, paint and interiors expert at V&CO, explains why blue is such a good colour choice for living spaces, ‘Blue promotes a sense of calm and peace and is an evocative, yet equally simple colour to style. It’s an extremely versatile colour that can be used to reflect a variety of moods and styles, leaving you with endless possibilities. For those wishing to branch out from whites and neutrals, blues have that “blank canvas” feel, while still injecting a bit more excitement and energy into the room. As well as being a generally versatile colour, there are so many different shades to explore.’
Tash at Lick adds, ‘Blue is one of my go-to colours for living rooms. It’s the colour of the mind, so it has this natural ability to calm and soothe you after a busy day. Blue is incredibly versatile once you understand the light in your room, and it’s so easy to build on with other colours and textures.’
1. Opt for a light shade of blue
Light powder and baby blues are not only among the biggest colour and home decor trends but they also make for a timeless and refreshing living room shade, especially if you’re looking for small living room colour ideas.
‘For a light, fresh feel, powder blue and soft periwinkle shades are ideal – particularly in smaller living rooms or spaces that benefit from lots of natural light,’ says Lucy Mather, interiors expert at Arighi Bianchi.
Ian Masonbury, colour expert and brand manager at Armourcoat, continues, 'Soft, muted blues are ideal for creating a light, airy, and gentle atmosphere. They work well in small rooms or those with limited natural light, as they won't overwhelm the space, lending a classic Scandinavian feel.'
2. Pair blue with yellow
If you want to create a more complex colour scheme in your living room and go for a secondary or an accent shade to pair with your blue, you can never go wrong with a bit of yellow to brighten up the room.
‘For those looking for a bolder decoration, yellows are a great choice for a colour pairing. Butter yellow is trending at the moment, and this softer shade goes amazingly with lighter tones of blue to create a summery and refreshing space. But it’s not just soft shades of yellow that pair well with blue; more saturated yellows like mustard also form a classic contrast that actually complements blue. Regardless of the shade, yellow injects so much energy and brightness into a space, and it’s the perfect mood enhancer for a living room,’ Lucy at V&CO says.
3. Bring warmth with plenty of texture
There is a little bit of a misconception about blue automatically being cold or making a room feel cold, which is not necessarily the case. ‘Blue can actually be one of the warmest, most comforting colours when used right. Think of nature – the sea against warm sand or pebbles. To bring warmth in, start by choosing a blue with a warm undertone,’ Tash at Lick says.
But some blues can in fact feel a little bit cold on their own which is where texture will help out. ‘Layer up warm-toned woods like walnut or oak and incorporate woven textures such as rattan and jute for a relaxed, tactile feel. Rich textiles like velvet cushions, wool throws, or Persian-style rugs will instantly soften the cooler undertones of blue,’ Lucy at Arighi Bianchi says.
4. Colour drench in blue
Colour drenching is one of the biggest paint trends of the last couple of years. But it’s also a useful, timeless tool to bring colour into a space and create a cohesive decorating scheme.
‘What’s exciting is that people are moving away from the cooler, minty blues and leaning into warmer, yellow-based tones like Lick's Blue 15, Blue 02 and Blue 18. These shades feel fresh but cosy, and they work beautifully for colour drenching, where you take the colour across the walls, skirting, ceiling and even furniture. It makes small spaces feel bigger and dark rooms feel intentionally cosy. It helps create a really immersive, calming space,’ Tash at Lick says.
5. Introduce a feature wall
On the other hand, if colour drenching or even painting all the four conventional walls is too much commitment for you, you could opt for a trusty living room feature wall idea instead.
‘Creating a statement wall in the living room with a moody blue is perfect for creating bold contrast when paired with lighter accents. Think light wood, gold details, and bright vases and flowers. This will give you a sophisticated statement wall that will impress,’ Lucy at V&CO says.
6. Incorporate warm lighting
Another important element to keep in mind in making your blue lounge into a cosy living room is lighting. Living room lighting ideas can truly make or break a room, and a blue living room is no exception.
‘Don’t forget about lighting; ambient wall sconces and lamps with warm white bulbs will counterbalance any chilliness in the palette. Brass or antique gold accents also bring a lovely glow and a touch of elegance,’ Lucy at Arighi Bianchi says.
Lucy at V&CO adds, ‘Adding lighting to the space, such as small warm toned wall lamps and decorative candles, will create a warm and delightful ambience.’
7. Combine it with earthy orange shades
Another shade that pairs perfectly with almost any blue you throw at it is any kind of an earthy orange – we’re talking terracotta, rust, burnt orange etc.
‘Blue pairs beautifully with warm, earthy tones. I love seeing it with burnt orange, cinnamon, or rust shades – those rich, sugary colours really pop against blue and bring warmth into the space,’ Tash at Lick says.
8. Create a blue and green colour scheme
Believe it or not, green is another shade that looks amazing combined with blue, despite the fact many believe otherwise. But when you think about it and all the blue and green pairings we see in nature, it makes perfect sense.
‘Blue also looks amazing with green. People often think blue and green shouldn’t go together, but it’s actually a brilliant combo, especially when you match undertones. For example, blues with a yellow base work so well with Lick's Green 05, Green 14 or Green 18, which also have that same warmth. Just match the undertones and you can’t go wrong,’ Tash at Lick explains.
9. Mix soothing pastels
Powder blues are having a moment – a refreshing alternative to grey and other naturals, cool blue brings with it a calming and serene energy. A pastel shade works well when used to decorate a south facing room to maximise the feeling of light and space. Mix a palette of soothing pastel shades to add depth to the look, introducing the tones via soft furnishings.
'For a more luxurious finish, team blue with blush pink for a sophisticated, fashion-forward pairing,' Lucy at Arighi Bianchi says.
10. Make a statement with a rich palette
Enrich a deep blue living room with the addition of luxurious textures and materials in a range of equally rich accent colours. In this striking blue living room deep blue walls are enhanced by a large papered art on the wall and glam metallic furniture finishes and accessories.
Luxe velvets in deep shades of burnt orange punctuate the cocooning blue beautifully, creating a moody, decadent vibe.
11. Be daring with dark blue shades
Where a room can take it, if the light quality is right and the dark colour will enhance the size, be daring by taking all four walls to the dark side.
'A midnight blue, such as V&CO's Blue Shade 6 (available at B&Q), is a timeless colour and a great choice for living rooms. It’s one of those shades that adds colour to a room but still behaves like neutral. It’s very easy to live with – not trendy but not boring, and can be adapted across the seasons. The depth and adaptability make it a perfect choice for the living room. This is a great statement colour, and the moodier tone also helps to make a spacious room feel softer and more welcoming,' Lucy at V&CO says.
The key when decorating with such bold colour is to embrace all surfaces, so include skirting boards and framework into the colour scheme. Otherwise you run the risk of white woodwork from standing out like a sore thumb – totally distracting from the statement effect of the blue. Add equally bold accent colours to inject pops of contrasting colour, such as this mustard yellow.
12. Pick a sofa in a contrasting colour
Orange sits opposite a blue on the colour wheel, so setting this bold tangerine against a deep blue will really make the most of both features.
Annie Sloan, founder of Annie Sloan Paint, has some words of advice on which accents colours work with a blue scheme: ‘The complementary of blue is yellow. As you move round the colour wheel you find orange, hence why brass and copper works so well, too.'
'Just a small amount goes a long way. For something quieter, colours like pale pink and grey greens look amazing.’ With that in mind, you might also want to see our pink living room ideas.
13. Pick a heritage-inspired print
Dip a toe into a maximalist look with a feature wall, or go for total drama by using living room wallpaper ideas on all four walls.
'Blue patterned wallpaper is great for adding visual interest,' Lucy at Arighi Bianchi says.
14. Pair maritime blue with white
Painting the walls a dark blue is a wonderful way to build a look that's cosy and homely. So that the look isn't gloomy, keep the walls, ceilings and window dressings light – ideally white – to balance things. Mirror-finish furniture will also maximise the light in a dark-painted room.
15. Try teal blue
There's a fine line between traditional and tired, but it can be completely avoided if you are confident with colour. This strong teal brings a certain amount of heritage to this living room, but it simultaneously feels fresh.
'Don’t overlook the more unusual shades either – teal and petrol blue bring a rich, jewel-like quality to a space that feels both opulent and grounded,' Lucy at Arighi Bianchi says.
16. Make pink feel grown up with inky blue
Backed by any other shade, this pink sofa might look a little too sugary for many people's taste. But with a dark inky blue behind it, it's the ultimate in sophistication, enhanced by the coffee table's brass legs and accessories.
Also framed in brass are three blue prints, which break up the blue without detracting too much from its effect. Warm wood flooring and a pale rug keep things bright yet cosy underfoot.
17. Start with a blue sofa
Here, a vibrant turquoise blue sofa pops against a soothing backdrop of denim blue, for our take on modern coastal.
Stonewashed blues like these are the perfect foundation for classic styles of furniture, the white dresser being a prime example. It's a good idea to reflect them in the accessories in display.
18. Tile a blue feature wall
You'll need to have a healthy budget, but a feature wall formed of cement tiles can look truly spectacular and – despite the rustic nature of their material – glamorous. Velvet chairs in a deeper blue enhance this effect, and again, accessories in a similar turquoise are accents that bring the room together.
19. Experiment with pattern
The golden rules for making this formal look work are to stick to a neutral hue for the walls and floor, and then to keep with a strict palette, which will allow you to play with pattern.
No two motifs are the same, yet they work harmoniously with each other and create an eclectic, global-inspired look, rather than a contrived seaside scheme.
Soft blues like Lick's Blue 15 are a fresh, timeless and relaxing colour choice for any living room. And you can't go wrong with matt as that's the paint finish all experts recommend.
You don't have to go all out with blue in your living room - a chic accent chair in dark blue velvet will do. Especially if it looks as chic as this Oliver Bonas one with rattan inserts.
Both designer Henry Holland and heritage brand Harlequin know how to create an iconic pattern - so tit's no surprise that the two joining forces results in such stylish beauty as this wallpaper.
The Hendricks sofa is one of the most iconic Habitat designs and one of the best sofas in our buying guide. But this sky blue velvet finish is our new favourite take on the classic.
You can inject some blue into your living room though furniture as well - and we don't mean just seating. Sideboards, side tables, bookcases or a TV unit like this Mustard Made locker can all be blue if you want them to be.
If you want to create a more cocooning and/or dramatic look and feel in your living room, opting for a dark shade like this Midnight Navy from Crown will do just that.
Tash at Lick concludes, ‘Blue is one of nature’s neutrals, so it feels safe, grounding and easy to live with – it’s no surprise people are embracing it.’
