Blue and white is a color combination that is perpetual favorite among interior designers. Elegant and simple, the blue and white combo is fashionable in every season, in both urban and country settings, and for all types of décor, from traditional to contemporary.
Blue is associated with relaxation and tranquility. It evokes feelings of reliability and stability, and can lower your pulse rate. It is most people’s favorite color. White conveys the positive feelings of cleanliness, freshness and purity. When paired together, we often think of the natural beauty of puffy clouds floating in a clear blue sky, or the froth of waves dancing in an azure sea.
Nothing feels more timeless and elegant than a blue and white living room color scheme. It’s easy to achieve, especially if you already have white walls. All you have to do is add a few blue accent pieces, such as throw pillows and curtains. Or you can start from scratch to achieve an elegant blue and white living room.
We have put together some of our favorite blue and white living room ideas. But let’s start with a brief explanation of why you can’t go wrong with this versatile pairing of colors.
Why choose blue and white decor for your living room?
There are so many reasons to choose a blue and white living room color scheme, it’s hard to know where to begin! We’ve winnowed our picks down to a top few that we think will convince you.
1. Blue and white is a timeless combination
Think of the all the wonderful pairings of blue and white: French chinoiserie inspired by Chinese blue and white porcelain; the colors of the flags of numerous nations, including Greece, El Salvador, and Argentina; the classic navy-and-white striped nautical theme.
2. Blue is good for your health
Did you know the color blue promotes a calm and tranquil feeling? That’s because it conjures up images of the sky and ocean, a major portion of our natural landscape. It reduces anxiety and aggression, and can even make you feel more productive.
3. Blue will make your living room glow
The color blue has a very short wavelength, meaning it’s the easiest color for the eye to see. As a result, blue is an excellent choice for interior décor. It adds lightness and color to spaces, particularly dark ones.
4. White and blue go with anything
Blue complements every color on the color wheel, while white is neutral, so it doesn’t clash with anything. This combination pairs beautifully with pops of color, especially orange and green.
5. It’s easy to accessorize with white and blue
Instead of undertaking a complete makeover, you can create an elegant blue and white living room decor with the simple addition of accessories. If your living room has white or neutral walls, try adding easygoing blue and white touches to your already-existing décor.
Blue and white pillows
Whether geometric, floral or abstract, tossing blue and white pillows on your couch or easy chair is a great way to accessorize your living room. Design tip: for your living room, stick with shades that are light. Dark blues such as navies require that the rest of your living room is an uncluttered as possible.
Take a look at our decorative throw pillows in a blue and white color scheme.
English Gardens ~ Decorative Throw
Morning Dew (CP) ~ French Country Trellis Yellow Throw PillowBlue and white curtains
Add an elegant decorative accent to your living room windows with blue and white curtains. Go with darker shades of navy and indigo to create a sense of depth, or striking shades of blue as a contrast to bright whites. But be careful not to go overboard – you don’t want to draw attention away from the all the other perfectly chosen items your living room has to offer.
These dreamy beaded window valances are the perfect complement to your blue and white living room décor:
Pacific Blue ~ Rustic Navy Ocean Asian Inspired Window ValanceBlue and white vases
Today’s popular blue and white porcelain vases have their roots in 14th century China, a style which was later adopted by potters in the Middle East and Japan. Fortunately, today you can buy gorgeous replicas without breaking the bank. Take a look at these fabulous accessories:
Chairish
Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Vase
We love this porcelain vase because of its unusual shape and delicate pattern.
Williams Sonoma Home
Chinoiserie Bud Vase
Bud vases are a great choice because they look fabulous with a single stem.
Experiment with patterns from around the world
A blue and white color scheme is only half the fun. Let your imagination run wild with patterns inspired by cultures from around the world. While floral patterns lend themselves beautifully to these colors, there are many other patterns to choose from: plaids, polka dots, basketweaves, chevrons, checkered, paisley and damask, to name a few.
Check out the gorgeous handmade, globally-inspired table linens from Saffron Marigold. We love the look of a table runner on a living room table to add an extra layer of pattern and color.
Mosaique Bleue - Earth ~ Moroccan Tile Print Blue Table Runner
Moonlit Taj ~ Elegant Floral White Green Table RunnerWhether your home is a California coastal retreat in Santa Monica, or a cozy country cottage in the Hamptons, a blue-and-white striped nautical theme is a popular classic in interior design and works just about anywhere. It is warm and inviting, and leaves room for lots of creativity. First, establish a crisp background with white walls and ceilings, then add pops of navy stripes and natural fibers to create a comfy blue and white living room. Don’t forget to throw in some neutrals, such as sandy beige and a light seashell pink.
There is no limit to the fantastic coastal themed accessories you can choose from, such as boat wheels and hooks, delicate ships in a bottle and nautical picture frames of all shapes and sizes. Here are some of our favorite nautical-themed accessories for your living room:
Highland Dunes
2-Piece Seahorse Wood Wall Decor Set
Nothing’s more upbeat than a pair of charming blue seahorses for your coastal style living room.
Sand and Sable
Coastal Wall Decor
This wall piece has it all: color, pattern, movement and a cheery vibe.
Add texture
The use of texture is a favorite technique of interior designers to add both visual interest and physical comfort. It also appeals to the very important sense of touch. This can easily be accomplished by mixing materials and with layering. Overall, the addition of texture will add to your enjoyment of your blue and white living room décor.
You can create visual weight – the ability of an object to draw attention – by the inventive use of texture. By adding rough textures, such as rugs with a thick pile, boucle fabrics and accessories made from rattan, jute or wood, you will add depth and dimension to your living room. Texture also creates a sense of balance in your space, particularly if it has smooth surfaces such as glass and stainless steel.
Other ways of adding texture to your blue and white living room include using architectural elements such as crown molding and chair rails, wood and marble furniture, and patterned wallcovering. The addition of textured items and materials works especially well when you incorporate a particular color palette, in this case blue and white, in order to create a sense of harmony.
Have fun with area rugs
One of the great things about a blue and white living room color scheme is how versatile it is: you can throw in other accents – color, texture, patterns – without having to worry about a cluttered or overly-busy look. That gives you lots of room to choose a great area rug to put the finishing touch on your décor.
Once you’ve chosen your blue and white color palette, you can pull your look together with your flooring. A well-chosen area rug will add dimension and introduce new colors and patterns to complete the room.
You should consider shape, size and materials when you choose your living room carpet. For instance, a rectangular rug goes well in large, open spaces, while round rugs open up smaller spaces. As for size, every interior designer knows this rule of thumb: the larger the room, the larger the rug. They recommend leaving 8” from the edge of your major pieces of furniture to the end of the rug to create a spacious look.
Any material goes with a blue and white color scheme: wool, cotton, silk or natural fibers such as jute or seagrass, as well as synthetics. Some materials are easier to clean, while others are not suited for a high-traffic area, so make sure you choose a rug that is appropriate for your space.
Go ahead and indulge in the rug of your choice to go with your blue and white living room color scheme.
We hope that you are inspired to style your living room with an elegant blue and white décor. Whether it’s a total make-over or just a face lift, we’ve got lots of curtains, pillows and table linens to help you get started or to add the perfect final touch.
