Blue and white is a timeless color combination that never seems to go out of style.
The classic navy and crisp white pairing exudes a nautical, beachy vibe and is easy to incorporate into any living room.
I often get asked how to properly decorate with blue and white.
It’s one of my favorite color palettes to work with because it’s versatile, calming and easy on the eyes.
The cool blue hues pair beautifully with bright, clean whites to create a relaxing and airy atmosphere.
This color combo is perfect for coastal, modern, traditional, farmhouse and transitional style homes.
Now let’s loo at top inspiring ways to infuse blue and white into your home.
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Paint the Walls Blue and White
One of the easiest ways to incorporate this classic color scheme into your living room is to simply paint the walls.
Opting for a crisp white on most walls and then using a navy blue shade on one accent wall is a great way to cleanly break up the space.
You can also do white walls with a blue ceiling or paint the trim and moldings in a contrasting blue tone.
When painting with blue and white, try to stick to soft shades like sky blue, powder blue and pale blue mixed with clean whites and off-whites.
Deep navy blues also pair beautifully with bright whites.
Matte finishes will give a nice crisp look.
Some gorgeous blue and white paint color combinations to consider include:
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Hale Navy
- Sherwin Williams Naval and Pure White
- Behr Pale Sky Blue and White Metal
- Valspar Seagrass and White Duck
Painting your walls blue and white sets the foundation for the rest of the space and makes it easy to build upon with more accents and furnishings in those hues.
Focus on painting the larger background elements first before adding in smaller decorative touches.
Incorporate Blue and White Textiles
Using textiles that incorporate blue and white is an easy way to tie a living room together with this color scheme.
Try hanging crisp white curtain panels and then add in some blue accent pillows on the sofas and chairs.
Or drape a fluffy blue throw blanket over a white chair or couch for a cozy pop of color.
You can layer in some patterned blue and white pillows or blankets to create visual interest.
Nautical stripes, ikat prints and abstract designs in these colors help to enhance the coastal vibe.
For an airy, lightweight look try hanging white linen curtains with a sheer blue overlay curtain panel.
Other ways to bring in blue and white textiles include:
- An oriental area rug with blue and white detailing
- Knitted blue and white throw pillows
- A blue and white patterned pouf ottoman
- Ceramic planters or vases wrapped in blue and white fabric
Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shades of blues and whites in your textile selections.
Lighter blues often pair well with crisp whites while darker navy blues match nicely with off-whites or beiges.
Use White Furniture with Blue Accents
Sticking with mostly clean white large furniture pieces and then incorporating smaller blue accents is an easy living room design trick.
White sofas, armchairs, side tables, shelving units and entertainment units will help make the space feel open and airy.
Then you can bring in blue details with decorative pillows, throws, ceramics, art and accessories for pops of color.
For example, try a simple white sofa dressed up with some navy blue throw pillows.
Or place blue and white vases on a bright white media console.
White shiplap wall accents look gorgeous against a navy blue wall.
And classic schoolhouse pendant lighting adds charm over a crisp white dining table situated in the living room.
White furnishings mixed with blue accents creates balance and visual interest.
You don’t want too much white or it can feel sterile and cold.
The blue additions add personality and just enough color.
Be sure to also incorporate other textures like woods, rattans, metals and velvets so the room doesn’t feel flat.
Use Navy Blue Furniture with White Accents
Alternatively, make navy blue your statement color by using it on larger furniture pieces and then accenting with bright whites.
Navy blue sofas, lounge chairs, ottomans and even distressed blue wood tables or shelving will stand out.
Layer in white and light blue pillows, wall art, curtains, area rugs and flowers for contrast.
Deep navy pairs particularly well with distressed woods and rattans, so consider a navy sofa with exposed wood legs or rattan side chairs.
White molding or shiplap on the walls will pop against the blue furnishing backdrop.
And opt for white shelving or cabinetry to avoid completely dark and heavy furnishings.
No matter if you stick with mostly white pieces or mostly blue, be sure to balance and mix up the shades.
Too much of one tone can be overwhelming.
Layering the two colors throughout furnishings, textiles and decor ensures visual balance.
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Use a Vintage Blue Storage Cabinet
Vintage storage cabinets, trunks or dressers are fantastic statement pieces and serve both form and function in a living room.
Look for an antique blue cabinet, armoire or sideboard and use it as a media unit or bar cart.
The aged blue finish will add charming character to your space.
Try displaying your white dishes, cups or barware collections inside a blue hutch or cabinet so guests can see them.
Or stack your favorite white decorative boxes and books on the shelves of a blue sideboard.
Place pairs of white candlesticks atop a blue dresser for height and texture.
Hang Blue and White Wall Art
Hanging wall art that features blue and white visuals is an easy way to reinforce the color scheme
Frame vibrant blue and white photography featuring ocean or sky scenes.
Gallery walls with a mix of blue and white art prints and paintings will jazz up a blank wall.
Or try round or oval wall mirrors with blue and white borders to reflect light.
Some blue and white wall art and mirror ideas include:
- Black and white photography in navy blue frames
- Classic blue and white seashell prints
- Oversized world map or nautical chart in blues
- Paintings of beach landscapes or sea creatures
- Mirrors with navy and sky blue borders
- Blue and white ceramic wall plaques or plates
Make sure your wall décor ties into the rest of the room’s style.
A beach house living room could feature sand dollar wall mirrors and sea life prints.
While a modern space may incorporate abstract blue shapes and line art.
Wall art pulls the whole room together.
Use White and Blue Ceramic Vases
Styling blue and white ceramic vases filled with gorgeous floral arrangements, greenery and branches makes a stunning living room statement.
Opt for traditional hand-painted Chinese porcelain in blue and white patterns.
Or try modern bubble vases in shiny blues.
Place a pair of blue and white ceramic vases atop a dark wood console table behind your sofa.
Or flank your fireplace mantel with matching blue and white ginger jar vases on each end for symmetry.
You can even create a centerpiece on your coffee table usingstacked white ceramic vases of descending sizes with blue hydrangeas spilling out.
Blue and white ceramics add a timeless elegance to any living room.
Display them together in pairs or mixes for maximum visual impact.
You can also hang blue and white plates or platters on the wall in place of traditional art.
Blue and White Geometric Accents
Add an on-trend geometric style with blue and white accents featuring triangles, zigzags, diamonds, chevron and square patterns.
- Hang a black and white zigzag rug on the wall as abstract art
- Place glass candleholders and vases with blue and white geometric patterns
- Choose throw pillows with boho blue and white triangle and diamond prints
- Roll out a chevron or honeycomb patterned area rug in blue and ivory
- Arrange blue and white square ceramic garden stools around a coffee table
Geometric accents in soft blues, bright whites, and even black provide modern contrast and visual interest.
Layer the patterns in for a bohemian vibe or stick to one print, like chevron stripes, for a clean graphic look.
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Ombre Blue Decor
The ombre trend features graduated color that fades from light to dark.
Apply this to living room decor using soft ombre blue tones.
- Display decorative boxes in order of light to dark blue on a shelf
- Choose an area rug that ombres from pale blue to navy
- Arrange blue throw pillows on a couch from lightest to darkest
- Hang ombre lampshades that gradually shift from sky blue to cobalt
- Paint a wall with a faded blue ocean scene using ombre techniques
Ombre blue decor adds subtle depth as the tones blend into each other gracefully.
Effortlessly transition from soft, airy blues to dramatic deep shades throughout the living space.
Style Blue and White Books
Books are great living room accessories that can reinforce a blue and white color scheme when coordinated strategically.
Try covering older books with clean white or blue dust jackets.
Or look for monochromatic blue and white book cover designs.
Some blue and white book display ideas include:
- Stacking horizontal rows of blue and white books on shelves
- Placing blue and white floral coffee table books out
- Filling a white bookcase with blue spined novels
- Scattering blue and white decor books on side tables
- Grouping different shades of blue books together
Go for crisp hardcover books rather than paperbacks, which can quickly look worn and messy.
Navy blue, sky blue, light blue, aqua, turquoise and even robin’s egg blue book spines will make a statement mixed with white when artfully arranged.
Add Navy and White Striped Details
Navy and white stripes are the quintessential nautical accent.
By adding striped detailing in pillows, throws, curtains or area rugs you can instantly infuse coastal flair.
Try hanging casual white curtain panels with navy stripes across the top.
Or roll out a striped woven rug in tan, white and navy.
Some striped blue and white accent ideas include:
- Striped throw pillows in cotton, velvet or linen
- Hand-knit striped navy and white blankets
- Striped shower curtains over glass living room doors
- Striped table runners down a rustic wood dining table
- Striped upholstered bench at the end of a white bed
Thin pinstripes, wide stripes, or even vertically placed strips can all work beautifully.
Just be sure to balance out bold striped accents with some solids so the space doesn’t feel too busy.
Light Blue and White Patterned Chairs
Fun patterned chairs in various blues and whites make great occasional seating that can be moved around.
Try a printed slipper chair with patterns like toile, ikat, oriental medallion, Suzani tribal prints or simple florals.
Or look for unique wood-framed chairs upholstered in mixed blue fabrics.
Place printed blue chairs at each end of a white sofa for symmetry.
Or tuck one into the corner by a whitewashed reading nook as a cozy reading spot.
Pair blue printed chairs with a white coffee table or use them around a navy dining table for eclectic mismatched seating.
Vintage patterned chairs in faded blues work well to balance out crisp clean whites.
The soft blues complement both the white furniture and pops of navy accents.
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Fresh White Flowers in Blue Vases
Nothing brightens up a living room quite like fresh floral arrangements in beautiful vases.
Buy big beautiful white blooms like peonies, roses, lilies, daisies, tulips or orchids.
Display them in clear glass blue vases for lots of visual interest.
Some tips for styling gorgeous white floral arrangements:
- Select short and tall blue vases for height variety
- Mix in blue hydrangeas or delphiniums for even more blue tones
- Place arrangements on console tables, buffets, mantels or dining tables
- Opt for round bubble vases, square lanterns or metallic urns
- Include trailing greens like ivy or eucalyptus for texture
The vibrant whites pop against the blue vases and tie into white furniture and decor.
Oversize dramatic floral displays can serve as focal points around a living room.
Navy blues, sky blues, cobalt and turquoise all complement crisp or off-whites beautifully.
Paint blue accent walls, hang beachy mirrors, display white blooms in blue vases, roll out a striped rug and top it off with blue and white throw pillows for a pulled together look.
Be creative and have fun with different patterns, textures and styles as you incorporate this classic coastal color scheme into your home.
The blue and white pairing is easy on the eyes and simple to design within any aesthetic.
Use it sparingly or go all out.
Either way, this timeless combo is sure to lend an inviting personality and nautical vibe to your living room.
