Decorating
What Goes With Indigo Blue?
This rich, deep blue is the latest colour trend – the modern neutral that works in every room. But how best can you use it in your home?
Indigo is slowly creeping into homes across the land, building on our love affair with that other fashionable moody hue, dark grey. It’s versatile and can create a look that’s elegant, modern, cosy or grand, depending on how and where you use it. Here are some inspiring ideas on how to work this dramatic inky shade to best effect.
Lighten up and contrast
As a nation, we’re slowly moving away from pale and tasteful in our homes towards dark, designer and moody, and the trend for indigo sums this up nicely. However, this delicious dark blue often needs a little something to lighten it up.
Here, mustard velvet cushions contrast beautifully with the blue wall to create an upmarket boho effect. The trio of jewel-bright artworks also helps to lift the scheme. Mustard and indigo might seem like colour opposites, but the rich retro shade works with indigo as its warmer tones counter the coolness of the blue. Velvet also goes well with indigo, as seen with this burgundy sofa, as it enhances the opulent feel.
See why it can be a great idea to add a splash of yellow to a room
As a nation, we’re slowly moving away from pale and tasteful in our homes towards dark, designer and moody, and the trend for indigo sums this up nicely. However, this delicious dark blue often needs a little something to lighten it up.
Here, mustard velvet cushions contrast beautifully with the blue wall to create an upmarket boho effect. The trio of jewel-bright artworks also helps to lift the scheme. Mustard and indigo might seem like colour opposites, but the rich retro shade works with indigo as its warmer tones counter the coolness of the blue. Velvet also goes well with indigo, as seen with this burgundy sofa, as it enhances the opulent feel.
See why it can be a great idea to add a splash of yellow to a room
Show off some vibrant art
Indigo makes a great gallery-style backdrop to bright artworks, as seen here, as it allows colours and designs to really stand out.
Choose a chalky, matt finish for walls for a quality feel, plus the lack of reflection will allow prints and canvases to take centre stage.
Indigo makes a great gallery-style backdrop to bright artworks, as seen here, as it allows colours and designs to really stand out.
Choose a chalky, matt finish for walls for a quality feel, plus the lack of reflection will allow prints and canvases to take centre stage.
Add a chic sense of style
A deep, inky blue can give elegance to overlooked spaces that might otherwise veer towards the ‘vanilla’. Here, a matt indigo wall behind a simple wooden desk and chair is all that’s needed to turn a minimal nook into a charming study space. The heritage-style wall lamps add to the overall effect.
A deep, inky blue can give elegance to overlooked spaces that might otherwise veer towards the ‘vanilla’. Here, a matt indigo wall behind a simple wooden desk and chair is all that’s needed to turn a minimal nook into a charming study space. The heritage-style wall lamps add to the overall effect.
Try some sky-blue thinking
You might not consider teaming indigo with lighter shades of blue, but this beautiful bedroom illustrates exactly why you should.
Using a combination of colours from the same area of the spectrum can create a chic, pulled-together look – here, the dark blue walls work surprisingly well with the azur bed throw and Grecian-style bedhead. The result is a holiday-like space that’s quirky and original.
You might not consider teaming indigo with lighter shades of blue, but this beautiful bedroom illustrates exactly why you should.
Using a combination of colours from the same area of the spectrum can create a chic, pulled-together look – here, the dark blue walls work surprisingly well with the azur bed throw and Grecian-style bedhead. The result is a holiday-like space that’s quirky and original.
Introduce an orange accent
Indigo shades don’t have to dominate a whole room or be used only in traditional or retro spaces. In this light, modern study, only a single wall has been painted in darkest, inkiest navy. The bright orange chair, lamp and cabinet stand out against the deep blue and white to create a simple but devastatingly effective scheme. It’s also a look that would be easy to replicate in other rooms, using cushions, throws, artworks, vases – or even a beautiful bowl of tangerines – as your orange accent.
Indigo shades don’t have to dominate a whole room or be used only in traditional or retro spaces. In this light, modern study, only a single wall has been painted in darkest, inkiest navy. The bright orange chair, lamp and cabinet stand out against the deep blue and white to create a simple but devastatingly effective scheme. It’s also a look that would be easy to replicate in other rooms, using cushions, throws, artworks, vases – or even a beautiful bowl of tangerines – as your orange accent.
Perk up with hot pink
If you’re after a scheme that’s glamorous, cheeky and fun, try teaming deep blue with bright pink accents, as seen here. Just a smattering of touches will do – here the chair, some key accessories and the floral wallpaper in the recessed shelving add a dash of pink.
You don’t have to commit to indigo right across a large room, either. This look demonstrates how inky walls can be used to zone an open-plan space – the living room is dark, while the dining area sticks to classic white.
If you’re after a scheme that’s glamorous, cheeky and fun, try teaming deep blue with bright pink accents, as seen here. Just a smattering of touches will do – here the chair, some key accessories and the floral wallpaper in the recessed shelving add a dash of pink.
You don’t have to commit to indigo right across a large room, either. This look demonstrates how inky walls can be used to zone an open-plan space – the living room is dark, while the dining area sticks to classic white.
Use indigo as a neutral
While indigo is technically blue, it also works as a dark neutral. Try using it in place of cream, white or pale grey walls, and avoid a colour clash by sticking to neutrals elsewhere – in this scheme, oatmeal and buff shades add light and contrast, and stop the room appearing dingy.
If you’re worried about indigo walls being too dark, try choosing an ultra-glossy paint finish to help bounce light around the room.
While indigo is technically blue, it also works as a dark neutral. Try using it in place of cream, white or pale grey walls, and avoid a colour clash by sticking to neutrals elsewhere – in this scheme, oatmeal and buff shades add light and contrast, and stop the room appearing dingy.
If you’re worried about indigo walls being too dark, try choosing an ultra-glossy paint finish to help bounce light around the room.
Play up to a heritage look
Indigo adds an instant dash of upmarket grandeur as it has a distinct period flavour. Play to its strengths by using the shade with traditional period fittings in a bathroom or washroom – it works brilliantly here, with the pedestal basins, mirrors and golden chandelier set against rich Hague Blue.
Indigo adds an instant dash of upmarket grandeur as it has a distinct period flavour. Play to its strengths by using the shade with traditional period fittings in a bathroom or washroom – it works brilliantly here, with the pedestal basins, mirrors and golden chandelier set against rich Hague Blue.
Beef up boutique chic
When teamed with dark wood, indigo can create a smart, high-end look that’s grown-up and sophisticated, as seen in this bedroom. The dark blue bed linen gives the wood panelling, flooring and bedhead a boutique-hotel twist.
Discover how to bring hotel luxe style to your home
When teamed with dark wood, indigo can create a smart, high-end look that’s grown-up and sophisticated, as seen in this bedroom. The dark blue bed linen gives the wood panelling, flooring and bedhead a boutique-hotel twist.
Discover how to bring hotel luxe style to your home
Ground a homespun scheme
Inky blue shades on walls can lift a retro, crafty look and counter its potential descent into seeming overly twee or messy.
In this pretty retro bedroom, the indigo walls sit with an eclectic mix of stripy orange headboard, quirky patterned cushions and knitted throw. Take away the navy and the whole scheme would seem less ‘grounded’.
Inky blue shades on walls can lift a retro, crafty look and counter its potential descent into seeming overly twee or messy.
In this pretty retro bedroom, the indigo walls sit with an eclectic mix of stripy orange headboard, quirky patterned cushions and knitted throw. Take away the navy and the whole scheme would seem less ‘grounded’.
Don’t forget florals
Given a light touch, indigo can work anywhere. In this fresh, country-style bedroom, the blue wall behind the bed is lifted by the floral duvet cover and curtains, and the pale carpet.
Take a look at more inspiring blue and white schemes
Given a light touch, indigo can work anywhere. In this fresh, country-style bedroom, the blue wall behind the bed is lifted by the floral duvet cover and curtains, and the pale carpet.
Take a look at more inspiring blue and white schemes
Give white some gravitas
A dab of inky blue in an all-white scheme can be a chic way to add depth and contrast. An indigo sofa adds a smart touch to this light, white space and is also practical (no grubby fingermarks). Choose a modern, boxy shape for a Scandi feel. This sofa also goes well with the pale blue of the armchairs.
A dab of inky blue in an all-white scheme can be a chic way to add depth and contrast. An indigo sofa adds a smart touch to this light, white space and is also practical (no grubby fingermarks). Choose a modern, boxy shape for a Scandi feel. This sofa also goes well with the pale blue of the armchairs.
Update rustic wood
Dark blues often look good teamed with natural woods. These indigo kitchen units make a perfect contrast to the rustic table and chairs, and the parquet flooring.
Choosing a bold, definite colour for kitchen units can feel risky, but dark blue manages to look timeless and chic – and simultaneously dodges the potential for a lifeless, bland kitchen scheme. Here, the unfussy units with minimal lines add to a look that’s utilitarian and modern.
Dark blues often look good teamed with natural woods. These indigo kitchen units make a perfect contrast to the rustic table and chairs, and the parquet flooring.
Choosing a bold, definite colour for kitchen units can feel risky, but dark blue manages to look timeless and chic – and simultaneously dodges the potential for a lifeless, bland kitchen scheme. Here, the unfussy units with minimal lines add to a look that’s utilitarian and modern.
Let blue and green be seen
Green and blue might not seem like obvious interiors bedfellows (remember the old adage that ‘blue and green should never be seen’?). But as shown in this smart, stylish living room, sometimes rules are made to be broken.
There’s something of the peacock’s tail in this jewel-bright room’s palette – the key is to get your shade of green right. Lime, grass and the lighter edge of emerald work well with indigo; anything darker could drag it down. Similarly, the indigo used here is minimal, as it’s just in the wall stripes, while the more dominant shade is less inky and more midnight blue.
TELL US…
How have you used indigo in your home? Share your thoughts, pictures and ideas in the Comments below.
Green and blue might not seem like obvious interiors bedfellows (remember the old adage that ‘blue and green should never be seen’?). But as shown in this smart, stylish living room, sometimes rules are made to be broken.
There’s something of the peacock’s tail in this jewel-bright room’s palette – the key is to get your shade of green right. Lime, grass and the lighter edge of emerald work well with indigo; anything darker could drag it down. Similarly, the indigo used here is minimal, as it’s just in the wall stripes, while the more dominant shade is less inky and more midnight blue.
TELL US…
How have you used indigo in your home? Share your thoughts, pictures and ideas in the Comments below.
Rich, deep, indigo walls offer an instant heritage look – ideal if you want a shortcut to a cosy, country boutique hotel look. Indigo works fabulously alongside traditional fittings, but in a truly modern way.
In this elegant space, the dark blue walls go beautifully with the classic armchair and sofa, gilt-framed oil painting and eye-catching chandelier.
When choosing paint, be sure to try a few tester pots to get the right shade and effect for your room – indigo shades vary from almost black to greenish or greyish. Look at your test shades in natural and artificial light, and at different times of day, to be confident of your choice.