How to Decorate a Blue Room

Blue is a popular color, being a favorite color of many. Blue is also known in the decorating industry as a color that calms and creates a cool feeling. Because the color blue is so popular, decorating in the color blue is a very easy and fashionable thing to do.

Blue Themes

If you wish to decorate your blue room in a theme, there are many from which to choose.

Seascape. Whether a seascape mural is painted on the walls, or they are blue alone, decorating in a seascape theme is simple to do. Lighthouses, seashells, and driftwood are popular choices for a seascape theme. Dolphin-shaped and themed items are also a popular choice that is readily available in a wide range of home décor items. Other ideas include sand textured items, a bottle of sand or sand art, table top fountains, aquariums, fishing implements, and ships.

How deeply you delve into the theme is up to you. If you really want to have some fun, the occasional use of a fog machine or misting bowl while sea sounds play really add to the feel of the theme.

If you just want the feel of a seascape rather than the look, use the colors of the sea in your room. Ocean blue, sandy beige, and the white of clouds and waves. The use of natural materials in your room such as wood and tropical plants can increase the feel you are going for.

Sky and Space. Another popular and easy theme to do with the color blue is that of sky or space. Beautiful murals of either clouds in the sky or stars and planets in space help set the tone of the theme. Aircraft, hot air balloons, and dirigibles all can be suspended from the ceiling, hung from walls, or displayed on various surfaces for a sky theme. Star charts, a telescope, and space shuttles are the beginning of the list of theme items to be used in a blue space-themed room.

Both the sky and space are vast and open, so the room should have that feeling as well in order to keep with the theme. Take care not to overcrowd the room with furniture and knickknacks.

For Children. One popular method of decorating for children is the use of bold primary colors: blue, red, and yellow. Use a bold blue and add in liberal amounts of bold yellow and red in the room. Find prints and patterns for fabric and wallpaper that include all three colors. Many pieces of children's furniture are made in primary color combinations.

Another way to go is to use your child's favorite theme, team, or character that includes the color blue in costume, theme, coloration, or logo. A few examples are Sonic the Hedgehog, Aladdin's Genie, the Tick, Wish Bear (Carebear), Grump Bear (Carebear), Batman, SpongeBob Squarepants, Captain America, some of the X-men, Grover and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, Smurfs, and Blue (of Blue's Clues).

In the Kitchen. Due to the popularity of blue and white china, decorating a kitchen in blue and white seems to be a natural choice. Coordinating blue walls and crisp white cabinets are just the beginning of pulling together a classic look. Adding touches of another color, such as the vibrant yellow of tulips in a simple glass vase make the look comfortable and refreshing.

Tips and Tricks of the Trade

Inspiration. Use a favorite shade of blue or a favorite item as the inspiration behind the other choices you make in decorating your room.

Working with Color. A completely blue room could feel overpowering. Be sure to use other tints and shades of blue, or to add contrasting or complimentary colors.

Additional Resources:

Wellstyled.com Free Color Scheme Tool
http://www.wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html

SouthernAccents.com Blue and White Kitchen Ideas
http://www.southernaccents.com/accents/homes/decorating/article/0,14743,1155783,00.html

Color-tec.com Color Glossary
http://www.color-tec.com/1gloss.htm