Paint the Perfect Blue Room for Spring

Blue can describe a feeling of sadness, yet painting a room blue will make you anything but. A blue room can be restful, exciting, contemporary, or even a blank canvas. The key to painting a blue room is to balance out the color with the appropriate furniture and accessories to achieve the look you want. Below are three different blue room themes; choose which one you like best and have fun picking out your perfect shade of blue. The best part is, it's only paint, so if you don't achieve the perfect look the first time around, you can always alter the shade of blue and try again.

Blue as a Neutral
Most people think of blue as a bold color choice, but it can actually serve as a neutral. If you're not crazy about loud pops of color in your decor, consider painting your room a deep navy. It's a myth that dark colors automatically make a room feel smaller; on the contrary, the accent pieces and furniture arrangement do more for your spatial perception than color. Navy is actually in the neutral family and can serve as a blank canvas for the rest of your room.

If you like a crisp, nautical look, accent your navy room with bright white, both in the trim and in the furniture. For a calmer atmosphere, accent the navy with creams, light yellows, or beiges. Keep the bulk of the furniture light against a navy background; heavy, dark furniture will make the room feel dark and possibly claustrophobic. Consider some clear furniture like a glass table or an acrylic chair to keep the visual plane cohesive and light. And if you like accents of color, try warm hues such as reds and oranges in pillows, rugs, or other accessories.

Vacation Blues
Blue is the color of water and sky, and the right shades of blue can give your room a relaxing vacation feel. If you like the tropical look of the islands, try deep, saturated blues like cerulean, indigo, teal, and turquoise. A light and airy beach room calls for lighter blues with some grey and purple undertones like sky blue, French blue, powder blue, and even periwinkle. White or wood trim works best with these blues.

Continue your island or beach theme with neutral accents; beiges, creams, and tans resemble sand, yellows evoke the sun and greens allude to lush, tropical plants. Wicker or light wood furniture works well with this color scheme; cherry or ebony woods can work for a tropical island room in small doses, or else the room will feel too heavy. Blue and green glass objects or pieces in a vase or bowl will add a beautiful touch to your blue room. A jute or sisal rug and matchstick blinds or plantation shutters will nicely complete this look.

Modern Blue
Light blues are not just for a baby boy's nursery, they can have a calming and clean effect in a room. Choose saturated light blue shades over pastels for a modern look. If you have a favorite blue that's too dark, just take it down around ten to fifty percent of its value to retain the hue while making the shade lighter. Pair this blue with accents of deep chocolate brown for a contemporary room.

Darker woods, medium to deep brown fabrics and brown leathers all work well on furniture and accents with a light blue modern room. Keep the lines of the furniture simple and sleek, favoring simple geometric shapes over fancy designs. Metallic finishes can add a touch of shine to this type of room as well; make sure you stick to one metal for a cohesive look. Finish the room with mid-century modern accessories in cool and neutral shades.

No matter which shade of blue you prefer, there's a decorating style to make it shine. Just remember to pair your blue with complimentary furniture and accessories for a look that's pulled together and beautiful. Before you know it, you'll have a blue room you can be proud of.