Choosing the right color scheme for your living room can be a challenging process. The living room is often the heart of the home, so you want colors that create an inviting atmosphere. Blue and grey are both popular living room color choices right now, but do they work well together? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of pairing blue and grey for your living space.
The Appeal of Blue and Grey
There are several reasons why blue and grey have become fashionable living room color combinations:
- Blue is a calming, peaceful color that creates a relaxing vibe.
- Cool tones like blue and grey promote tranquility and clear thinking.
- Blue and grey are versatile neutrals that are easy to match with other colors.
- Grey grounds the airiness of blue and makes it feel more sophisticated.
- Different shades of blue and grey can add visual interest.
The calm, neutral palette of blue and grey allows you to add pops of color through accessories like pillows, throws, art and fresh flowers. It’s a soothing, laidback color scheme that many homeowners find appealing.
Factors to Consider
While blue and grey can work beautifully together, there are a few factors to consider to ensure success:
- Undertones – Cool undertones like those found in blue and grey look best together. Be sure to avoid mixing warm and cool shades.
- Saturation – Pairing a pale blue with a charcoal grey creates enough contrast. Go for muted tones over bright hues.
- Lighting – The right lighting is key. Cool, blue-tinged light bulbs enhance blue and grey schemes.
- Texture – Incorporate different textures like nubby throw pillows and soft rugs to add visual interest.
- Focal points – Use darker shades of blue and grey on focal walls or large furniture pieces.
As long as you pay attention to these elements, blue and grey can work in harmony in a living room.
Blue and Grey Color Combination Ideas
If you’ve decided to move forward with a blue and grey color palette in your living room, here are some stylish combinations to consider:
Soft Blue and Light Grey
For a relaxed and airy look, pair a very light blue with an off-white or pale grey. Think a barely blue shade like Wickham Gray by Farrow & Ball with Benjamin Moore’s Pale Smoke or Classic Gray. Add in warm white trim and you have a livable, peaceful space.
Navy Blue and Charcoal Grey
On the other end of the spectrum, navy blue and charcoal grey create a bold, dramatic look. Navy has a touch more warmth than lighter blues, so it contrasts nicely with the cool tone of charcoal. Use it on accent walls or larger furniture pieces.
Blue-Grey and Medium Greige
For a sophisticated neutral scheme, try a blue-grey shade like Hale Navy with a greige (grey-beige) like Edgecomb Gray, both by Benjamin Moore. The greige has enough warmth to balance the cooler blue-grey in a refned way.
Bright Blue and Dark Grey
Make the blue in your blue-grey scheme pop by selecting a bright, cheery blue like Vibrant Blue by Behr. Pair it with a dark charcoal grey like Caviar by Sherwin-Williams for striking contrast. Use this bold combo in moderation.
Tips for Decorating a Blue and Grey Living Room
Once you settle on your perfect blue and grey color combination, keep these decorating tips in mind:
- Select one color to take the lead. Use 60-70% of that color and 30-40% of the secondary shade.
- Incorporate texture through layered rugs, pillows, throws and accessories for visual interest.
- Add warmth with wood furniture, live plants and metals like brass and gold.
- Large art prints with blue and grey accents can pull the whole room together.
- Don’t overlook the ceiling – blue above can feel expansive.
- Soft lighting is key – dimmers allow you to set the perfect mood.
With thoughtful decorating choices, it’s possible to highlight the best qualities of your selected blue and grey hues.
Blue and Grey Paint Color Ideas
If you’re ready to commit to a blue and grey color scheme, here are some recommended paint colors to consider:
| Blue Paint Colors | Grey Paint Colors |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Moore Weekend Blue | Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray |
| PPG Voice of the Sea | Benjamin Moore Gray Owl |
| Sherwin-Williams Raindrop | PPG Silver Dust |
| Behr Island Blue | Behr Pale Oak |
| Benjamin Moore Nebulous Blue | Valspar Rock Salt |
These shades offer a nice balance of warm and cool undertones to complement one another. Test swatches first to narrow down your favorites.
Furniture and Accessories for a Blue and Grey Living Room
The right furniture and accessories will truly make your blue and grey color scheme sing. Consider these options:
- Sofas: Look for mid-toned blues and greys here. Avoid anything too dark.
- Chairs: Make chairs and accent seating pops of color like yellow, white or light wood.
- Tables: Wood tables with greywashed blue finishes bridge the colors nicely.
- Lighting: Nickel, silver and frosted glass fixtures enhance the cool scheme.
- Rugs: Natural fiber rugs like jute in neutral patterns add warmth.
- Pillows: Pillows offer the chance to layer in more blues, whites, and greys.
- Art: Monochromatic prints with touches of blue and grey reinforce the color palette.
Focus on timeless mid-century and contemporary styles of furniture to complement the relaxed nature of blue and grey.
Creating a Cohesive Look
The key to making blue and grey work together is creating a cohesive look. Using the same cool-toned color scheme throughout the space produces harmony. Here are some cohesive blue and grey living room ideas:
- Paint both the walls and ceiling a soft pale blue like Wickham Gray for an enveloping effect.
- Upholster furniture in contrasting blue and grey hues to tie the room together.
- Echo colors from throw pillows in window treatments and area rugs.
- Choose a blue and grey abstract painting as your focal point.
By repeating and complementing your chosen blue and grey shades throughout the living room, you can craft a polished, purposeful space.
Pros and Cons of a Blue and Grey Color Scheme
Here is a summary of the key pros and cons to consider when using blue and grey as your living room color palette:
Pros
- Blue and grey are both versatile neutrals that are easy to match with other colors
- The combo feels clean, calm and sophisticated
- It’s simple to find blue and grey paint colors, furniture and accessories
- The scheme works well in both traditional and modern spaces
Cons
- Pairing the wrong shades can feel cold and uninviting
- Overdoing blue can feel overwhelming in a smaller space
- Greys with green or purple undertones clash with blue
- The scheme lacks vibrancy and energy for some homeowners
Overall, as long as you stick to muted, complementary tones, blue and grey make an elegant, timeless pairing. Just be mindful of undertones and be strategic with brighter blues.
Conclusion
Blue and grey together create a stylish, relaxing living room color scheme that allows your decor to take center stage. Both colors are extremely versatile and easy to find in everything from paint to furniture finishes. By combining cool-toned shades that complement each other, it’s possible to craft a sophisticated space with just the right amount of contrast.
Be strategic with your blue and grey pairings. Softer tones promote tranquility and harmony while navy and charcoal make bold accents. With the right lighting, textural elements and accessories, you can bring out the best in blue and grey. Just avoid going overboard with bright blues in a small area. The result will be a cohesive living room with a timeless yet fresh color palette you’ll enjoy for years to come.
