When designing a dining room, choosing the right color palette is an important decision. The colors you select can influence the overall mood and aesthetic of the space. Blue is a popular color choice for many rooms in the home, but does it work specifically for dining rooms? There are a few key factors to consider when deciding if blue paint colors and decor are a good fit for your dining space.
Some initial questions to ask yourself are:
– What shade of blue are you considering? Dark navy blues may feel too intense for a dining area meant for gathering and conversations. However, lighter blues like sky blue can create a soothing, airy atmosphere.
– What color are your dining room floors? Blue walls paired with dark wood flooring can feel cold or monotonous. If you have light hardwood or carpeting, blue may complement it better.
– Is the dining room flooded with natural light or more dim? Soft blues work beautifully in sunlit spaces, while bolder blues may suit darker, moodier dining rooms.
– What is the overall style you want for the space? Blue can work with many design aesthetics including coastal, traditional, modern farmhouse, and contemporary.
– Do you want a hint of color or for blue to be the star? Using blue as an accent color with mostly neutral furniture and decor is easier to pull off than making blue the dominant color.
Factors that Support Using Blue in a Dining Room
There are several compelling reasons why blue is an excellent color choice for many dining rooms:
– Appetite Suppressant – Believe it or not, the color blue is scientifically linked to suppressing appetite! By painting your dining room blue, you may find that you eat less and feel full faster. This can be beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Lighter blues tend to have the strongest appetite suppressing effect.
– Calming Effect – Blue has a naturally calming and relaxing effect on the mind. Since the dining room is a place for connecting with family and friends, blue sets a peaceful, unwinding backdrop for your time together at the table. It’s hard to feel stressed out in a serene blue room.
– Enhances Conversation – In feng shui and chromotherapy, blue represents improved communication and self-expression. The dining table is where many meaningful conversations happen. The soothing nature of blue can encourage people to open up.
– Versatile for Any Style – From bright and airy sky blues to dramatic navy hues, the range of blue shades allows it to suit any style of decor. Blue mixes seamlessly with other popular dining room colors like green, brown, white, and gray.
– Darker Blues are Slimming – An added benefit of selecting a deeper blue paint color for your dining space is that it can have a slimming effect visually. Dark blues tend to make walls recede, which can make a small dining room feel more spacious.
Factors Against Using Blue in a Dining Room
Despite its benefits, there are a few caveats to keep in mind when using blue in the dining room:
– Can Suppress Energy – While blue has calming properties, some shades like dark navy can actually lower energy, concentration, and conversation. Light blues are less likely to have this effect.
– May Appetite for Some – Appetite suppression is not universal. For some people, blue may actually stimulate hunger and appetite, especially brighter shades. Consider how it impacts you.
– Requires Proper Lighting – Without sufficient lighting, blue dining rooms can start to feel dark and cold. Make sure to include light fixtures, sconces, and natural sunlight exposure.
– Risk of Feeling Sterile – In deeper shades, blue can come across as sterile if not balanced with warm woods, metallics, and soft textures in your furniture and decor choices.
– Limits Some Color Pairings – While blue looks great with neutrals and some bolder accent colors, it doesn’t mix seamlessly with every hue. Red and orange, for example, can feel jarring with blue.
Best Blue Paint Colors for a Dining Room
If you decide blue is right for your dining space, choosing the perfect blue paint color is key. Here are some of the most popular and effective blue hues for dining rooms:
| Blue Paint Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Light Blue | These pale sky blue shades create an open, airy feel perfect for sun-filled dining rooms. They promote conversation and keep the mood uplifted. |
| Periwinkle Blue | Pretty and soft, periwinkle blue evokes spring and looks gorgeous with white trim, wainscoting, and lighter wood tones. |
| Powder Blue | Equally fitting for traditional and modern spaces, powder blue is versatile and calming without feeling overly stark. |
| Duck Egg Blue | This gray-blue has earthy, natural warmth while still feeling crisp and lively. It pairs well with whites. |
| Navy Blue | For a bolder, dramatic effect, navy blue dining rooms are stylish and elegant. Just balance it with metallics and warmer tones. |
These shades provide a sampling of more appealing blue hues for the dining room. Consider the mood and style you want before deciding which family of blues fits best.
How to Decorate a Blue Dining Room
The way you decorate and furnish a blue dining room will influence how cohesive and inviting the final look becomes. Here are some interior design tips:
– Mix multiple blue tones and textures like a deeper blue wall with a lighter blue patterned rug. Varying shades creates visual interest.
– Add pops of contrast colors like yellow, white, chartreuse, or even glossy black to keep it from feeling one dimensional.
– Incorporate metallic finishes and mirrored furniture or accessories to keep blue dining rooms from seeming too cold.
– Layer in natural materials like wood furniture, jute rugs, and soothing green plants to create warmth against cool blue walls.
– Don’t forget lighting! Add interest with a stunning modern chandelier or sconces to cast ambient lighting on blue walls.
– Soft, cozy textiles on dining chairs complement blue’s soothing nature.
– Display white dishes brightly against blue backdrops for a clean, eye-catching contrast.
6 Blue Dining Room Ideas
Here are 6 inspiring ways to successfully incorporate blue into your dining room design:
1. Navy Blue Statement Wall
Make one wall in your dining room a bold navy blue. Fill the rest with bright white for contrast. Use warm wood furnishings and brass accents to keep the look inviting.
2. Powder Blue and Rattan
A powder blue dining room feels beachy and relaxed when paired with rattan chairs, woven placemats, and neutral tableware. Add potted palms or ferns for an extra coastal vibe.
3. Modern Dark Blue
For contemporary edge, opt for a darker inky blue on the walls and sleek leather dining chairs. Hang edgy modern light fixtures over your table. Keep art and accessories minimal.
4. Light Blue with Dark Floors
Soft robin’s egg blue walls work perfectly against rich hardwood or black floors. Choose a colorful patterned rug under your table to tie the look together.
5. Periwinkle and Florals
A fun, feminine take is periwinkle blue walls with vintage floral upholstered dining chairs and matching floral table linens. White dishes pop against the soft blue.
6. Blue and White Traditional
You can never go wrong with crisp white wainscoting below airy sky blue walls. For timeless appeal, hang a sparkling crystal chandelier over your table.
Whether you prefer modern, coastal, traditional, or eclectic, there are so many ways to stylishly incorporate blue paint and decor in your dining room.
Tips for Decorating Around Blue Dining Rooms
It’s not just about the blue dining room itself. The surrounding details like flooring, entryways, and centerpieces also impact the look. Here are some extra decor tips:
– Anchor your blue walls with warm wood or tile flooring. Avoid pairing it with other cool tones like gray or stainless steel.
– For bright blue dining rooms, continue blue accents into adjoining spaces for a cohesive feel. Use blue curtains or hallway runners.
– Choose wood stains and finishes like oak or walnut that feel warmer and earthier against crisp blues.
– Set your blue dining table with white dishes and table linens for an easy, striking contrast.
– Incorporate metallic finishes like brass, gold, and marble for opulence against blue backdrops.
– For centerpieces, white flowers or green botanicals complement blue walls nicely without feeling too matchy.
– Paint your front door a shade of blue matching your dining room for curb appeal. Welcome guests with inviting blue hues.
Conclusion
Blue dining rooms have so much design potential. The colors promote engaging conversation while setting the stage for meaningful time with family and friends around the table. From cheery pastel blues to dramatic navy hues, the options are wide open. Just stick with lighter blues if you want an energizing, appetite suppressing effect or deeper shades for mood and ambiance. Blend blue walls with warmer woods, metallics, and bright pops of contrasting colors. Use blue consistently from your walls to front door to create a cohesive feel. With the right light, furniture, and style, blue can become the perfect backdrop for dining, entertaining, and connecting in your home.
