Navy blue is a versatile and popular color that can be paired with many different hues. Choosing colors that complement navy blue is important for creating attractive and visually appealing color combinations. Some key factors to consider when selecting colors to go with navy blue include contrast, temperature and tone.
Using colors that offer strong visual contrast allows each hue to stand out, while coordinating cool and warm tones creates a cohesive and balanced palette. Certain shades inherently pair well with navy blue based on their inherent harmonious relationship on the color wheel.
Use Contrasting Hues
Colors that strongly contrast against navy blue will create definition and make each shade pop. Dark navy works best with bright, saturated hues that add excitement. Some top colors that offer high contrast include:
| White | Bright red | Lemon yellow |
| Orange | Lime green | Magenta |
White provides the highest possible contrast, making navy really stand out when paired together. Crisp true white against the darkness of navy makes both colors look richer.
Vibrant red also strongly contrasts against dark blue, creating an eye-catching pairing. The intensity of bright true red against navy blue makes both hues look more saturated.
Lemon yellow has the same high-contrast effect, making navy pop with its sunny brightness. Yellow brings out the richness of navy, while navy makes yellow bolder.
Orange is another warm shade that contrasts dramatically against cool navy. The two hues are complementary colors, meaning they are opposite each other on the color wheel. This creates natural visual tension.
Lime green is a vivid secondary color that contrasts strongly with navy. The green draws out the blue tones in navy, while the navy makes the green shine.
Magenta creates a striking complementary color combination when paired with navy. This cool pairing is both sophisticated and dramatic.
Coordinate Warm and Cool Tones
Navy blue is a cool-toned hue. Pairing it with both warm and other cool colors creates a balanced and cohesive palette. Some top warm colors that work with navy include:
| Coral | Peach | Mustard yellow |
| Burnt orange | Brick red | Olive green |
Coral has a warm, reddish-orange tone that plays nicely off navy’s cool blue tones. This color combo evokes summertime and the beach.
Peach is a warmer version of orange that pairs attractively with navy. Its soft warmth contrasts the coolness of navy.
Mustard yellow has golden, earthy undertones that complement navy’s coolness. This combo provides enough contrast without being jarring.
Burnt orange has a cozy, rustic feel that offsets navy’s bold impact. The colors are harmonious but offer enough contrast.
Brick red, as an earthier, muted red, pairs well with navy. The reddish warmth works with navy’s blue coolness.
Olive green has both coolness and earthy warmth. This versatility allows it to pair attractively with navy blue.
Some top cool colors that coordinate well with navy include:
| Royal purple | Periwinkle | Ice blue |
| Teal | Forest green | Lavender |
Royal purple takes navy into a cooler, more regal palette. As analogous colors, they look sophisticated together.
Periwinkle has a crisp, cozy blue-violet tone that complements navy’s richness. The pairing feels elegant and restful.
Ice blue mixes nicely with navy, allowing each blue tone to stand out. Ice blue lightens up bold navy.
Teal makes a pleasing, contrasting blue-green pairing with navy. The tones play off each other for subtle vibrancy.
Forest green is both cool in tone and earthy in feel, striking an interesting balance with navy.
Lavender creates a soft, restful pairing with navy blue. The light purple cools navy’s boldness.
Combine Harmonious Hues
Certain colors have an inherent harmonious relationship with navy blue based on the color wheel. These complementary or analogous colors naturally look attractive together. Top options include:
| Gray | Cream | Blush pink |
| Mauve | Sea green | Baby blue |
Gray and navy are analogous neutrals that go seamlessly together. Gray softens navy’s bold impact and adds subtle contrast.
Cream has a delicate warm neutrality that highlights navy’s richness. The soft creaminess prevents navy from feeling overpowering.
Blush pink is navy’s direct complement on the color wheel. These sophisticated tones bring out the best in one another.
Mauve creates a muted, elegant pairing with navy blue as analogous colors. The tones are harmonious and refined.
Sea green strikes a natural-looking balance with navy, echoing the tones found in the ocean. The combo feels tranquil and organic.
Baby blue as a lightened version of navy has an inherent cohesive relationship. The similar hues blend seamlessly.
Use Navy Blue as a Neutral
With its versatility, navy blue can act as a neutral itself when creating color palettes. This allows virtually any color to pop against clean, bold navy. Some top pairings include:
| Pink | Coral | Red |
| Lime | Turquoise | Lavender |
Pink is a fail-safe pairing with navy, as the bold navy backdrop makes soft or bright pinks stand out.
Vibrant warm coral pops against navy. The crisp navy neutrality makes the energetic coral shine.
True red makes a patriotic pairing with navy. The navy enhances red’s boldness.
Zingy lime green becomes electric against navy. The contrast makes both colors energizing.
Turquoise sizzles against navy, with each bringing out the best in the other.
Lavender maintains its soft femininity and pops of color against the solid navy background.
Any color can make a statement against clean navy. The navy acts as a balancing neutral that lets additional hues take the spotlight.
Use Navy for Color Blocking
Color blocking with navy blue as an anchoring neutral color also allows inner colors to pop. Some color block combos include:
| Navy – White – Red | Navy – Yellow – Gray | Navy – Pink – Green |
| Navy – Peach – Magenta | Navy – Lavender – Sea Green | Navy – Turquoise – Burnt Orange |
Navy paired with crisp white and bright red makes a vibrant patriotic palette.
With navy, sunshine yellow and sleek gray create an eye-catching nautical combo.
Pink, grassy green and navy evoke springtime, with each hue energizing the others.
Peach, navy and electric magenta form a summery trio of contrasting colors.
Cool tones navy, lavender and sea green result in a soothing spa-like palette.
Navy grounds bold turquoise and earthy burnt orange in a playful combination.
Using navy to anchor color blocking allows the other hues to stand out while remaining connected. The navy neutrality binds the combo together.
Observe Color Values
When pairing other hues with navy, pay attention to each color’s value, which refers to lightness or darkness. Matching or contrasting values creates different effects. Some examples of coordinating value include:
| Light navy + Dark red | Creates a bold contrast |
| Navy + Lavender | Matches similar darker values |
| Navy + Light yellow | Contrasts light and dark values |
Pairing navy with darker shades like burgundy will make both colors pop thanks to high contrast.
Matching value levels by combining two darker hues like navy and lavender results in an elegant, sophisticated look.
Contrasting light and dark values, like navy with buttery yellow, makes each stand out while remaining connected.
Consider value contrast and coordination when selecting palette pairings for navy. This helps hues relate logically for optimal cohesion.
Use Tonal Variety
Work in tonal variety when combining other colors with navy blue. Mixing light, medium and dark shades creates depth and dimension. For example:
| Deep navy | Periwinkle | Pale blue |
This triad incorporates depth by including a deep navy, soft midtone periwinkle and light pale blue. The tones complement while offering visual interest.
| Navy | Cornflower blue | Baby blue |
Here, navy teams up with a brighter medium-toned cornflower blue and soft baby blue. The range prevents a flat, one-note palette.
Adding tonal variety gives navy blue palettes added sophistication and nuance. Mixing light, medium and dark blues offers possibilities.
Incorporate Neutral Tones
Neutrals like white, black, gray and tan pair seamlessly with navy, acting as quiet balancing tones. Keeping neutrals lighter supports navy’s boldness:
| Navy | Dove gray | Crisp white |
The dove gray and white neutrals in this triad keep the focus on the navy as a dominant color.
| Midnight navy | Pale tan | Eggshell white |
Again, the soft pale tan and eggshell white support midnight navy as the bolder color.
Adding lighter neutrals helps anchor navy blue, letting it maintain its depth without overpowering a palette. They provide a subtle counterbalance.
Consider Undertones
The undertones present in different shades of navy also impact color pairings. Warm, cool or neutral undertones offer nuanced pairing possibilities. Examples include:
| Warm navy | Works well with reds and yellows |
| Cool navy | Pairs attractively with pinks and greens |
| Neutral navy | Complements both warm and cool hues |
Knowing a navy’s undertones guides you in making harmonious color choices. Undertone variety expands navy’s versatility.
Use Accent Colors Thoughtfully
When using brighter accent shades with navy, a little goes a long way. Pops of vibrance balance navy’s subtler depth.
| Navy shirt | Orange belt | Navy pants |
An orange belt acts as a lively accent against the navy shirt and pants.
| Navy dress | Hot pink clutch | Navy shoes |
A hot pink handbag complements the navy dress and shoes as a bright complementary accent.
Keep accents like these in the 10-20% range. Vibrant accents let navy shine as the sophisticated neutral foundation.
Mix Patterns Mindfully
Pairing navy with patterns like checks, stripes and florals can increase visual appeal. Anchor busier patterns with plenty of solid navy.
| Navy blazer | Gingham shirt | Navy trousers |
A gingham shirt stands out against the navy blazer and pants as the statement pattern.
| Striped navy tee | Floral skirt | Navy shoes |
The floral skirt makes the focal pattern, grounded by the striped navy tee and shoes.
Keep navy the dominant solid when mixing in patterns. This allows navy to frame patterns without competing.
Sample Color Combinations
The following are some example color palettes that coordinate beautifully with navy blue.
Palette #1: Navy, white, red, yellow
This patriotic palette pairs navy with bright whites, cherry reds and sunny yellows. The contrast makes each color pop.
Palette #2: Navy, ochre, olive green, cream
Earthy ochre, olive and cream balance out rich navy blue in this harmonious, late summer combination.
Palette #3: Navy, turquoise, lime green, tomato red
Vibrant turquoise, lime and tomato red add lots of life when combined with versatile navy blue.
Palette #4: Navy, sky blue, lavender, pink
Different cool pastels come together attractively with navy as the grounding neutral blue.
Palette #5: Navy, denim, ivory, sage green
Casual denim, ivory and sage green create a relaxed coastal vibe when paired with navy.
The options for combining colors with navy blue are limitless. Following basic color theory principles helps assure attractive results!
Conclusion
Navy blue works with a diverse range of color pairings and combinations thanks to its versatility as a cool neutral. Keys for making colors pop against navy include using plenty of contrast, coordinating warm and cool tones, combining inherently harmonious hues and amping up vibrance with lively accent colors. By keeping navy dominant and anchoring busier patterns and prints, virtually any color palette can complement and enhance stylish navy blue. Whenever in doubt, look to the color wheel for guidance to create color schemes that form cohesive and appealing combinations.