When selecting pastel colors to pair with navy blue, it’s important to consider complementary colors on the color wheel. Navy blue sits between blue and purple on the wheel, so shades like light blue, lavender, pink, peach, and mint green tend to complement it well. Combining navy with soft pastel shades creates an elegant, soothing color palette.
Best Pastel Colors for Navy Blue
Here are some of the most popular and aesthetically pleasing pastel colors to pair with navy blue:
- Baby blue – A few shades lighter than navy, baby blue has a gentle, calm feeling. The pairing is classic and nautical.
- Mint green – With its cool, fresh quality, mint green offsets navy’s depth beautifully. Mint also complements navy in nature, like blue skies and green seas.
- Lavender – Soft and romantic, lavender balances navy’s boldness with femininity. Navy and lavender are a sophisticated color combo popular for weddings.
- Peach – Peach’s warmth contrasts nicely with navy’s cool tones. Together they are vibrant yet soft, ideal for spring and summer.
- Blush pink – Gentle blush pink keeps navy from feeling too stern. This chic pairing works well in fashion and interior decor.
- Pale yellow – Crisp and sunny, pale yellow brings out navy’s versatility. The nautical vibe works in casual and formal settings.
These pastel shades range from cool to warm undertones, providing plenty of options for pairing with deep navy hues. Using tints of blue, green, purple, pink and yellow allows you to create varied palettes that retain a cohesive, complementary look.
Pastel Color Pairings
Some examples of stunning pastel and navy blue color combinations include:
- Navy and mint – Refreshing like the coast, with navy anchoring mint’s airiness
- Navy and lavender – Elegant and romantic, perfect for weddings
- Navy and peach – Cheerful and lively for spring and summer
- Navy and baby blue – Classic, nautical, and soothing
- Navy and blush – Chic and feminine, great for fashion and decor
- Navy and pale yellow – Bright yet soft, perfect for casual wear
You can incorporate these pastel and navy pairings throughout your wardrobe, home decor, event designs, and more. For example, a navy blue dress paired with mint heels, or a navy sofa with lavender and peach pillows. Get creative with mixing patterns and textures too.
Pastel Color Palettes with Navy
To take the color pairings a step further, you can create full palettes that incorporate several pastels with navy blue as a base. Some tranquil, sophisticated pastel and navy palettes include:
Navy, Lavender and Mint
This cool, elegant palette is perfect for spring. Pale mint green and soft lavender balance navy’s boldness.
Navy, Peach and Pale Yellow
Vibrant yet gentle, these happy pastel hues give navy energy. Great for summer beach themes.
Navy, Baby Blue and Blush
Soothing and sweet, this combo can be styled chic, nautical or preppy. A versatile palette with year-round appeal.
Navy, Lavender, Mint and Blush
A harmonious mix of cool and soft tones. Sophisticated for special events and black-tie affairs.
The pastels provide a lighter complement to deep navy hues. You can also add white and cream accents to create more layered, nuanced palettes. Have fun mixing and matching shades!
Tips for Decorating with Navy and Pastels
Here are some quick tips for effectively decorating with navy blue and pastel color combinations:
- Use navy for large pieces like sofas or accent walls to anchor the palette.
- Layer in pastels with pillows, rugs, flowers, art prints and other accessories.
- Choose pastel-colored furniture, linens and decor items in mint, lavender, peach, etc.
- Incorporate white for an airy, softened look.
- Mix patterns and textures like stripes with florals or matte with glossy.
- Display fresh greenery like eucalyptus to complement the colors.
Avoid going overboard with too many colors and patterns. Allow each hue to stand out against the neutral navy background. When decorating for a special event like a navy and blush wedding, get creative with napkins, centerpieces, signage and any other visual elements.
Using Navy and Pastels in Fashion
Along with home decor, navy blue and pastel color palettes work beautifully in fashion. Some ideas include:
- A navy blue pencil skirt with a mint green silk blouse
- A peach or pale yellow sundress with a navy cardigan or jacket
- Navy trousers paired with a lavender button-down shirt
- A navy and white striped tee with a blush pink skirt
- Navy pumps and a baby blue handbag
- Navy suits and dresses with mint, peach or pink ties and accessories
Go for tone-on-tone styling by pairing navy pants or footwear with a matching navy and pastel patterned blouse. Or make navy the bold base and use pastels to accent with jewelry, scarves, hats and other finishing touches. Monochromatic navy and pastel outfits also create a long, lean silhouette.
Navy Blue and Pastel Nail Designs
Don’t forget to incorporate this pretty color combination to your nail art! Some examples include:
- Navy base with lavender and mint stripes
- Navy tips with peach and pale yellow bands
- Navy base with baby blue and blush dots
- Thin vertical navy and mint stripes
- Navy and white polka dots with lavender bows
Layer sheer pastel shades over navy for an illuminated effect. Go for an ombre look fading from dark to light. Use metallic gold to highlight navy and pastel nail designs. Have fun with patterns and nail art techniques like stamping and dotting.
DIY Craft Ideas with Navy and Pastels
Bring this color palette into your DIY craft and sewing projects too. Some ideas include:
- Tote bags or quilts in navy with mint, lavender and peach fabrics
- Navy ribbons and trims on peach, lavender or pale yellow baby onesies
- Navy paper decorated with blush pink and pale yellow flowers for scrapbooking
- Statement jewelry made with navy and pastel glass beads
- Navy blue candle holders painted with lavender stripes or mint polka dots
It’s easy to find navy and pastel fabrics, papers, buttons, trims and paints for crafts. Make the navy the bold base and use pastels to embellish with floral details, stripes, dots and other patterns. Customize frames, vases, boxes and more with navy and pastel color schemes.
Conclusion
With their airy, gentle quality, pastels provide the perfect complement to rich navy blue hues. Shades like mint, lavender, peach, baby blue, blush and pale yellow work beautifully with navy for soothing, sophisticated color palettes. Use these harmonious color combinations for fashion, decor, DIY projects, events and more. Just remember to let the navy stand out as the anchor, and layer on pastels sparingly to convey tranquility. Have fun mixing and matching as you design with navy blue and pastels!