The Best Blue Paint Colors for Every Room
From tranquil blue skies to serene ocean waves, the color blue is ubiquitous in the natural world. So, it should come as no surprise to find that it’s one of our clients’ most frequently requested colors — and for good reason. Blue colors are commonly associated with qualities of calmness, serenity, peace, and stability. Due to the color’s frequent occurrence in the natural world, it is also closely associated with qualities of happiness, joy, and reliability.
With countless options available, choosing paint colors for your interior spaces can be challenging. As a design team, we are often asked for recommendations on the best blue paint colors for interior spaces. To help narrow down your selection, we’ve compiled some of our favorite blue hues that are both client favorites and designer-approved. From blue gray paint colors to dark and navy blue paint, see what made the list below.
Light Blue/Blue Gray Paint Colors
Benjamin Moore – First Snowfall
As gentle and lovely as its name suggests, Benjamin Moore “First Snowfall” is a soft, cool paint color, with just a hint of warmth. Its delicate blue undertones make this a go-to blue-gray paint color that is perfect for a variety of spaces. It’s a favorite among our design team as a light, neutral shade with just a whisper of blue.
Farrow & Ball – Borrowed Light
More of a gray with a hint of blue, Farrow & Ball “Borrowed Light” is an interior paint color that is incredibly versatile. It works just as well in spaces with abundant natural light as it does in spaces with less generous levels of natural light. We most recently used this lovely blue paint color in a bedroom from our Watch Hill Coastal Retreat project (see above) for a soft, gentle touch in a room filled with whimsy and light.
Benjamin Moore – Mt. Rainier Gray
A soft, sophisticated blue gray paint, Benjamin Moore “Mt. Rainier Gray” is inspired by the eponymous mountain peak in Washington state, dappled with glacial ice infused with undertones of white, gray and blue.
Benjamin Moore – Gentle Gray
As its name suggests, this blue gray paint color is an easy-going hue with soft, calming, neutral presence on the wall. Benjamin Moore describes Gentle Gray as a “versatile shade of soft gray,” and one that “resembles a gentle early-morning fog.” With undertones of soft blue, it’s a versatile blue paint color that can be applied in virtually any room.
Mid-Tone Blue Paint Colors
Farrow & Ball – Parma Gray
Classified as a “cool mid blue” by Farrow & Ball, this soft shade evokes the calmness of a misty Sunday morning. Parma Gray‘s clean, crisp appearance makes it a perfect choice for formal spaces. Our design team recently used the paint in a home office in our Wellesley New Traditional project, and we love how it pulled the space together.
Benjamin Moore – Pilgrim Haze
As a bold, saturated hue in Benjamin Moore’s “Color Preview” collection, this timeless shade recalls early morning fog rising over New England shorelines. We love it for use on both interior walls and on millwork. Most recently, our design team used Pilgrim Haze for a double vanity in a coastal home’s primary bathroom. In a space with abundant natural light, the color rendered as a lovely neutral shade with a hint of blue sky.
Benjamin Moore – Polaris Blue
Undoubtedly, Benjamin Moore’s Polaris Blue is the number one color we are asked about. The rich, bold blue paint color was featured prominently in the library of our Cozy New England Colonial project (as seen in Boston Globe Magazine). Polaris Blue adds depth and dimension to a space, and coupled with drapery in a lovely print, can add instant sophistication to a more formal space.
Benjamin Moore – Bachelor Blue
Benjamin Moore Bachelor Blue is a deep, muted blue-gray paint color with shades of slate blue and charcoal gray. Similar hues by Benjamin Moore include Normandy and Black Pepper. It’s a classic slate color to complement a timeless space. We love it for game rooms and recreation rooms.
Dark Blue / Navy Blue Paint Colors
Farrow & Ball – Stiffkey Blue
With rich, dark undertones, we love Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue for more formal, traditional spaces. Most recently, we used the dark blue paint color for custom built-ins featured in the library of our Watch Hill Coastal Retreat project. The deeper hue adds depth and dimension to spaces with less natural light, and renders a beautiful shade of blue in spaces with abundant natural light.
Benjamin Moore – Newburyport Blue
Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue is described as “steeped in tradition,” and as a “refined, elegant color that can be used in traditional as well as contemporary spaces.” We love this hue for its timelessness. It is featured prominently in a child’s bathroom in our Wellesley New Traditional project. It renders as a vivid dark blue with rich blue undertones.
Farrow & Ball – Hague Blue
Farrow & Ball Hague Blue is a great moody blue paint color with lots of dimension, and it can be used in virtually any space. Our team recently chose the shade for a ceiling application in the playroom of a family home.
Benjamin Moore – Hale Navy
Finding the perfect Navy Blue is a difficult task, but our design team agrees: this is simply the perfect navy. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is both classic and versatile. The shade has a soft spot for Design Assistant Colleen Mulcahy, who selected the hue for her parents’ living room.
Click here for our design team’s favorite white and gray paint colors.
