The Ultimate Guide to Blue Interior Design
Beautiful blue. The color of the sky and the sea. Its presence evokes an immediate sense of calm, tranquility, and peace. Blue is a color of incredible versatility, capable of being cool and refreshing in one shade and warm and inviting in another. Blue interior design can be used to create a wide range of moods, making it a powerful tool for any house project.
This guide will dive into the beautiful world of blue, exploring blue psychology and how to use its various shades to create a home that feels serene and stylish. Crucially, we'll show you how anything from blue wall art to a barn door can become integral parts of your blue design scheme.
The serenity of blue psychology
Blue is a staple in color psychology and can be highly beneficial for a sensory design scheme, and its effects on our mood are profound:
- Tranquility & calm. Blue is a non-threatening color that lowers our heart rate and blood pressure, creating a peaceful atmosphere. It’s the perfect choice for spaces where relaxation is key.
- Trust & stability. Deeper shades of blue, like navy, are associated with trust, authority, and stability, making them popular in corporate settings and libraries.
- Spaciousness. Cool blues tend to recede visually, making a room feel larger and more open than it is.
- Refreshing & clean. Light, crisp shades of blue are often used in bathrooms and kitchens to evoke a feeling of cleanliness and freshness.
Mastering blue in interior design
The secret to blue interior design is to choose the right shade for the right space.
- Soft & light blues (Sky Blue, Powder Blue, Robin's Egg). These create a gentle, airy, light, peaceful mood, ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and nurseries. Create open, calm and serene spaces paired with other light tones.
- Vibrant & medium blues (Cobalt, Aqua, Royal Blue). Ideal for an energetic, cheerful and lively mood that energizes a living room or kitchen. Pair these with whites and yellows for popping contrast.
- Deep & dark blues (Navy, Indigo, Midnight Blue). Deeper tones are ideal for a sophisticated, dramatic, luxurious and formal space, like a dining room or library. Elegance and intimacy are achieved with gold and brass pairings.
The true blue barn door is seamless integration
Blue interior doors can mesh nicely with blue wall paint in different shades, with barn doors being a great way to integrate the color with a strong presence. Blue barn doors can be a central part of your design, working to either blend seamlessly into a serene scheme or provide a dramatic, oceanic focal point. The installation of a barn door can be a central element in an effectively executed blue interior.
Create a serene blue barn door
A flat panel barn door painted in the same shade of a soft blue or a muted navy as the surrounding wall can create a seamless, serene look. This allows the door to add a touch of color without being an overpowering focal point. A soft blue barn door against a crisp white wall creates a clean, classic, and tranquil coastal look. The door provides a gentle touch of color for an invitingly fresh space
A bold blue statement
A matte navy or deep cobalt barn door in a room with light, neutral walls (white, cream, or light grey) creates a dramatic focal point. The door commands attention and adds a sense of sophistication and depth to the space. It can be a fantastic way to introduce bold color without dominating an entire room. Pair a navy barn door with polished gold hardware to create a luxurious, elegant, and timeless feel.
Functionality & versatility
A blue barn door can signal a change in mood within your home. A vibrant aqua barn door can lead to a lively playroom, while a calm sky blue door can open to a peaceful bedroom. Barn doors are also inherently space-saving, which is key to maintaining the open, uncluttered feel that blue interiors thrive on. Their sliding functionality allows for a free-flowing space that is essential for a tranquil home.
Glass barn doors for an oceanic feel
A glass barn door is an excellent way to connect spaces while maintaining the oceanic feel. It allows light to filter through, enhancing the airy and expansive nature of the space. A barn door with frosted glass can give you the best of both worlds—privacy for a bathroom or bedroom with the light-enhancing benefits of glass.
Tips for a cohesive blue look with barn doors
- Think about the mood you want to create with the shade. Is it a calm retreat or a cheerful, lively space?
- To prevent a blue room from feeling cold, balance it with warm elements like wood furniture, natural textures, and warm metallic accents.
- Use a deep blue barn door to contrast with light blue interior paint, or a light blue door to contrast with dark wood flooring.
- Choose a door with panels, or a finish that shows the subtle texture of the wood grain, to add depth and dimension.
Begin your blue interior design voyage today
Blue is an incredibly powerful and versatile color that can transform any space into a beautiful sanctuary. From its ability to create a sense of peace to its potential for sophisticated drama, blue offers an expansive palette for creative expression.
Your barn door, with its customizable finishes and strong presence, is the perfect tool for integrating blue into your home. Paint it a bold, oceanic hue or use a natural wood door as a warm, grounding contrast—a barn door offers a unique opportunity to enhance your home.
If you’re interested in learning more about interior design or getting more familiar with the beautiful world of barn doors, there’s no better place to visit than our blog! We offer a range of guides and plans to help people on their way to building their dream home.
