A Designer Guide to the Prettiest Blue Paint Colors for Every Style

Portolo Paints Revere

For a calm vibe, go with a super pale, "light blue with subtle gray and neutral undertones," advises Jamie Davis, designer and co-founder of Portola Paints. Revere is the ideal shade if you're looking for something transitional and timeless to last throughout the years. You can play up the undertones of blue, or swap in greens. We also see this looking gorgeous with some chocolate brown pieces.

Portola Paints Revere $64.00

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Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue

Consider a periwinkle shade of blue to add a touch of whimsy. Keep things cool with other shades of blues, grays, and whites, or warm things up with burnt orange, bronze, warm brown wood, and sharp shades of black. This will give your space a fresh take on traditional décor.

Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue $110.00

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Behr Winter Way

When she was converting an underused closet into a home office, blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona carefully considered paint color.

"I really wanted it to pop and stand out among the rest of the space, while still flowing with the room," she says. Enter Behr Winter Way—the perfect "dark almost-black peacock color," as Carmona describes it. We agree—it's inky, majestic, and dramatic to boot.

Behr Winter Way $46.00

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Behr Streetwise

Have you heard? Minty blues are making a comeback—not that we ever stopped loving them. As one of the more palatable pastels, mint makes a light and breezy statement in any room, regardless of design style, and can help freshen up a room that's feeling stale or stiff.

Behr Streetwise $46.00

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Portola Paints Sharkskin

Try a light shade of blue with undertones of green for an energizing and happy atmosphere. This nursery is fun and bright yet elevated enough to grow with a little one.

"On the swatch for Sharkskin, as the name suggests, this color appears to read quite gray, but when you get it up in a light-filled space, the playfulness really shines," Davis explains.

Portola Paints Sharkskin $64.00

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Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue

If you want a blue that isn't too dark but still brings a pop of color to your space, you can't go wrong with this shade. "It is the perfect happy blue without being too royal," says Arlyn Hernandez from the team over at Emily Henderson Design. "It doesn’t feel too dark or moody."

We can imagine this shade looking gorgeous in absolutely any setting, from a Parisian dining room to a Californian primary suite.

Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue $110.00

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Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace

Cyberspace is another designer favorite on the deep end. "I love this smokey navy color," says designer Laura Hay. "It's not decidedly masculine...it's more of a neutral with its grey undertones."

Hernandez agrees. "It’s an awesome color for millwork that’s lightened up by a neutral wall and other accents," she says. "It doesn’t lean too purple or come off too cyan but is definitely very saturated in a wonderful way."

Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace $42.00

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Portola Paints Kimono

When you want a pop of energy, Davis suggests going with a "rich jewel tone." We love how the pale pistachio green hue balances out the drama achieved by the jewel-toned blue and the other glam elements of this bar space. And as Davis says, "the only 'no-no' is being afraid of color and not following your heart."

Portola Paints Kimono $64.00

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Benjamin Moore Slate Teal

If you want to go moody, opt for a rich blue with an elegant earthiness, but freshen things up by introducing some tonal details. We love the way a sapphire blue velvet sofa pops against dark, teal walls in this room while more subtle blues are introduced through accent pieces.

Benjamin Moore Slate Teal $47.00

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Behr Ocean Abyss

If it's a lush tropical look you're after, Behr's Ocean Abyss will absolutely fit the bill. "I love the richness of the blue teal," says Stephanie Watkins of Casa Watkins Living, who used the color in her bohemian meets tropical living room. "I am over the moon about it." It's everything you want from a classic teal—not too green, not too blue—and truly one of the happiest shades we've seen.

Behr Ocean Abyss $46.00

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Behr Alice White

Don't be fooled by the name of this paint—it really is a nice, icy blue, which is also featured in Watkins' living room on a stunning 3D accent wall. "Adding a splash of Behr’s Alice White paint right down the middle was the perfect way to warm up the stark white wall," says Watkins.

Behr Alice White $46.00

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Benjamin Moore Buckland Blue

"Blue lends to many styles of design," says designer Louis Duncan-He, pointing out that blue can be very harmonizing when it comes to blending styles. In this bedroom, he was able to marry Modern Farmhouse and Mid-Century Modern elements using Benjamin Moore's Buckland Blue. "It's a soothing yet punctuated blue that offers a bit of a mid-century skew."

Benjamin Moore Buckland Blue $47.00

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Sherwin-Williams Hyper Blue

A splash of this cobalt blue will wake everything up in your space. But to keep your eyes from bouncing off the walls, you'll want to bring in larger pieces like sofas and rugs in more neutral shades to ground the space. When it comes to accent pieces, you can't really go wrong—embrace bright and bold for extra personality or layered neutrals for a sense of serenity.

Sherwin-Williams Hyper Blue $42.00

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Portola Paints Newton's Indigo

A rich navy tone has a classic, timeless appearance that's "great for a library or romantic dining and living room" areas, Davis says. "When pairing with deep navy tones, I like to bring in warm shades of sand or medium-to-light grays instead of bright white to soften the contrast."

Portola Paints Newton's Indigo $64.00

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Farrow & Ball Inchyra Blue

When Hernandez was working with the EHD team to makeover her own dining room, she knew she wanted to use Farrow & Ball's Inchyra Blue. "It’s my absolute new favorite paint color because it has a certain je ne sais quoi about it," says Hernandez. "It’s so wonderfully chalky and this very happy place between blue and green." In other words, the perfect moody blue.

Farrow & Ball Inchyra Blue $110.00

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Benjamin Moore Smoke

One of Hay's favorite ways to use blue paint is by layering various hues in one space. "I love mixing blues together. Somehow blue is like that...you can combine many different shades together without feeling overwhelmed by it," she shares. "This bunk room incorporates lovely two-toned blue millwork for a playful yet sophisticated aesthetic."

Benjamin Moore Smoke $47.00

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Sherwin-Williams Poolhouse

Finding a good mid-tone blue that doesn't read as childish is easier said than done. Luckily, we've done the work for you—Sherwin-Williams' Poolhouse ticks all the boxes. It's the perfect grayish-blue that is as at home in a traditional space as it is a contemporary one.

Sherwin-Williams Poolhouse $42.00

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Benjamin Moore Silver Marlin

"Just looking at a blue room can bring a sense of calmness and certainly provides a ton of versatility," says Sascha LaFleur, principal senior designer at West of Main Design. "One of our favorite ways of introducing color is within cabinetry. Opt for pale blue tones, like Silver Marlin, to create a soothing, ethereal ambiance." We're smitten with how this shade pairs with creamy zellige tiles.

Benjamin Moore Silver Marlin $47.00

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Benjamin Moore Arctic Blue

Although blue is a fail-safe choice for any space, it's especially at home in the bedroom thanks to its laid-back nature and soothing vibes. Case in point—this icy blue bedroom designed by Duncan-He. "Blue is such an easy color to work with," he says, "and it also brings in a natural element."

Benjamin Moore Arctic Blue $47.00

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Farrow & Ball Hague Blue

If you're looking for the purest navy blue, look no further. Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue is one of those marine blues that designers tend to fall back on. "It’s truly one of the richest, deepest navys (with slight green undertones) from any paint line," says Hernandez. Aye aye, captain.

Farrow & Ball Hague Blue $110.00

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Behr Caribe

Who says linen closets can't make you smile? Take a page out of Watkins' book and treat it like a jewel box—much like you might a powder room or an office nook. Her organized and stylish closet makes such a statement, she doesn't even need to close the door.

Behr Caribe $46.00

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Benjamin Moore Deep Secret

If you're looking for a timeless color, this blue with dust-gray undertones is a safe bet. Use it on simple accent walls, built-in cabinetry, or a full-room application—you really can't go wrong. Given its gray undertones, this color will look best layered with soothing neutrals and lighter blues.

Benjamin Moore Deep Secret $84.00

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Sherwin-Williams Waterloo

"This slate-y blue looks equally good on walls as it does millwork," Hernandez shares. That's because it's a deep blue that falls more on the gray side, which gives it the ability to act as a statement neutral. "It's a great background to build a crisp and personality-filled room around," adds Hernandez.

Sherwin-Williams Waterloo $42.00

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Benjamin Moore Mt. Rainier Gray

In another great example of mixing, Hay layers blues through architecture and furniture. Benjamin Moore's Mt. Rainier created just the right sky-blue backdrop for deeper navy built-ins. "Against the wall color, the dark blue here is fresh and timeless," she says.

Benjamin Moore Mt. Rainier Gray $47.00

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Sherwin-Williams Jay Blue

"When clients want a color but aren't sure of doing something avant-garde, blue is usually a great entry point for them to get a sense of how they feel about having a color in a more dramatic way in their space," says Duncan-He. In this formal dining room, a royal blue adds just the right touch of whimsy without taking away from the traditional bones of the space.

Sherwin-Williams Jay Blue $42.00

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