Colors that go with navy blue can help boost the hue to new heights, creating interior schemes that are rich, sophisticated and deeply comforting. While some colors add further depth to a rich navy blue, others have a contrasting effect, injecting a bit of life and vibrancy into an otherwise tranquil scheme.
'Navy is such a classic and beautiful color to live with,' says architectural color consultant Amy Krane, founder of Amy Krane Color. 'Though a cool color, it can skew warmer (purple-blue) or cooler (green-blue or teal). Knowing which it is will help you choose colors to accompany it.'
While finding colors that go with blue can be a relatively straightforward task, finding schemes and colors that go well with navy blue requires a much more delicate and deft touch. 'As a darker color, navy blue requires a lot of light (natural preferred) to look good in a room, though a little powder room in navy works too,' adds Amy.
To help you, here are 11 designer-approved color pairings — from red to purple, burgundy and beyond — that you can take inspiration from.
1. Yellow
Navy blue is among one of the best colors that go with yellow — a pairing that looks equal parts striking and modern. Yellow is a warm, versatile color that can add an instant ray of sunshine to an otherwise sultry dark navy blue room. If it's a more energetic and lively vibe you're looking to create, consider using pops of both these colors against a neutral backdrop, as done in this modern living room scheme.
'The soft, velvety blue Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia is complemented by the pop of yellow in the Roly Poly armchair, and the colors in the room are reflected by the mirrored coffee table,' explains Giorgia Cedro, founder of Olbos Studio. 'An eye-catching Tobia floor lamp by Foscarini completes the composition by opposing the horizontality of the sofa in a playful manner.'
2. Red
When it comes to colors that go with red, navy blue can be a great companion, but the pairing needs to be handled with care. While red is a strong, fiery hue, navy blue can be deeply pensive, creating a cave-like interior. But when the two are well-balanced, where neither is stepping over the other, the palette can look eye-catching and stylish, as is the case in this smart New York apartment.
'The library and renovation of the apartment have a serene aesthetic; it’s an enclave of serenity,' describes Alexander Poma and Leslie Steven, founders of PomaSteven Design & Architecture. 'It brings a lot of happiness to us, our clients, and the people who see it. The room's walls are covered with Maya Romanoff's Weathered Walls wallcovering; a look-alike for lacquered leather. The room's millwork is painted in an intense glossy navy. The velvet sectional is a custom sleeper paired with a Josef Frank coffee table and a vintage French lounge chair in red from Magen H Gallery. This cozy room was designed as a quiet decompression zone with this palette, for reading and TV watching that works as a very private room for guests.'
3. Purple
Believe it or not, navy blue is a color that goes with purple, too — striking the most soothing, comforting, and warm visual.
'Navy, being a deep and dark color, exudes a calming ambiance,' says Kashi Shikunova, director at Yam Studios. 'To maintain balance, I find it works particularly well with deep purple or lilac shade. Its pink undertones complement the navy perfectly by adding warmth. The lighter shade of lilac contributes to the overall sense of tranquillity, creating a harmonious combination that feels soothing.'
'The color palette for this primary bedroom was selected to elicit slumber and relaxation,' say Corey Kingston and Liza Curtiss, principles of Le Whit. 'The dark blue of the walls allows the deep purple upholstered headboard, the blush-colored bedding, and the warm accents to co-exist without too much visual upset.'
4. White
If you want navy blue to take center stage in your scheme, white is a classic match for it. But you need to be considerate with how you combine the two.
'Using such a dark hue on the ceiling as well as the walls can produce a very different feel than using a lighter color,' says Amy Krane. 'A white or off-white ceiling and/or trim with navy is a high contrast situation. Make sure you like that look before you take that route. Alternatively, be careful not to create a cave-like atmosphere covering the whole room with navy which sometimes is a risk with a dark ceiling. If you don't want a navy or white ceiling try a light neutral to give the room a more airy feeling.'
'Navy with white has a nautical, even preppy vibe,' Amy continues. 'Navy suits all types of decor from traditional (think Ralph Lauren), to transitional, contemporary, or even modern. It’s not a color associated with mid-century modern environments but that shouldn't stop someone with that type of space if they love navy.'
5. Burgundy
Although unexpected, when you're looking for colors that go with burgundy, navy blue actually pairs beautifully, creating an interior that is rich with depth and timeless sophistication. This palette also helps other jewel tones, such as gold or silver, particularly pop.
'For this interior, we drew on high-end European styles and brought together a careful curation of pieces from local and international designers,' says Guillaume Coutheillas, founder of frenchCALIFORNIA. 'We sourced collectible design pieces from internationally renowned galleries and showrooms including Capellini, B&B Italia, CC Tapis, and Flos, working closely with them to create an exhibition that is meant to evoke the ‘Modern Dolce Vita’. The color palette for this room was dark and moody, creating a cozy yet sophisticated office/library space. Jewel tones like navy blue, burgundy, and a silver-grey blend together to create an alluring design.'
6. Lavender
Lilac and lavender have been gaining quite a bit of traction recently — particularly in popular summer color palettes. They're very calming hues, and as such, much like pink, need something darker to ground them and give them a less saccharine quality. But, there are plenty of colors go with lavender, which is why it works so well with navy blue. It has the same cool undertones but adds a softness to the darker shade. Sometimes you can find lilac shades so subtle they almost act like a neutral.
'I’ve always been lavender skeptical, perhaps because I’m insecure in my masculinity?' says designer Jonathan Adler. 'Well, I’m insecure no more! Lavender is the pastel du jour and I am obsessed with it. It feels dreamy and floaty and surreal. And lavender plays well with others — navy, chocolate brown, taupe, and white.'
7. Grey
Price: $1,603.06
Size: 103" W x 32" D x 18.5" H
Gray and navy blue may sound like a combination with too many cool tones that it risks coming across as frosty. Pick the right warm, deep gray, however, and pair it with a beautifully dark, midnight navy blue and the mix becomes one of the coziest and most cocooning on the color wheel. This living room is just further proof that navy blue is in fact a color that goes with gray.
‘In a classic, vintage home, the rear section of a double reception room is often lacking in natural light as the rear of the house can leave it in shade,' explains Andrew Griffiths, founder of A New Day. 'Rather than see that as a negative, we decided to lean into that by making this space a cozy and cocooning TV snug. The wraparound color of rich walls creates an atmospheric space that has a distinct feel from the lighter, brighter front section of the house which we separated with pocket doors. The ceiling is finished in a warm greige to create a lightness overhead but with a softer contrast than using white. A limewash paint is used on both the walls and ceiling, introducing a mottled and chalky finish which brings real depth to the flat surfaces.’
8. Light blues
Blue on blue might sound bland for a living room paint color idea, but going all over with a single color actually has a surprisingly striking effect. Try pairing navy blue furniture, whether that be a sofa or a chair, with slightly lighter blue walls for a calming and cocooning look. Then add in some much-needed warmth with wood accents.
'When pairing navy with other blues, look for shades that can provide contrast, like pale shades of blue,' says Livingetc's Global Brand Director, Sarah Spiteri. 'Introducing additional colors or using neutrals to break up the blues can help the space feel overly monochromatic while leaning into a blue aesthetic.'
9. Rust orange
The color wheel already tells us this is a combination that's meant to work. Complementary colors sit opposite each other so orange was made to pair with blue; the warmth balancing out the cool of the navy. Plus there are a lot of colors that go with orange. And it doesn't have to be a dramatic high-contrasting scheme — although we do love how tangerines zing against navy. A deep rusty orange looks beautiful against the moodier tones of dark navy blue.
'While navy blue and rusty oranges can look beautiful together, they can also be high-energy colors when paired,' says Livingetc's Sarah Spiteri. 'To create a more balanced and grounding environment, look to earthy oranges paired with warm terracottas and browns that can be accented with shades of navy. Navy blue and rust orange can also work well in tandem to help activate a more neutral space, such as an ivory sofa paired with textured throw pillows in shades of navy and orange.'
10. Fresh greens
Blue and green should never be seen, right? Wrong. Navy blue and a fresh bright green can be a sophisticated, traditional pairing. Blue really should be seen as a color that goes with green, lifting a darker shade like navy and giving it a much fresher and livelier look.
'Navy often pairs well with deeper, cool-leaning greens and sage tones,' says Livingetc's Sarah Spiteri. 'The blue-grey tones of sage green make it a soothing counterpart to navy. It can also help lighten a navy space without as stark a contrast as whites or creams. Deep greens in similarly cool, more desaturated tones can also work well with navy, particularly in patterning that may lean towards a more historical or traditional aesthetic.'
11. Pink
Navy blue can be found amongst the colors that go with pink — a combination that can look sophisticated and grown-up. The shades work well to balance each other out. The muted warm, rosy tones counteract any of the cooler tones of the deep blue, while the navy prevents the pink from looking too sweet and sickly.
The key is to get the undertones right. The majority of pinks do have that blueish undertone; it's what gives them their muted tone, so it's best to order samples of your paint or fabric and see how the two shades sit together.
'Pink can often be seen as a youthful color, but when put together with navy, it instantly matures and can act as a soft neutral,' says Juliette Thomas, founder & director of Juliettes Interiors. 'Pairing navy with pink is a great combination, due to how well they balance one another out, as the cool undertones of the navy are warmed up by the pink, resulting in a clever decorative scheme. As both colors are quite bold, it’s best to choose one dominant color for the walls or the larger core items such as a sofa or bed, and add subtle hints of the other shade in through home accessories.'
How can I use navy blue in an on-trend way?
One of the boldest and most on-trend ways to use navy blue is to go all-in on the shade. 'There are so many ways to use this color but one of my favorite approaches is to bath a room in navy blue,' says interior designer Jewel Marlowe, founder of Jeweled Interiors. 'Visually, this will take up about 50-60% of the room.'
To make the overall scheme more interesting, Jewel suggests layering in other shades, especially those from the other side of the color wheel. 'I might layer in the neutral sofas and drapes, but I then punch it up with pops of red or pink,' she suggests. 'A design like this results in a room that is soothing, yet visually interesting.'
What colors to avoid with navy blue
Blue is one of those wonderful colors that goes with everything, so pinpointing what colors to avoid pairing it with is particularly hard. In saying that, it all depends on the shades and level of saturation you choose.
For instance, while gray and navy blue definitely go together, it's best to pair a darker gray than a lighter, cooler one. Similarly, it's generally advised to avoid pairing navy blue and black together, as they'll compete in a space.
Navy blue and yellow — again depending on the shades you pick — can be a tricky combination to master, and done wrong, can end up looking '80s but not in a good way.
