By Callum
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| 18th Century British Naval Officers |
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| Examples of Chinoiserie |
Navy blue has come in and out of fashion over the past 50 years. Although not regularly used in home furnishings in the 1960s, navy blue was very popular in clothing during that decade. In the late 1970s through the 1980s, navy was used as a “preppy” color. However, the 1990s ushered in warmer neutrals, like tan, beige, and brown – a trend that lasted until about 2010. In fact, it almost seems to have happened overnight: tan was out, gray was in.
Color variations
These days navy really describes a group of dark blue colors with a variety of undertones, tints, and shades. These are some of my favorite shades below.
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| Shades of Navy Blue |
A neutral color that plays well with others
Navy blue is a neutral color. More importantly, it’s a neutral that plays well with other neutrals. This is great news for homes with neutral profiles in the tan AND gray families! Gray is the neutral of choice these days, which seemed to happen overnight. I’ve met so many people here in Central Florida who live in relatively new homes with tan tile who are dying to have cool gray everything, but are not willing to rip up tile to avoid clashing neutrals. Ripping up tile and repainting everything is expensive!
Using navy blue in your home
So, how can you ‘cool’ things down without a complete remodel? One word: Navy! Navy blue is a great compliment to tan because it is essentially a toned and tinted orange. Orange and blue are complimentary colors on the color wheel. Navy also could be a potential unifier between grays and tans.
With its long and rich history, navy blue works with so many different styles. On my concept board below you can see everything from classics like Persian style rugs and traditional wing back chairs to more contemporary looks and trends like mid-century style sofas and bohemian tie dyed pillows. Since navy blue transcends many historical periods and styles you can use it no matter the style of your home. So many retailers are carrying items in navy that you can find home decor at any price point. As you can see below, one of my favorites is Serena and Lily. I am obsessed with their clean, classic California style.
Ideas that won’t make you blue
What are some ways that you could incorporate the navy trend into your next home decorating project? Want some ideas? Schedule your complimentary Design Style consultation today! Not sure what your design style is? Take my style quiz and follow the Pinterest board I’ve created for clients with similar taste!
Items pictured above: 1. Linen tufted headboard (All Modern) 2. Eliot sofa in Bentley Indigo (Joybird) 3. Kimono Printed Bedding (Williams Sonoma Home) 4. Atherton Chair (Williams Sonoma Home) 5. Riviera Armchair (Serena and Lily) 6. Side table (Serena and Lily) 7. Side table (Serena and Lily) 8. Side table (Serena and Lily) 9. Norwall Silk Damask Wallpaper (Wayfair) 10. Feather Wallpaper (Serena and Lily) 11. Throw pillow (Wayfair) 12. Tie-dye throw pillow (Target) 13. Embroidered throw pillow (Williams Sonoma Home) 14. Square vase table lamp (Shades of Light) 15. Pike table lampe (Lumens) 16. Boatman Geller monogrammed lucite tray(Layla Grayce) 17. Agate drapery tieback (Ballard Designs) 18. Distressed arabesque rug (West Elm) 19. Feather rug (Serena and Lily) 20. Buddha bust (Wayfair) 21.Glass knots (Tressle)