The Most Beautiful Blue Paint Colors, According to Designers
Because this soothing hue never goes out of style.
Blue just may be the most versatile shade on the color wheel. With its diverse range of undertones and ability to pair seamlessly with other hues, this color proves why it is a standout among designers. A rich midnight blue evokes a moody, reflective feeling that's suitable for a home library, while a glossy aquamarine exudes just the right amount of energy within a living room. Delicate pastel blue walls can even transform modest bedrooms into peaceful and calming retreats that draw you in, and ocean-inspired blue hues are perfect for creating a spa-like bathroom.
Blue paint colors are both classic and on trend. Several shades of blue paint colors made the list for PPG paint's Trending Paint Colors for 2022, Sherwin Williams 2022 Color Collection, and Valspar's 2022 Colors of the Year. Krylon's 2022 Color of the Year was a vibrant blue-teal paint that would look striking sprayed on an outdoor bench, while Behr's 2022 Color of the Year was a soft and minty blue-green shade that would be perfect in a bathroom or kids' room.
For inspiration on which blue paint colors to choose, we reached out to top designers all over the world. One of these sumptuous selections is sure to make it on your walls.
Blue Dragon by Benjamin Moore
"Benjamin Moore’s Blue Dragon is one of my favorites. It is a vibrant color that imbues a space with depth and warmth. I incorporated it into my Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach 2020 kitchen, as I felt it beautifully reflected the area's coastal environment while keeping it timeless." — Sarah Blank, Sarah Blank Design Studio
Dynamic Blue by Sherwin Williams
"Not for the faint of heart! This bold, bright, and happy blue is a great choice. In fact, I painted my own living room this color. Dynamic Blue manages to be a bold statement and a great backdrop to other bold colors." — Courtney McLeod, Right Meets Left Interior Design
Ultra Blue by Little Green Paints
"I love Little Green Paints's Ultra Blue because it's profoundly blue but less inky." —Kate Hume, Kate Humes Interiors
Laguna by Sydney Harbour Paint Company
"One of our all-time favorite blues is Laguna from Sydney Harbour Paint Company. We used this hue in their Interno Lime Wash product in a space we recently designed, and it's blissfully ethereal. SHP's limewash is as easy to apply as paint—no joke—and replicates the soft, weathered patina of a traditional limewash. We literally can't get enough of how this product gently blooms over time, creating loads of depth and texture in any space. It's killer in Laguna, but available in any custom color your heart can dream of. Members of the trade can purchase all of SHP's no-VOC line through our showroom." —Krista Nicholas, Cloth and Kind
Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore
"What I love about this hue is the sheer versatility it brings to the mix. It can be played up as royally traditional or chilled out as laid-back modernity. It makes a powerful, contrasting backdrop for furnishings and accessorizing choices like salon-styled art hangings. Due to its romantic vibe, this rich color is perfect for master bedrooms. I've deployed it at least twice in this application." —Corey Damen Jenkins
“It may seem antithetical, but for a dark room, I actually prefer leaning into it and using a darker, more saturated color. Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy is a favorite of mine. It creates a space that is cozy, moody, comfortable, and that has a touch of masculinity.” —Young Huh
Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore
"One of my favorite blue hues is Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore. It is a beautiful shade of pale blue with dusty gray, watery undertones. I love it because it works just as well in traditional spaces as it does in more modern ones. It looks especially stunning executed in a lacquer finish." —Paloma Contreras
Mysterious by Benjamin Moore
"Blue is my go-to color and a personal favorite. It has become the new neutral due to its popularity. Like any color, blues have undertones and can travel the spectrum from warm to cool. We mostly use baby blues, gray blues, spa blues, indigos, and navy blues. Benjamin Moore's Mysterious is an almost-black blue—sophisticated and moody. Think about this color for a butler pantry, powder room, or island cabinets." —Karen B. Wolf, Karen B. Wolf Interiors
Skylight by Farrow & Ball
"Our favorite blue is Skylight #205 from Farrow & Ball because this pigment says 'light blue' without being pastel, sweet, or too reflective. It’s dirty and completely gorgeous. It creates earthy, magnificent backdrops that work brilliantly with the textures and tones of a well-layered room." —Jeffry Weisman and Andrew Fisher, Fisher Weisman
"Skylight is a pale gray that works beautiflly as an architectural neutral that evokes the natural light that pours in from a skylight. While a more traditional pale blue, it can subtly set off a space with modern furnishings and artwork lending it sophistication and depth. Becasue of the elegant grey tone to it, Sky light is a failsafe blue that never risks a baby blue effect." - Mindy O'Connor, Melinda Kelson O'Connor Design
Abysse by Ressource
"One of my favorite blues is Abysse by Ressource. I love the rich and warm tones that this color produces. Often times, navy blues can read too dark or just fall flat. Abysse is a true navy blue that warms any walls that it comes in contact with. Another benefit is its ability to stray away from making a room feel cave-like. If you’ve worked with blue paint before, you know that this is not an easy task!" —Mikel Welch, Mikel Welch Interior Design
Iced Slate by Benjamin Moore
"This is my go-to serene blue. It is cool, crisp, and calm. Iced Slate is a perfect description for this shade. " —Courtney McLeod, Right Meets Left Interior Design
Deep Dive by Clare Paints
"I am absolutely in love with Deep Dive by Clare paint. This color reminds me of the spunky and trendy cousin, who is not afraid to take risks. Deep Dive walks the line between blue and green hues. As someone who grew up in the '90s, this is a color that speaks to my soul! I can envision Deep Dive on kitchen cabinets or even a moody home office. Add a few brass light fixtures, and I’m sold." —Mikel Welch, Mikel Welch Interior Design
Mediterranean Breeze by Benjamin Moore
"The color reminds me of the south of France and lazy summer days. If it weren’t blue, it would be sunflower yellow, another color that fills my life in summer." –Kathryn M. Ireland
Luxe Blue by Sherwin-Williams
"Since working in Mexico, Luxe Blue has become my go-to for our clients who want to mix timeless, coastal style with the 'Baja boho' vibe. The restrained, sophisticated hue is reminiscent of the Sea of Cortez in the morning and creates a perfect backdrop for layering textured neutrals, rattan, and sea grass. My clients love that the end result gives them a touch of the Hamptons but in the desert of Mexico." —Anna Ruby, design director at Twin Dolphin Los Cabos
New York State of Mind by Benjamin Moore
"Benjamin Moore’s New York State of Mind is a lovely shade between a cobalt and marine blue that is universally appealing. The purity of the color allows it to work as an accent color or as a backdrop to showcase other design elements. It looks fabulous with other blues and can hold its own with bolder colors such as orange and green." —Catherine Austin
Rhine River by Benjamin Moore
“I love working with blues as they bring the color of sky and ocean into indoor living spaces. Benjamin Moore's Rhine River is one of my favorite colors. It is soft and relaxing yet sophisticated. It is a perfect backdrop for mahogany and teak furniture in a midcentury modern house, as well as against painted trims in a Cape Cod or Shingle-style home. The most versatile shade of blue paint.” —Goli Karimi, director of design at Home Front Build
Light Blue by Farrow & Ball
"This shade is a true light blue without being baby blue. It has hints of a warm gray, soothing and soft, perfect for bedrooms. Farrow & Ball does a great job of having these beautiful pigments that have many layers to them. Our bedroom is getting this color makeover as soon as my painter can find time for me. Again, paint the doors and molding if you can. It really brings a current feel." —Sarah Winchester
Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
"This sophisticated blue has incredible depth. With strong green undertones, I find it transitions quite well to both masculine and feminine spaces." —Courtney McLeod, Right Meets Left Interior Design
"One of my favorite go-to blues is Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. I love to apply it as a lacquer in a library and mix in a rich rust-colored mohair on a pair of chairs or small sofa. The combination of the lacquer and sumptuous mohair gives an instant air of sophistication.” —Meridith Baer, Meridith Baer Home
"One of my favorite blues is Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. I have used it in a few of my projects. It’s a strong and dramatic blue but has a bit of a green undertone to it. It reads a little unexpected." — Laurie Blumenfeld-Russo, Laurie Blumenfeld Design
Prussian Blue by Benjamin Moore
"Benjamin Moore's Prussian Blue somehow always manages to look bright without being garish. It has an old-world look and yet is fresh and modern. We are using it right now in a high gloss to repaint a white four-poster bed that will look so much richer and more unique sporting this striking shade. It also plays well with others, like the blues in popular Canton China and Delft." —Rela Gleason, Rela Gleason Design
Fantasy Blue by Benjamin Moore
"We recently used Benjamin Moore Fantasy Blue for a bedroom. It's light and a little icy with a hint of green to keep it from feeling cold. We also painted the trim the same color to match so the walls fade away to the sky beyond. It has an ethereal quality that I really love." —William Cullum,
Gentleman's Grey by Benjamin Moore
"It’s the most amazing shade of navy!" —Scot Meacham, Scot Meacham Wood Home
Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things art, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand.
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