"Blue is a perennial favorite and shifts its cast, value and/or chroma according to prevailing fashion and its timing on the color cycle," says Catherine B. Stein, color and trend forecaster for home furnishings manufacturers and president of THE COLOR COUNCIL. "Right now, blue is coming off a turquoise high and preparing itself for a full indigo immersion," she says.
Whatever shade of blue you choose, Stein says, the mood it evokes will depend largely on what colors you select for accents. Blues with green, she says, are healthy, life affirming and ecological; blues with yellow are harmonious, making them perfect for a relaxing country bedroom.

And don't overlook earth tones and neutrals with blue, either. These subtle shades can add sophistication and freshness to many blues. "Lately, we've been doing a fair bit of sky blue with chocolate brown and white," says Ed Ku, of Coffinier Ku Design, Ltd. "This combination feels modern and fresh, with the blue giving a lightness to the chocolate so that it stays rich and interesting without being too dense.

"We also love the mix of different blues with oranges," Ku says. "The orange really wakes up the blue and brings out a complementary intensity."

While designer Andrew Suvalsky is also a fan of blue and orange combinations, he says, "My inclination is to bring in one earth tone or neutral color to make the look more modern. Without an earth tone, anything from cream to beige to brown, blue color combinations will feel more traditional." Suvalsky's room, shown above, is an example of making blue modern.

"Whatever blue you choose," Suvalsky says, "commit to it 100 percent. There are myriad beautiful shades of blues. All are valid choices, but just use them specifically and meaningfully."