15 Timeless Ways to Decorate With Navy

Preppy, nautical and timeless — yet always on trend — navy blue is the rare color that pairs well with others, can be used as a neutral or as an accent to lend any indoor or outdoor space a classic look.

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August 24, 2015

By: H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: CR Laine Furniture

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East Meets West

A Chinoiserie-inspired bamboo mirror and red lacquered end tables add Asian flair and a touch of drama to this otherwise traditional living room. Rich navy leather covers the modern wingbacks while a glossy coat of indigo paint on the bamboo mirror helps to tie the room and palette together. Image courtesy of CR Laine

Coral + Navy

This enameled box topped with glittering coral and shells is right at home in a luxurious Jamaican villa designed by celebrity designer Charles Faudree.

From: Charles Faudree

A Welcoming Hue

This classic blue color is a fresh way to bring in a timeless shade that is versatile and pairs with a variety of styles. Balance this bold wall color with crisp, white trim and white architectural details.

Navy + Turquoise + Orange + Yellow

Although this palette may be a bit out there for most homes, the combo is just right for a quirky '70s houseboat whose owners lovingly restored it to its full retro hipness.

Fun Foyer

This formal entryway doesn't take itself too seriously with a classic menswear-inspired striped wallpaper complemented by a handwoven stair runner in the same palette but with a reversed pattern (white on navy, instead of navy on white). French doors, painted a bright coral, let in lots of light.

From: John Lyle

Playful Stripes

Bold horizontal navy-and-white stripes wake up this bedroom that's tight on square footage but big on style. You can DIY your way to a similar effect by first painting an accent wall white, then using painter's tape to mask off alternating 6-inch-wide bands. Use a small roller to paint the uncovered areas navy then carefully remove the tape.

Ready for Play

Not only does navy blue pair well with most colors, it's the perfect choice for gender-neutral spaces, like this sunny kids' room designed by Lauren Leonard.

Orange + Navy

As is true of all colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, these two hues are a high-energy pairing. Using complementary colors in your decor, or even when planning a party, is always an attention grabber.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Neutral + Nautical

This relaxing bedroom illustrates how well navy blue can work as a neutral. Rather than calling attention to itself, the striped navy-and-white rug just blends in with the bedroom's muted grays and tans. To get the look, shop owner Laura Jayson mixed flea market finds with luxe Sferra linens. Learn more about this neutral meets nautical bedroom featured in HGTV Magazine.

From: HGTV Magazine

Timeless Turquoise + Navy

Although we typically think of these two colors as beachy hues, this elegant dining room papered in a scrolling pattern from French company Mauny is far from appearing coastal.

From: Sallie Giordano

Foolproof Color Combo

Navy and white — few colors go together so well and, literally, never go out of the style. Thibaut wallpaper with a scrolling floral silhouette adds a graphic touch to this sunny corner while white piping and tufted buttons give the little armless chair a buttoned-up look. Image courtesy of Thibaut

Sarah's Summer Retreat

Designer extraordinaire, Sarah Richardson, put the ever popular coastal color palette of natural linen and navy to work in her island summer home located in Ontario, Canada's Georgian Bay.

Hot Pink + Navy

In this cheery bedroom, designed by Brian Patrick Flynn, a few pops of hot pink add just the right amount of flash to the otherwise restful space. And, best of all, you can recreate this look on a bargain-hunter's budget — the nightstand is actually a small wooden table that was cut in half then attached to the wall with a wooden cleat.

Wordly Look

Navy blue goes global in the Ikat draperies and Moroccan-inspired side table that designer Linda Woodrum chose for the 2014 HGTV Smart Home great room.

Classic Kitchen

Custom navy display cases frame out the entrance to this Old-World-inspired kitchen by Candelaria Design. Painting the woodwork in this dark hue, rather than standard high-gloss white, draws attention to the cases themselves and makes the white kitchen beyond feel even brighter by comparison.

15 Timeless Ways to Decorate With Navy

Related To:

Shop This Look

East Meets West

Coral + Navy

A Welcoming Hue

Navy + Turquoise + Orange + Yellow

Fun Foyer

Playful Stripes

Ready for Play

Orange + Navy

Neutral + Nautical

Timeless Turquoise + Navy

Foolproof Color Combo

Sarah's Summer Retreat

Hot Pink + Navy

Wordly Look

Classic Kitchen

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