For an easy and subtle way to introduce blue into a white kitchen, showcase delft-style ceramics. In this kitchen, pieces in numerous patterns — but all in blue and white — make a pleasing display. If you don’t have shelves, try hanging plates on the wall instead.
Copper pans and brass hardware add a little warmth while enhancing the homey vibe. A baby blue range is a desirable feature, but stainless steel would work too.
If blue is a little on the cool side for you, try introducing lots of texture via natural materials, such as wood. The subtle blues in this immaculate open-plan living space from Laura Butler-Madden are warmed and enlivened nicely by the rustic dining table and the oak parquet floor, which is laid in a chevron pattern.
Other organic elements that can add warmth are woven basketsor lampshades, neutral-colored leathers, linen upholstery and plenty of leafy houseplants.
Create Maximum Contrast
For the full effect of this classic color combo, set pure white wood against a rich, deep blue. This works particularly well if you have decorative millwork or architectural features. The dark hue on the walls of this living room, for instance, really showcases the crisp detailing on the white fireplace, cornicing and paneled cabinets.
Glassware on the white shelves creates sparkle without detracting from the design. A sprinkling of lemon and lime adds a little zest.
For an alternative way to work this color combination, how about opting for off-white walls and blue woodwork? Low-shine eggshell paint in a baby blue enhances the elegant alcoves and French windows in this traditional living space from Lisette Voûte Designs.
For a still sweet but subtler nod to this theme, try painting the inside of an interior door in an all-white room.
If gentle shades are your thing, veer toward the pale end of the spectrum with a relaxing duck-egg blue, as in this bedroom from Julie Rhodes. Off-whites make an elegant partner for delicate blues, and together they can give a bedroom a romantic quality.
Unbleached linen bedding is an easy go-to for a classic slumber setup, and it works beautifully with pastel blues. It also looks better rumpled, so that’s one less addition to the ironing pile too.
A blue-and-white combination isn’t limited to Shaker-style kitchens — it lends itself equally well to sleek doors and clean-lined islands.
In this spacious kitchen from Otta Design, the cabinetry represents such a vast surface area that it’s almost equivalent to a painted wall. Keeping the rest of the palette white ensures that there’s no other color to draw attention away from the linear design.
If you think that a large expanse of white subway tiles may feel a bit sterile in your bathroom, try a wall or two of blue. Lining this shower in aqua tiles and surrounding it with fresh white delineates the space and gives it depth.
A painted vanity in a slightly paler shade sets off this chic bathroom, ensuring the perfect color balance. Using a marble surround for the sink ties in with the hexagon floor tiles and helps build a luxe and layered look.
Choose Paint Carefully
When putting together a blue-and-white palette, especially when there’s a lot of white, as in this lovely design from Lindye Galloway Interiors, little details like thoughtful paint selection contribute a lot to the overall aesthetic.
Instead of the standard brilliant white, look for paint without optical brighteners. These fluorescent whitening agents absorb invisible ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light in the blue region of the spectrum, creating icy undertones that can deaden a space.
Tell us: Are you a fan of blue-and-white color schemes? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Content provided by Laura Wheat at Houzz.com
