Blue has held us in its thrall for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians viewed lapis lazuli as the scared stone of the gods; the Chinese in the Ming and Qing dynasties used cobalt blue in intricate porcelain designs; Yves Klein immortalised vivid ultramarine in his paintings. Blue can make us feel tranquil, optimistic, uplifted or energised. Small wonder, therefore, that we have always loved decorating with blue in our homes, using it to create all manner of moods, from calming schemes to stimulating spaces to richly layered rooms that give a sense of warmth – witness this enveloping sitting room, which sees our Delta II cotton fabric in Midnight on the love seat, layered with pale blue tones and brooding, inky hues.

The choices when it comes to blue fabrics have never been more exciting, and include tactile weaves, printed linens, warming wools and sumptuous patterned velvets, not to mention a wealth of eco-friendly options. Here, we highlight some of our favourites – and take a deep dive into decorating with blue.

 

Blue in window treatments and upholstery

Blue fabrics dressing a window can help wrap a room – think floor-length curtains in teal velvet, teamed with walls in a tonal hue, and you get the idea – or they can help connect the room with the exterior, bringing those blue skies right into the home. This pretty blind in Ashfield, a neat geometric print on pure linen, does just that, with the Sea Green hue helping tie the space with the colours beyond.

For a bit more of a statement, go for a print in a larger scale: Kala in Indigo has a subtly handcrafted feel that taps into our ongoing love of artisanal designs. The indigo blue tones are fresh, offering the perfect starting point to a crisp blue and white scheme – or go moodier by teaming it with darker blues for a richer, more exotic feel.

One of our favourite blue living room ideas is to use an arresting fabric on the sofa. Invariably the largest piece in the room, it’s perfect for bringing blue hues right into the heart of the space – see how the wonderfully painterly Ruffled in Hvar combines bold pattern (we love the ribbon motif) with a mix of gentle blue shades to lift an otherwise knocked-back scheme.

A slightly less bold approach to decorating with blue fabrics is to opt for a plain or semi plain design: this classic armchair has been reupholstered with Tanaro in Pacific, a chunky weave that is both chic and robust. Remember that an easy way to elevate a blue décor is to mix up textures: a cushion in a contrasting fabric such as our luxurious Alpha velvet in Ocean would be a tactile addition to this weave, while a throw in another woven fabric – say, Vara in Steel Blue – will add to the elegant, layered feel.

And while we absolutely love playing with different blues – mixing warm blue shades with cool blues, for example, or introducing a lighter shade to a palette of darker blues – this is a colour that happily partners with a vast array of hues. We like to bring shades of burnt orange to a blue décor, and muddy pinks and yellows are also firm favourites. Don’t forget earthy shades, too, which look stunning with darker blues such as teals, or can bring warmth to a room focussing on cool blues. And blue and green? They should definitely be seen…

 

Blue accents headboards

Not everyone is ready to commit to an all-blue décor, and this is where blue accents come in. Just a touch of blue can be incredibly impactful, adding a soothing touch, an uplifting feel or an element of drama. A headboard is a lovely way to bring blue into a bedroom and in this instance, a classic print introduces a botanical theme to the space, connecting the interior with nature. Plain blue cushions pick out the soft teal shade in the print and same fabric defines the bolster cushion, in the form of a pretty ruffled trim.

 

Cushions

For effortless blue living room ideas, cushions are the answer: see how this smart chair in a neutral shade is lifted with a cushion in Ruched in Amalfi, a stylised fern print on pure linen whose lively pattern packs a punch.

  

Dining chairs

When decorating with blue in a dining room, upholstered chairs can deliver a strong statement. These shapely designs showcase Verde in Ocean, a durable plain fabric made from recycled cotton. Teamed with an oversized lampshade in the exact same shade of blue, they bring pops of colour to an otherwise monochromatic space.

 

Footstools and conversationals

Furniture such as footstools, ottomans and fenders are relatively small-scale pieces that can be used to bring blue accents to a scheme, while a conversational seat in, say, a dressing room or a hallway is another inspired choice. For a touch of pure drama, we upholstered this contemporary conversational seat in Kimono Dreams in Moss, an enchanting printed velvet inspired by a Japanese kimono. The mix of cobalt blue with darker blues and greens lends a richness to the print that makes it a true show stopper, worthy of taking centre stage.

  

Blue in unexpected spaces

When decorating with blue, don’t forget those areas that are easily overlooked: a laundry room, for example, where a little curtain beneath the sink might be the place for a joyful blue linen print, or a boot room, where a pretty blue blind can lend a decorative touch to an otherwise utilitarian space. Staircases are great for showcasing an expanse of blue: here, Helter Skelter in Sky lends a lovely sense of movement, while the tranquil blue tones have a calming effect. And don’t forget stair risers: a plain fabric such as our robust linen blend, Juno in Steel Blue, can be used on each riser to create a sense of continuity, drawing the eye upwards to the next level.

Another favourite trick – and a brilliant way to use up any leftover wallpaper – is to line drawers or the back of a cupboard with wallpaper. A classic print such as Monkey Puzzle in Indigo looks stunning lining the back of a glazed French armoire, or for a more contemporary approach, try a design such as Pinball in Indigo – a playful print that would bring rich blue tones to cabinetry or, indeed, an alcove.

  

Sustainable blue decor choices

There are so many choices when it comes to decorating with blue in a sustainable way and the range of eco-friendly fabrics is constantly improving. Options such as linens and wools are inherently sustainable, or choose innovative fabrics like our Verde cotton – which is made using 80 per cent recycled cotton – or our glorious Omega III range of plain velvets, which is woven using recycled polyester in the pile. Velvet carries colour like no other fabric so it is a fabulous way to showcase a favourite shade of blue: pictured here is Cornflower, a beautiful mid blue that works well with all sorts of colours – we’re currently favouring rich, smoky tones of charcoal, peat and cacao.

 

Durable choices

Choosing robust, long-lasting fabrics is another way to reduce your carbon footprint, as you won’t need to change the fabric as frequently. Linwood has a vast range of contract grade fabrics (with a rub count of 30,000 upwards) that are designed to bring enduring beauty to any project. Pictured here is Stresa, a woven chenille with the look of linen that is in fact a blend that includes recycled fibres. With an impressive rub count of 78,000, it is a hardwearing choice, while the Indigo hue taps into the trend for darker blues in moody tones.

 

Upcycled decor

Don’t forget to repurpose existing textiles to bring blue accents to a room: soft furnishings such as curtains in a blue printed linen can be reinvented as placemats or napkins (a relaxed linen stripe such as Danube Stripe in Cornflower lends itself beautifully to this) or an upholstery fabric that has worn in parts can be turned into cushions or a smart draught excluder (shown here is Khiva in Dark Indigo, a decorative way to keep out the chill). Be inventive in your approach to giving a new lease of life to a beloved blue fabric – quilts and even decorative banners are a great way to reuse smaller pieces of fabric.

We hope you have been inspired to revisit this perennially popular shade, approaching decorating with blue with a fresh eye. Remember that if you love cool blues – and these work particularly well in light-filled rooms – they can be warmed up with richer spice hues, while darker blues such as teal and navy are a lovely partner to jewel tones. Make use of our sample service to try out different combinations – and enjoy singing the blues...