30 Jan 20

Colour crush: Decorating with navy

This week I’m crushing on Navy. As a decorating colour, I think it’s well and truly cemented in our interior design psyche and I can see it overtaking grey as the ‘safe choice’ for those nervous of colour. Blue is after all the world’s universal favourite colour and has a real timeless and enduring quality, which means it’s totally non-challenging. It’s a stable and dependable colour and one that I don’t see being out of fashion any time soon. Think of a classic pinstripe and navy spells out pure class in its elegant simplicity.

But I thought it was time to crush on it all over again as Classic Blue has been hailed the Colour of 2020 by global trend forecaster Pantone. Indeed all the blues are going to be hot colours moving forward, perhaps superseding our current love affair with all things green, who is it’s biggest challenger in the battle of the colour trends. Deep blue suggests the night sky to me, and I love the similar sultry and star-gazing effects you can create with it in a room setting. In terms of colour psychology, navy has all the calm and reassuring qualities of blue but unlike its more playful cousins,( cobalt, sky or powder) this thought-provoking colour perhaps highlights our desire for a more dependable and stable foundation.

Blue is a great choice for coloured kitchens. Kitchens are a big investment and so classic blue is a stable choice. Units painted in Woad intelligent matt emulsion, Little Greene.

Going back to the pinstripe, this colour is reflective of our love affair with nostalgia that’s sweeping through interiors. It offers us comfort, a port of calm and an all-important connection to nature. Everything pivots around well-being right now and this deep and cosseting shade might be just the thing to help you create a restful sanctuary inside your home. It’s also a partner to so many other colour combinations. It looks classic paired with white but I like to mix blue with warmer shades, to prevent it being too chilly. Natural tones like wood, sisal and stonework really well. And don’t get me started on how cute it looks with pale pink and brass! watch this space as my assistant Luisa has this colour combo earmarked for her forthcoming kitchen redesign!

Oxford navy chalk paint for walls, Annie Sloan.

A deep navy blue on all walls creates a tranquil and cosseting background to relax. Paint out all the woodwork and mouldings for a sophisticated and uncomplicated look.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute, says: ‘Imprinted in our psyches as a restful colour, Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser-like clarity, Classic Blue is a reflective blue tone that fosters resilience.

‘As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colours that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the Pantone Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favourite is comfortably embraced.

‘We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.’

Walls painted in Indigo blue by Sanderson.

Add some drama to an entrance hall!  I love how this inky dark shade allows the artwork to really stand out. I particularly love that guilt gold frame against it. It’s that vase of Pink peonies that are everything though!

Picket Bevelled tiles, Walls and Floors. 

Take a deep dive with navy in the bathroom. Creating just the vibe to relax unwind in and blue has all the connotations with the ocean, so is ideal for this room, although we are nearing the midnight zone, rather than paddling in the med with this shade. Go wall to wall colour for the full immersive effect. I love how the white grout picks out the trendy hexagon shape too.

Bow tie desk lamp, Beehive pendant, both Pooky.

Blue is known to be good for concentration and helping with focus (in colour psychology terms) so is the ideal addition to the home office. This half painted wall is a clever idea for adding a strong colour without going all the way up to the ceiling, and help keeps the room feeling light.

Woodwork painted in Hague Blue,  Farrow & Ball.

If you’re lucky enough to have great looking architrave and doors, make the most of them and let them stand out by painting them in a contrasting colour. And I just adore blush pink and navy. A marriage in heaven the macho navy smartens up the softness of the pink. Perfection!

Rosalie 150cm Double Bed On Legs In Prussian Blue Pure Cotton Matt Velvet, £1360, Sofa.com.

Navy also makes a statement in rich velvet and I love this play of light on this upholstered button back bedhead. As we have established blue is the colour for creating a restful and calm space, but if it’s all getting too serious you can lighten the look with sunshine yellow accessories.

Navy has to be one of the easiest colours to introduce to your home and it blends well with an existing grey scheme, with all the warm neutral tones or could help bring a level of sophistication to a colour lover’s home. There is loads of it all over the high street but here is my pick of a few best bits.

1. Flamboyant Animal Lampshade in deep navy, £40, Mint & May | 2. Hammershoi ridged vase in indigo, from £20, Heal’s | 3. Dalston Extinct Navy Chair, £699, Margot Maison | 4.Royal Doulton Pacific Porcelain Side Plates, set of 6, £48, John Lewis | 5. Babe Ruth three seat sofa, £899, Calvers & Suvdal | 6.Abuo Blue short ceramic plant pot & stand, £40, Oliver Bonas | 7. Navy storage trunks, set of 3, £54.99, Beautify | 8. Electric lagoon wallpaper, £120, The Curious Department | 9. Natural indigo throw, £60, Lola & Mawu.

Written by Sophie Robinson. Images and Shopping by Luisa Ferdenzi-Rouse.

FEATURED IMAGE AT TOP: Blue Skies fabric, Bluebell Gray.