How to style a blue living room without feeling cold
Blue is a colour rooted in nature, and one that’s often associated with feelings of calm and tranquillity. When creating a restful, welcoming living room, it’s the perfect colour to choose.
That being said, while blue can bring serenity to a space, it isn’t always the easiest tone to work with.
In partnership with Hillarys - the made-to-measure curtain and blind experts - our design teams have put their heads together to bring a fleet of blue living room ideas to your project. Warm and inviting, they’ll introduce plenty of charm to your interiors.
Harness the Art of Layering
When exploring living room ideas, layering is a staple. This interior design concept focuses on creating rooms that have a whole lot of character by blending different elements, like your furniture, rugs, art, and lighting.
In a blue living room, layering helps you combine different tones and add plenty of cosiness to your home. Try touches of warm blue shades within your decor, such as framed prints and rugs, while playing with texture to soften your colour choice.
Layered lighting is another excellent way to add ambience and character, with lamps and wall sconces the perfect choice for creating a super snug living room.
Personalise Your Living Room With Made-to-order
Accessorising your interiors with blue furnishings is a great way to add colour, but it’s important to design consciously to prevent your space from feeling cluttered. This includes avoiding blue furniture that’s too large for your room.
To create a calm, blue interior without overwhelming your space with colour, opt for made-to-measure furnishings:
A blue made-to-order sofa ensures your seating slots perfectly into your space, giving you complete control over just how much blue you have in your home.
Made to measure curtains from Hillarys frame your windows in just the right amount of colour, without looking too large (or too small) for your room.
This not only maximises space, but also creates a cohesive, polished look that feels entirely intentional. “Blue is known for its calming qualities, making it an ideal choice for living spaces where you want to relax and unwind. Made-to-measure window dressings allow you to incorporate this soothing shade in a way that feels balanced and tailored to your room. With the right fit, you can enjoy all the benefits of blue without overwhelming your space.” — Yvonne Keal, Senior Product Manager at Hillarys
Use Complementary Earth Tones
A dark blue living room or sofa can be instantly elevated with complementary earth tones. These are shades you’d frequently find in nature and include blue, as well as forest green, rust red, terracotta, and neutrals, like brown, beige, and cream.
Earth tones can be rich and bold, while also bringing warmth to your home.
In the living room pictured, the blue sofa is highlighted against a dark terracotta wall. Soft browns seen in the lamp, rug, and throw add to the warmth and emphasise the cosy, grounded atmosphere.
The contrast between the vibrant blue and rich, earthy tones creates a balanced and layered look.
Soften Your Space With Curves
Living room inspiration can be found in shapes as well as colours. If you’re concerned about your blue living room ideas coming across as cold, explore how you can use curves to soften your aesthetic.
Round, soft shapes are ideal for bringing a sense of calm while maintaining a contemporary look. It’s been found that curved interiors improve mood and reduce stress, too; a benefit that could also translate to curved furnishings and accessories.
Explore ways in which you can add soft shapes to bring warmth to blue walls. This could include painting a curved mural in a complementary blue tone onto your wall itself, or choosing textiles with curved designs.
Add rounded vases, curved floor lamps, and furniture with scalloped edges to bring your look together.
Blend Blue With Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is all about bringing the great outdoors indoors. That might be through earth tones and natural materials, or opting for floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light.
You can use biophilic front room ideas to direct the mood of your blue space, with studies finding that these design principles enhance feelings of relaxation while reducing stress and depression.
Take a look at this living room styled by Hillarys for inspiration. They’ve used plant life to add character and colour to the blue walls, which is also reflected in the contemporary floral art.
The wicker basket and wooden table enhance the biophilic flow of the space, while the blue tones in the rug tie the separate elements together for a harmonious aesthetic.
Add Warmth With Timber
Whether you’re working with blue walls or a blue sofa, contrasting your colour with the natural warmth of timber creates a welcoming home.
For navy blue living room ideas, add light with a golden-yellow toned timber, like Pine or Oak. This can brighten your space and create a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
In spaces with light blues, both light and dark timbers will work well, depending on your desired style. Light timber will create living rooms that feel open, bright, and creative. A darker timber, like Teak or Cumaru, can help tone down your lighter blues and ground your space for a warm, cosy aesthetic.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re working with a light blue living room or a statement blue sofa, your colour palette doesn’t have to feel cold. With conscious layering, complementary colours, and a touch of biophilic design, you can bring life and character to your space for a warm, welcoming home.
For more interior design tips, be sure to check out the latest on the Sofology blog.