Color Notes: Room Full of Blues

Welcome to the third Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme.

Given America's 233rd birthday this weekend, I thought I'd kick off this new feature with Red, White and Blue. You've seen Red and White already. This Blue posting concludes our All-American series. Let me know which Color Notes hue you'd like to see next time in the Comments section below.

Why blue?

Blue is associated with water and sky, military and royalty. It's considered a cool color, and is great for relaxation spaces, as it evokes a coastal vacation for so many fans. I love blue paint in kitchens and baths - azure with white cabinets or pale sky shades with cherry spice or espresso finishes. Blue works with most wood floors, from whitewashed to blondes to deep ebonies, and with many tan or golden-tinged tiles. It's also perfect with white trim and shutters, and white window sheers. The blue shown above right is Benjamin Moore's version of Blueberry Buckle by Olympic.

Where not to go blue?

If your goal is to make a room feel warm and cozy, the cool blue palette won't meet your needs. Most parents won't buck tradition and use it for a girl's nursery either.

I love blue with...

Creamy tans, especially azure, seen here, or navy
This is Smith + Noble's Soft Roman Fabric Shade in Voila Stripe/Mist

Yellow, especially in French or Mediterranean-influenced prints

White, especially in comfy, retro prints
Shown here is Sunspot Bedding from the Sundance Catalog

Brown, as long as the blue is pale
As shown here in Ballard Design's Mantova Stripe Wallpaper Chocolate Fog

And, of, course,

Red and white, in crisp Americana-inspired prints
Seen here on Pottery Barn's Chesapeake Double Chaise

Cool blue collection

It was fun collecting images of cool blue design gear. My own home has tons of blue elements, and in many of the pairings shown above. Here are some blue pieces you might enjoy having in your home.

Built-in blues