For a calming space, look to this colorful kitchen that features a muted shade of green on the cabinetry. Sage green and navy blue are both cool colors that bring a sense of serenity to any space. Utilize the soft green as the main color in a kitchen, whether on cabinetry, wallpaper, or paint, then pair it with navy blue accents like tile.
25 Dazzling Colors That Go with Navy Blue
Discover what colors go with navy blue, plus how to create a color scheme that showcases this classic shade of blue.
Ann Wilson is a leading expert on home design and remodeling. She has over five years’ experience discussing all-things remodeling, color designs, and flooring ideas to help readers make the best design choices.
Halee Miller is the editorial assistant for BHG.com. She is a recent graduate from Iowa State University where she majored in journalism and mass communications and earned a minor in design studies. Prior to her current role, she was the Better Homes & Gardens magazine home editorial apprentice.
Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG.
Updated on June 15, 2023
When searching for colors that go with navy blue, options are vast and varied. Navy blue is a versatile hue that suits most color schemes and decorating styles, and the deep blue is valued for its classic-meets-cozy look. It cause bright colors to pop, and complement interiors boasting coastal, classic, and contemporary character. Although navy blue’s benefits are many, it is a very dark color that should be balanced so it doesn’t overwhelm and create dreary, closed-in room designs. Black-shaded hues like dusty purple, hunter green, and maroon share navy’s intensity and are likely to fade when paired with the dark-blue hue. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of colors that go with navy blue, including mustard yellow, bright pink, cherry red, and even metallic gold. Here’s how to decorate with a navy blue color scheme.
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Navy Blue and Orange
The color wheel can be a helpful tool for determining what colors go with navy blue. For a complementary color scheme, look to blue’s opposite on the wheel: orange. The fiery hue introduces warmth that balances the cool depth of navy blue. Establish a bold, colorful look with a medium-tone shade of orange, such as tangerine or papaya, that will stand up well against its dark counterpart. Lighter shades like coral or cantaloupe make beautiful accent colors in coastal-style rooms.
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Navy Blue and White
White is a classic high-contrast partner that sets off the deep hue and gives navy a lively lift. Juxtapose navy blue furniture, decor, or cabinetry with a backdrop of crisp white walls for an energizing effect. Alternatively, you can balance dark, inky blue walls with white furniture, fabrics, and breezy sheer curtain panels. In addition to cool snow-white, off-whites and creams also make fine partners for navy blue.
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Color Psychology: Navy Blue
Color psychology deals with the significance of using different colors in life. For instance – lighter colors often represent the joyous occasions in life while the darker ones represent moderately gloomy vibes.
Again, depending on the hue, different colors can represent many different things. Regular lovely red is the symbol of everything related to love and similar feelings. Similarly, the same color in the blood-red shade can mean destruction from a dystopian point of view.
The color psychology of navy blue is no different either. Since it’s a much darker hue, navy blue is often used to represent integrity. Navy blue is also the color of the mighty deep ocean, especially during the moonlit night.
As such, it’s often used to dignify the sea and sailor culture. You’ll find many naval base troops using navy blue in their ships and flags. Navy blue is also closely related to royal blue. Even now, you’ll see members of the royal family dressed in deep velvet navy blue clothes to assert their dominance occasionally.
It’s a color that showcases royalty and the subsequent richness in taste, like nothing else. Navy blue symbolizes power, passion & integrity. It also adds a mysterious tone to the subject sporting this color.
It evokes both ocean-like freedom and independence while subsequently reminiscing the dangers hidden underneath the dark surface.
Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Colors
The concept of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors comes from color theory. It helps to determine which colors will go with each other to make an appealing hue as a by-product.
Primary Colors
There are three primary colors in total. It’s possible to practically derive all other colors from just these three alone.
The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary Colors
When you use any two of the primary colors to make a different color, the result is termed a secondary color. The number of secondary colors is also three, the same as primary colors.
They’re green, orange and purple respectively. Blue and yellow make green, red and yellow make orange, and red and blue make purple.
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are produced when you mix primary colors with secondary colors to come up with a unique and appealing hue.
As such, there are six main tertiary colors as they fit the conditions just right. They’re –
- Red-Orange
- Red-Violet
- Blue-Violet
- Blue-Green
- Yellow-Green
- Yellow-Orange
What Colors Make Navy Blue?
Pure blue, black and orange – these three colors are the prominent ones in making navy blue.
As you can deduce already, navy blue is neither a primary nor a secondary color. In fact, it’s the combination of tertiary colors with primary or secondary colors if you’re using black paint.
Other than these, depending on how light or dark of a navy blue you want, you can use different colors. White & yellow is often used in the preparation of navy blue for lightening it.
Rust orange
The color wheel already tells us this is a combination that’s meant to work. Complementary colors sit opposite each other so orange was made to pair with blue; the warmth balancing out the cool of the navy. Plus many colors go with orange. And it doesn’t have to be a dramatic high-contrasting scheme (although we do love how tangerines zing against navy). A deep rusty orange looks beautiful against the moodier tones of a dark blue.
‘While navy blue and rusty oranges can look beautiful together, they can also be high-energy colors when paired,’ says Sarah. ‘To create a more balanced and grounding environment, look to earthy oranges paired with warm terracotta’s and browns that can be accented with shades of navy. Navy and rust orange can also work well in tandem to help activate a more neutral space, such as an ivory sofa paired with textured throw pillows in shades of navy and orange.’
Fresh greens
Blue and green should never be seen right? Wrong! Navy blue and a fresh bright can be a sophisticated, traditional pairing, and blue really should be considered as a color that goes with green. The green lifts the navy, giving it a much fresher and livelier look.
‘Navy often pairs well with deeper, cool-leaning greens and sage tones,’ says Sarah. ‘The blue-grey tones of sage green make it a soothing counterpart to navy. It can also help lighten a navy space without as stark a contrast as whites or creams. Deep greens in similarly cool, more desaturated tones can also work well with navy, particularly in patterning that may lean towards a more historical or traditional aesthetic.’
Pink
Amongst the colors that go with pink is navy blue – a combination that looks sophisticated and grown-up look. The shades work well to balance each other out. The muted warm, rosy tones counteract any of the cooler tones of the deep blue and the navy prevents the pink from looking too sweet and sickly.
The key is to get the undertones right. The majority of pinks do have that blueish undertone; it’s what gives them their muted tone, but be sure to order samples of your paint or fabric and see how the two shades sit together.
‘Pink can often be seen as a youthful color, but when put together with navy, it instantly matures and can act as a soft neutral,’ says Juliette Thomas, founder & director of Juliettes Interiors. ‘Pairing navy with pink is a great combination, due to how well they balance one another out, as the cool undertones of the navy are warmed up by the pink, resulting in a clever decorative scheme. As both colors are quite bold, so it’s best to choose one dominant color for the walls or the larger, core items such as a sofa or bed, and add subtle hints of the other shade via home accessories.’
How can I use navy blue in an on-trend way?
One of the boldest ways to use navy blue is to go all-in on the shade. ‘There are so many ways to use this color but one of my favorite approaches is to bath a room in navy blue,’ says interior designer Jewel Marlowe, founder of Jeweled Interiors. ‘Visually, this will take up about 50-60% of the room.’
To make the overall scheme more interesting, Jewel then suggests layering in other shades, especially those from the other side of the color wheel. ‘I might layer in the neutral sofas and drapes, but I then punch it up with pops of red or pink,’ Jewel suggests. ‘A design like this results in a room that is soothing, yet visually interesting.’
