For as long as I can remember, I’ve been head over heels in love with the color blue. Cobalt? Be still my beating heart. Robin’s egg? Divine. Turquoise? Makes me swoon. But when it comes to navy, oh my goodness! I have a personal weakness that borders on obsession. If my staff at Nell Hill’s didn’t restrain me, everything in the stores would be done in navy.
Navy has it all. It’s a no-fail neutral that looks perfect paired with practically everything, from white and cream to coral and citron. It gracefully sets off every finish in your decor, like leather, silver, brass and pottery. It’s a timeless classic that will never go out of style. And, because it’s not overused by designers, it feels fresh. Other colors will come and go in my home, but navy is here to stay, in a big way. Here are six ways you, too, can weave a little navy into your interior decor.
1. Embrace Navy’s Softer Side Through Your Furniture
One of navy’s many wonderful attributes is that it is a fabulous tool for high contrast decorating. I really like it paired with white when I’m designing a contemporary home and with cream if the home is traditional. This navy and white striped sofa is lots of fun and looks sensational with a little splash of red.
Here’s a different interpretation of navy and white. This contemporary geometric fabric allows this sometimes-serious color to play a little. When you cover your furniture in a solid navy fabric, you have free rein to take it casual or formal, contemporary or traditional. I think navy is one of the best neutrals for sofas because it is timeless enough you’ll never get sick of it; forgiving enough to handle pets, kids and husbands; versatile enough to look great with a rainbow of colors: black and white, citron, green, turquoise, coral, red, yellow. Whew! There aren’t many colors that give you this much breadth.
I just redid the cushions on my outdoor furnishings this summer, swapping out light cream for cobalt blue, which just feels like a more electric shade of navy to me. To pop things up a bit more, I pulled together pillows in citron, white and blue fabrics for a crazy mix up of classic and contemporary. It’s so stinking fun!
2. Perk Things Up with Navy Pillows
If you don’t have any navy in your home, but would like to add a bit, try working it in through some accent pillows. Since navy works with so many colors, it’s easy to plug in to just about any color palette. We went for a saturated salute to navy in the photo above from Nell Hill’s Briarcliff, adding this contemporary paisley pillow to our beefy stripe sofa. I love the layering of the blue and white garden stool in the background, a little side table for drinks or books. It brings in yet another pattern, which keeps this grouping lively even though it revolves around just two colors.
Here’s another example of how a simple color palette can be anything but boring when you bring it to life with lots of lively patterns. Your bedding ensemble is an ideal place for navy because you don’t typically redo it very often, so you want to pick colors you won’t grow tired of soon.
Be still my beating heart! Love this cream sofa with its navy and cream striped skirt, accented with these different but harmonious blue and white pillows.
3. Let Navy Dishes Add Drama to Your Table
Long ago I invested in a set of blue and white transferware dishes, and I have used them constantly ever since. In the photo above, you see them on my dining room table dressed for a summer party. When you add in lots of pattern, this simple color combo is really exciting on a table. But I also like to pop it up for spring and summer by weaving in apple green. In fall, you’ll see these same dishes on my table paired with orange. During the holidays, I use a leather or silver charger as a base for a more formal place setting. It’s amazing how versatile these dishes are.
Just because blue and white transferware is a classic doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel fresh and new. All you need to do is pair it with more contemporary dishes and glassware, like we did here.
Florals are back in vogue, but today’s floral patterns are cleaner, brighter. This little stack of plates featuring a transitional navy floral pattern is great in a casual or formal setting. We styled ours for a little snack.
4. Make a Room More Dramatic with Navy Paint
While I like to constantly switch out some of the decorative elements in my home, there are some things that will never change. One is the color of my dining room walls. I can’t imagine them being anything but Twilight, a rich navy blue color from my Mary Carol Artisan Paint line. I forced myself to try a new color once, painting the walls a chocolate brown. But it just felt wrong, and before long I was back to my navy. Since I use my dining room table as a stage for so many different seasonal tablescapes, I couldn’t beat the versatility of the navy walls. Like a good navy blazer, they go with anything.
5. Use Navy Pottery as Arresting Accents
If you have read my blog, syndicated column or books for long, you know I love, love, love blue and white pottery and have used it all over my home for the past few decades. We’re seeing a real resurgence of Chinese porcelain in a blue and white color palette these days. More people are working this classic look in with their modern furnishings for a design that’s full of contrasts.
We just got in a big shipment of ginger jars that are solid navy, and we’re having so much fun weaving them into our store displays.
6. Let Navy Rugs Pull Your Room Together
Navy is a great color for area rugs because it refuses to show dirt. You can find flat weave rugs – my new go-to because they are so affordable – in an assortment of contemporary patterns. Like something more traditional? Navy is a frequent star in Persian wool rugs.
Next Week … I love high-contrast decorating, pairing together elements that are complete opposites, for maximum drama. I’ll share tips for pulling off this powerful look in your decor.
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Nell Hill’s Color of the Year: Seeing Green
2021 Trends We Want to Bring Into the New Year
Summer 2021 Trends: Summer Blues
Julie Boyd says
July 29, 2013 at 7:51 amMary Carol,
I, too, am a huge fan of navy and would have my whole house done in it if it weren’t for the fact that my husband doesn’t share in my obsession. I want to know more about traditional rugs with navy. For the past 15 years all I’ve been able to find are rugs with black. Do you know a good source or line of navy rugs?
Julie
Carol McKee says
July 29, 2013 at 2:39 pmHow heartening to read your words about Navy! No matter my resolve to do a room in new colors, it ends up navy. This time it is taupe and navy and I never tire of it. My latest addition is a navy glass ginger jar lamp from Horchow. Would love to see your new shipment of ginger jars. Many things I miss about living in the Kansas City area – your stores were not there when I lived there. But the stores are giving me inspiration to come for a visit.
Sandy Holt says
July 29, 2013 at 3:20 pmI totally agree with your commentary on “BLUES”. I use cobalt blue as garden accents and enjoy living with navy, turquoise, and greens to live with inside my home. Can’t go wrong with nature!
Joan says
July 29, 2013 at 3:22 pmWould enjoy reading your columns that were mentioned. Any clues where I could find it on line would be appreciated. Thanks.
Diane BaileyASID says
July 29, 2013 at 3:25 pmLove this, Love this, Love it!!! I am a blue girl too. I walk into an antique shop, store or whatever and blue just finds me……. everytime. Thank you!!! Diane Bailey
and has for years…………..
Lisa Fernandez says
July 29, 2013 at 3:48 pmThanks to a trip to Mary Carol’s open house I was first smitten with her Twilight. (The Navy color in her dinning room) It truly takes your breath away. (So does her home) As soon as I saw that and walked through her dinning room I knew I had to see the color in my home. My darling husband (just writing that incase he reads this!) ordered Mary Carol’s own Twilight brand, 3 gallons worth. Then I also purchased a few accessories to go with my new walls from, Nell Hill of course and in an instant my living room was transformed, dramatic, mesmerizing and yes it goes with almost absolutely everyting. If you haven’t seen already check out photos of Mary Carol’s open house and you will see what I mean. Navy and blues are all over her home and thanks to her, all over mine too.
Love it!
Mary Carol can you post a little about your new book coming in Sept/Oct? Can’t wait!
Lisa
Leeshideaway.blogspot.com
Peggi Lowe says
July 29, 2013 at 4:14 pmMary Carol!
Please open a store in Denver. I have been to your stores and love them! Denver needs a design store with your fabulous taste and price points!!
We have every chain store but nothing like Nell Hill’s!
Best,
Peggi Lowe
Denver
Marilyn says
July 29, 2013 at 4:16 pmI’ve got navy (and green and yellow) throughout my home — I am so sorry that there’s no Nell Hill online store anymore!
Sign me: grieving in Virginia.
Janelle says
July 29, 2013 at 4:26 pmDo you carry the small floral plates (featured on top of the red and white checkered tablecloth)? I’ve been searching for some like this.
Mary Carol says
July 29, 2013 at 5:15 pmI was hoping navy would make many of your hearts beat faster just like it does mine!
OK, here are some answers to all these great questions …
Janelle and everyone else who saw something you love, we are now taking care of our far-away friends through our personal shopping service. I’m just not an on-line girl – love the personal touch of working with live, caring people. Just call us anytime during store hours at 877-746-4320.
My newest book, Nell Hill’s: Rooms We Love will be out soon, but unfortunately not for the fall open house 🙁 Instead we are having a book release and signing at my holiday open house in November. Get all the info at http://www.nellhills.com.
Joan, if you’re reading my blog, you’re basically reading my column. The weekly column, syndicated by Scripps-Howard New Service, is just a shorter version of this weekly blog.
Thanks, Lisa, for your kind comments. It’s easy to make things look magical when you are inspired by so many talented and creative customers like all of you!
Marcia Arensberg-Noll says
July 29, 2013 at 5:59 pmMary Carol–I just love reading your blog. Such great tips and decor. So glad you have been so successful doing what you love.
Iris says
July 29, 2013 at 7:02 pmI have a slightly brightened version of navy with bright white woodwork in my dining room.. This is the 2nd house where I have used the same color scheme. I don’t know that I will ever tire of it.
joni cobb says
July 29, 2013 at 7:07 pmYellow is my Navy 🙂
But you can’t beat a little Navy added in with my yellow…
Joni
Georgia Hopper says
July 29, 2013 at 7:33 pmLove the navy! My master bedroom is navy & taupe. However the rest of my house is a hodgepodge of red & green; primarily green. Coming to your fall open house from Oklahoma. Looking forward again!
Franki says
July 30, 2013 at 11:35 amGorgeous images!! Go NAVY!! 🙂 franki
Mary Carol says
July 30, 2013 at 5:51 pmI love hearing about all the colors you all are combining with navy! Joni, I love yellow and navy together too. Georgia – taupe, green, it’s all good with this dynamite color!
Jo says
July 30, 2013 at 9:27 pmI also am obsessed with blue! My bedroom walls are navy and I replaced the closet doors with navy and white striped curtains (much easier access). I haven’t changed the color in 25 years and have never tired of it. All of my other rooms, eventually, have some blue incorporated into them. I am currently sewing Roman shades for my living room with a Williamsburg Collection fabric I bought through your blog (after i called to make sure there was enough blue in it)!!!
Patty Every says
July 31, 2013 at 1:14 pmLoved your blue blog! The color I’ve decorated around for 40 years! Always been my ” neutral” color that grounds a space and is so versatile to pair with lots of other colors and textures. The color blue is so easy to live with and evokes not only sky and sea, but jeans and blazers! Classy and timeless!
Diane BaileyASID says
July 31, 2013 at 1:48 pmHi Mary.. It’s me again.. I love the Charlotte Moss fabrics you are showing.. She is amazing.”Soft Surroundings” has her red fabric in a skirt!!
Diane Bailey
Anna Belle says
July 31, 2013 at 6:19 pmI love blue. It’s timeless. It’s the color of the sky and ocean. What’s not to love.
Thanks for your ideas.
Mary Carol says
August 1, 2013 at 4:53 pmOK I think we all need to form the Blue Lovers Society. This color touches so many of us so deeply, doesn’t it? I love all your comments about sky and ocean – maybe that’s why we feel so deeply about blue – it’s the color that surrounds our lives.
Mary Carol Sullivan says
September 11, 2013 at 7:45 pmI adore blue too…. You have fabulous taste in colors and names too….. I discovered your books after having moved to Atlanta from chicago and had just papered my dining room in navy/twilight…… People who don’t even like blue always comment on what a great color….. Thanks for all your wonderful ideas and if you ever come to Atlanta I would love to say “hey” in person.
Kathy Bertsch says
January 18, 2015 at 11:08 pmhow can I buy your pillows?