I have been seriously crushing on navy blue walls for a while now.
I love how the blue makes the walls fade into the background, especially when paired with crisp white trim and other details.
It’s a dark color, but doesn’t make a room feel dark when matched with lighter elements, like white subway tile or light-colored furnishings.
So, I’ve been thinking about where I could put a navy blue wall(s) in our home. The leading candidate so far is our guest bathroom:
Right now, it’s a light gray – Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere (painted before we moved in) – and the ceiling has splotches where it’s been touched up (badly, not by me).
The bathroom is small but with high ceilings so, on the one hand, I’m a little worried that the dark blue might make it feel cavernous. On the other hand, though, there is very little paintable wall space and lots of white trim, a white tub, and a white vanity that would contrast with the blue and make it recede into the background.
Plus, I kind of see this room as a “safe” way of adding something dramatic. It’s small, so if it doesn’t work, I can just repaint it and it wouldn’t take long to redo. Not that I’d want to redo it, but just in case…
The other idea would be to add a navy accent wall in our master bedroom:
Master bedroom photo from before we moved in (staged by realtor).
A navy wall would be pretty dramatic behind the bed, dontcha think?
Of course, once I decide to add a navy wall, I need to pick a navy blue, which can be challenging.
I don’t want it to read too purple, or too brown. I want a blue with some gray tones in it.
What do you think? Bathroom? Bedroom accent wall? Share your thoughts in the comments!
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
Gosh, I like BOTH places to try the color. I personally don’t like any blues, but navy would be one I would use. Try the bathroom first and see how you feel about the room for a a couple of weeks, then if you like it, go for it in the bedroom. I have an accent wall in my bedroom which is a dull green (a deeper, dark color like the navy) and with the creamy goldish walls and shabby chic poster bed looks great and not too dark. Your white accents will probably be just the right amount. Go for it!!
Thanks, Linda! I agree that maybe starting in the bathroom is the way to go. At least, since it’s the guest bath, I don’t have to see it every day if I don’t like it…OR I could use it more if I do!! Thanks!
I love Linda’s idea! Try your bathroom first and then if you love the look and feel of the bathroom in navy then go for the accent wall in your bedroom. Benjamin Moore. Van Deusen Blue would look great in your bedroom! Can’t wait to see the results!
Thank you, Felicia! Me, too – I think starting with the little bathroom makes sense, too!
Go with the Van Duesen Blue option in the bathroom. It is small enough that it will only take a day or two to repaint if you absolutely hate it!
Exactly, Michelle! I agree! I’ll let you know what happens!
I don’t like dark walls, and would not use navy just because it seem trendy. Happy and light for me.
Thanks, Jane! Yes, I agree re dark walls, but there’s something about the navy that doesn’t seem dark, but makes the wall kind of recede into the background. We’ll see – if I hate it, it’s just paint!
The brighter Newbury blue is invigorating, in my opinion. The bathroom would look great with all its white accents.
The same color would spark the accent wall in the bedroom.
Thanks, Joyce! It’s a beautiful blue – I’ll have to see how it looks on the wall. I’m off to buy some samples this afternoon!
I have a 75 year old house with slanted ceilings and Lenny of angels. We vaulted the Master (ourselves I might add) and it’s getting a dark blue BM paint I’m not sure of but in the dark tones. We installed a new larger window which has a mountain view and so I’ll frame that with the dark blue. It’s gonna be smashing. The rest will get Decorators white and one or two more walls of blue. I have painted our kitchen cupboards Newburyport blue and I love 💕 it. What a great transformation. So, uhhhh, long story short, go for it. You’re gonna love it!
Just not on that bandwagon yet but for you ok how’s about accent wall in bedroom
Thanks, Jenny! We’ll see if I stay on the bandwagon!!
Go with the bathroom! We painted our small guest bathroom a dark charcoal, which nicely balanced with the high ceilings and the white trim and subway tile. For even more contrast I added a white frilly multi-texture shower curtain. The whole effect is fresh and airy believe it not. Best of luck with your navy walls!!
That sounds beautiful and the look I’m going for, too! Thanks, Brenda!! I’ll keep you posted!!
I vote for both! I would paint one wall in the bathroom where the sink and toilet are with some bead board and rail at a comfortable height over the toilet for a narrow shelf to hold a basket of finger towels. Painting the head board wall in the bedroom . I love the Van Duesen Blue. It will give a nice mellow restful ambiance. Can’t wait to see what you do.
Thanks, Paula! I was thinking about bead board in the bathroom, but there’s really not a lot of wall space showing to do that, when you consider the tub surround, the toilet, and the big vanity. I was thinking even board and batten might look good, but again, not enough wall to do it – the battens would be spaced too close together and would look off. I could try a rail around the room, or maybe a small shelf to hold hand towels. I’ll post a video or picture of the entire bathroom and then I think it’ll show better what I mean about the walls.
I’m going to be totally different and say go for the bedroom wall first. I love the accent wall and think the Van Deusen Blue would be the prettiest with the color of your furniture. If I am going to try something new I tend to go bigger first. Lol gives me a better idea of living our hating our off I need to add something to make it work
Dare to be different, Mary! 🙂 I like that blue, too – will just have to see how the blues look on the wall before choosing. Of course, I’ll keep you posted!!
OKAY…I always have an opinion…lol Anyway, never one to back off and go the “safe” mode, I’d do your bedroom accent wall! That room needs some “POP” and behind a bed an accent wall looks amazing. I think the bed counter balances it. I love navy and there isn’t really a shade I don’t like, but I think if it was me, I’d go to the Hale Havy (Navy?) I think the Newburyport is a little dark and the Van Deusen a bit too bright. Good luck…love a project like this!
Thanks, Dixie! I’m so glad my readers have opinions!! I am leaning toward Hale Navy also, but I need to see what they all look like on the wall. So far, I only have them on paper. Going to buy samples tomorrow!
I think the bathroom first, but I love the idea of the one wall in your bedroom. I love the Van Deusen Blue , its beautiful!
Thanks, Judy! That’s what I’m thinking, too!
My disclaimer: I am a blue person so my answer is definitely “colored” by that! I would go with the Newburyport Blue. It would make sense to start with the bathroom for all the reason you said about it being a smaller space to correct, if you had to, but I also think your headboard would look great against a navy blue wall! See how you like the bathroom and go from there! Giving it some thought, I think the one bedroom wall would be easier to paint than a bathroom with all its obstacles! Can’t wait to see the results!
Thanks, Karen! I like blue, too, although this is definitely the boldest I’ve gone (although see guest room reveal for a bright blue wall!). We’ll see – paint samples today!
Bathroom, and the Neuburyport, and if your lovin it when its done, knock out the bedroom wall..lol
Good Luck, cant wait to see it.
Arlie
That’s what I’m thinking, too! Thanks!!
Go for the bedroom! It’s always great when you get to appreciate your inspiration, the most you can. You probably wouldn’t go in the guest bathroom that often. All the blues look great.
Thanks, Robin. That’s true. I’m going to check out paint samples today, so we’ll see how it goes!
Go for the bedroom. After having 5 feet high white wainscoting added to the majority of our last homes walls ,my husband finally talked me into painting the top of the wall regatta blue by Behr . I was so nervous about it and got lots of strange looks when I told my family and friends that’s what I was doing. I fell in love with it ! And not only used it in the living/dining area but also ended up painting the master bath with it. It made all the white wainscoting as well as the bathroom fixtures appear lighter and brighter. It did not make any of the rooms darker at all. The regatta blue is similar to the Newberry port. In fact when we moved out of that house in FL into our new house in northern GA we used a different shade of navy blue in my husband’s office .since that room is on the top floor and has lower ceilings with angled (sort of attic type) walls we went with a lighter navy ….. big mistake! It ended up looking too much like a little boys room. We will be repainting it with a darker blue this fall. Don’t be scared ….. it’s only paint !!
That’s awesome! I’ll check out that blue, too – thank you, Marilyn!
Admittedly I am not a Blue person myself , but I do like the idea of a deep rich color adding a formalness …
like small rooms or bathrooms with rich color …my eye is drawn to the Newbury Blue…but only if it is blue/grey…not PURPLE! I went a very chalky dark grey after playing it safe w/ a lite grey in the bathroom also with bright white bead board. Good luck, cant wait to see it!
Thanks, Mary!