The best blue paint colours for most homes are the deep, inky ones: Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue (30) and Stiffkey Blue (281), and Little Greene's Hicks' Blue (208). For something softer, a blue-grey such as Inchyra Blue (289) or Juniper Ash (115) is easier to live with in every room. And for a pale blue that never feels icy, Little Greene's Pale Wedgwood (249) is a quiet favourite.
Blue is one of the most enduring colours in British decorating. It suits Georgian panelling and modern kitchens alike, it looks wonderful with brass, oak and white, and the deeper shades have a way of making a room feel both calm and grand at once. It is also a colour that changes a great deal with the light, which is why it pays to choose carefully.
Here are the blues we would shortlist, with a few alternatives from each brand.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Stiffkey Blue (281)
The classic deep blues
- Hague Blue (30). Farrow & Ball describe it as fantastically popular: a deep and inky favourite for walls, woodwork and front doors alike. They suggest it as a darker accent, or all over for a room that makes a real statement.
- Hicks' Blue (208). Little Greene's deep, rich inky blue, with what they call a powerful, commanding presence. It creates an enveloping, immersive room.
- Stiffkey Blue (281). Pronounced "stoo-key", it is named after the Norfolk beach where the mud is a unique shade of navy. Farrow & Ball suggest pairing it with pale grey Ammonite (274) on the woodwork for a traditional feel.
- Royal Navy (257). A rich, sumptuous dark blue that Little Greene say makes a striking contrast with white furniture or trim.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Hague Blue (30)
Blues with a twist
Some blues lean towards black, purple or green, which gives them more character in changing light.
- Pitch Blue (220). A rich cobalt with a hefty dose of black pigment, giving an indigo look that can seem almost purple in certain lights. Farrow & Ball say it really comes to life in south-facing rooms.
- Livid (263). A deep, moody blue tempered with black for a restful, brooding quality.
- Constantia Blue (614). A deep, warm blue-green with immersive richness, which Paint & Paper Library suggest for dramatic rooms, cabinetry and statement walls.
- Sobek (587). An earthy blue-green with rich depth, at its best in larger rooms and layered schemes.
Softer blue-greys and pale blues
If a deep blue feels like too much, these are calmer and work in almost any room.
- Inchyra Blue (289). Created for Inchyra House in Perthshire and inspired by stormy Scottish skies. Farrow & Ball note that it can take on a more blue, grey or even green cast depending on the light.
- Juniper Ash (115). A warm, approachable blue that Little Greene say brings warmth without feeling overpowering.
- Lamp Room Gray (88). Despite the name, a traditional blue-grey with a surprising amount of strength in smaller spaces.
- Pale Wedgwood (249). A classic, dusty pale blue with a cool, refined character that sits happily alongside soft neutrals.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Hicks' Blue (208)
How light changes blue
Blue is a cool colour, and it responds strongly to the light in a room. In a bright, south-facing room, deep blues glow and pale blues look fresh. In a north-facing room, the same blues can turn greyer and cooler, and pale blues in particular can feel chilly.
The answer in a darker room is usually to go deeper rather than lighter. A blue such as Hague Blue or Hicks' Blue, used generously on walls and woodwork, makes a cool room feel cocooning rather than cold. Farrow & Ball suggest Pitch Blue for a darker room, or one used mostly in the evening, for a more restrained feel. Our guide to why a colour looks different at home explains more.
Choosing a white to go with blue
Farrow & Ball suggest a complementary white for each of their colours, which takes the guesswork out of woodwork and ceilings:
- Hague Blue (30) with Wevet (273).
- Inchyra Blue (289) with Drop Cloth (283).
- Pitch Blue (220) with All White (2005) in a bright room.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Pitch Blue (220)
Questions we are often asked
Hague Blue or Hicks' Blue?
Both are deep, inky blues and both are excellent. The best way to choose is to paint large sample boards of each and look at them side by side in your own room, morning and evening.
Can I have Hague Blue mixed in another brand?
We recommend the genuine paint. Farrow & Ball explain that a match is made with different pigments, so it can look close in one light and drift in another. If you love a colour, buy it from the brand that made it.
Do dark blues need extra coats?
Use the right primer and two topcoats are usually enough. Farrow & Ball recommend their Dark Tones primer for Hague Blue, Stiffkey Blue and Inchyra Blue.
