Mazarine (256) is a rich, deep blue from Little Greene, and one of the most balanced blues on their chart. Little Greene describe it as a truly neutral blue, leaning neither too green nor too violet, which is why it can feel fresh and Mediterranean in one room and calm and enveloping in the next.
The name comes from the Mazarine Blue butterfly, after the colour of its wing tips. It belongs to Little Greene's Colours of England collection and sits among their strong blues. Many deep blues lean towards teal or towards navy. Mazarine does neither, and that clarity is what makes it so easy to build a scheme around.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Mazarine (256), Mono (218)
What kind of blue is Mazarine?
Think of it as a rich royal blue rather than a navy. It has enough depth to feel serious on walls, but it stays clear and bright rather than inky. Little Greene call it a centrepiece shade, and suggest pairing it with whites and other blues for a Mediterranean-inspired scheme.
Like every strong colour, it reacts to its surroundings. In bright, warm light it looks vivid and lively; on a grey afternoon or by lamplight it becomes deeper and quieter. Across a whole wall it will also look deeper than it does on a sample card.
Where to use Mazarine
- Kitchens. On cabinets or an island, it looks crisp against white walls, marble and brass, and gives a kitchen a fresh, sunny feel.
- Bathrooms. A natural partner for white sanitaryware and tiles, and the most obvious route to that Mediterranean mood.
- Studies and dining rooms. All over, it makes a room feel enclosed and focused, particularly in the evening.
- Woodwork and furniture. A door, a staircase or a single painted cupboard in Mazarine adds a confident note to a pale room. Our guide to painting IKEA furniture shows how.
- Outside. Front doors, shutters and garden furniture, using Little Greene's exterior finishes.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Royal Navy (257), Urbane Grey (225)
Colours that pair with Mazarine
Little Greene suggest a full palette around it:
- Whites. Loft White (222), a near-pure, clean white, or Wood Ash (229), a pale grey just off white.
- Neutrals. Inox (224), a cool light grey with a delicate blue tint, and Cool Arbour (232), a mid grey with an earthy khaki warmth.
- Other blues. Bone China Blue (107) as a lighter partner, Air Force Blue (260) alongside it, and Royal Navy (257) as the darker option.
- A contrasting accent. Canton (94), a rich, complex blue-green.
- Outside. Yellow-Pink (46) and Shirting (129), an earthy ochre and a crisp, pure mineral white.
For a coordinated room, Little Greene's Lovers' Toile wallpaper comes in a Mazarine colourway, a single-colour toile that can be paired with the paint.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Canton (94), Jack Black (119)
Which finish to choose
Mazarine is available across Little Greene's interior and exterior finishes, so it can run from walls to woodwork to the front door.
- Walls. Absolute Matt Emulsion for the deepest, chalkiest colour, or Intelligent Matt Emulsion for kitchens, halls and bathrooms where walls need wiping.
- Woodwork, cabinets and furniture. Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen) or Intelligent Satin (30 to 35%). Both are self-priming on most surfaces, needing only a clean and a light key.
- Outside. Intelligent Exterior Eggshell for doors and joinery, and Intelligent Masonry Paint for walls.
Because Mazarine is a deep colour, a first coat of Intelligent ASP tinted towards it helps build depth, particularly over a pale or very different existing colour.
Questions we are often asked
Is Mazarine a navy?
No. It is brighter and clearer than a navy. If you want something darker in the same spirit, look at Royal Navy (257).
Will it make a small room feel dark?
It will make it feel richer and more enclosed. Paired with a clean white such as Loft White on the ceiling and woodwork, it stays fresh rather than heavy.
How should I sample it?
Order a sample pot, paint two coats on a large board, and look at it in daylight and lamplight. Strong blues are hard to judge from a screen.
