Navy Living Room Ideas
Navy is one of the easiest dark colours for a living room because it behaves like a neutral but feels richer. Pair navy walls or a navy sofa with crisp white, warm wood and brass, then add one warm accent such as mustard or blush to stop it feeling cold.
Below: colours that go with navy, whether to use it on walls or furniture, warm and cool navies, and how to choose art for navy walls.
Prints for this look
The colour palette
Colours that go with navy in a living room
- Crisp white and warm white give the classic, clean contrast.
- Mustard and ochre are the warm complementary accents. Yellow-orange sits opposite blue on the colour wheel, so a mustard cushion or throw makes navy glow.
- Blush and dusty pink soften navy and give a more relaxed, modern look.
- Antique brass and gold catch the light against deep blue walls.
- Tan leather, rust and walnut warm the room up and suit a dark blue living room especially well.
For proportions, the 60-30-10 rule is a helpful guide: about 60% navy or white, 30% wood and a supporting neutral, and 10% mustard, blush or brass.
Navy walls or a navy sofa?
Navy walls make a living room feel enclosed and cosy, and they make a TV almost disappear into the wall. Pair them with a sofa in tan leather, cream, mustard velvet or blush so it stands out. A rug in warm neutrals or a muted pattern with rust and cream keeps the floor from feeling heavy.
A navy sofa against white or soft grey walls is the lighter option, good for smaller rooms. Add cushions in mustard, rust or blush, and repeat the navy once in the art so the sofa does not look isolated.
Warm and cool navy
Some navies lean cool, with grey or black in them. They look sharp with chrome, white, pale grey and black frames. Others lean warm, with a hint of green or red. They suit brass, walnut, leather and ochre. Hang a white sheet of paper next to your paint: if the navy looks inky and grey, keep the accents crisp; if it looks slightly teal or purple, go for warmer partners.
Choosing wall art for navy walls
On navy walls, prints with cream or white backgrounds stand out clearly, and gold or mustard details pick up lamplight. Abstracts in navy and blush, maps, coastal scenes and minimal line art all suit a navy blue living room. On white walls with a navy sofa, choose a print with plenty of deep blue to link the two.
Above the sofa, aim for art about two thirds of the sofa's width, hung 15 to 25 cm above the back. On a 200 cm sofa that means roughly 130 cm of art, such as a pair of A1 prints with a 5 to 8 cm gap.
Browse our navy blue wall art, or plan a mixed arrangement with the gallery wall planner.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
