What Colours Go With Navy Blue? Palettes for Every Room

Colours that go with navy blue

• Warm white and cream. The classic navy colour scheme. Warm white keeps navy crisp without the harsh contrast of brilliant white. Use it on ceilings, woodwork and bedding, or on walls if navy is the accent.
• Mustard and ochre. Yellow sits opposite blue on the colour wheel, so a mustard yellow is navy's complementary partner. It makes navy look deeper and more saturated. Best in small doses: a cushion, a throw, a print.
• Blush pink. Soft and warm, blush takes the formality out of navy. It works in bedrooms, on velvet chairs and in prints with pink and blue together.
• Brass and antique gold. Metallics catch the light against dark walls. Brass lamps, mirror frames and picture lights look richer on navy than on almost any other colour.
• Terracotta and rust. Another warm, orange-leaning complement. Earthier than mustard, so it suits relaxed living rooms and rooms with plenty of wood.
• Sage and soft green. An analogous palette: blue and green sit next to each other on the wheel, so the pairing feels calm and natural. Good for bedrooms and bathrooms.
• Tan, camel and natural wood. Leather, oak and walnut warm navy up straight away. If you are unsure what to put with navy walls, start with wood.
• Pale grey. A cooler, quieter option for a calm navy blue colour palette. Choose a grey with a warm undertone so the room does not feel flat.

Colours that don't go with navy

Navy is forgiving, but a few combinations rarely work:

• Black in large amounts. Next to navy it reads as a mistake, as if two dark colours were meant to match and don't. Keep black to thin frames and small details.
• Bright royal or electric blue beside it. Two strong blues at different depths compete. Pale blues are fine; loud ones fight.
• Cool greys with a blue undertone everywhere. The whole room goes cold and flat. Add wood, brass or a warm accent to rescue it.
• Too many accents at once. Navy with mustard is lovely. Navy with mustard, red, emerald and pink all at once is busy. Pick one or two.

How to use navy in wall art

The easiest rule is the 60-30-10 split from our decorating rules guide: about 60 per cent neutral or navy on the walls, 30 per cent in furniture and textiles, and 10 per cent accent. Wall art is the natural home for that accent, so look for prints that hold a little navy plus your chosen accent colour. That links the art to the room without looking matched.

On navy walls, choose prints with light backgrounds, such as cream, sand or white, so they stand out from the paint. Pale frames in oak or white help too. On white or cream walls, a print with a large area of navy gives the room a strong anchor.

Check the undertone. Navies that lean green or grey suit earthy accents such as rust and olive. Navies that lean purple suit blush and brass. Above a sofa, aim for art about two thirds the width of the sofa. Above a bed, try one A1 above a double, or a pair of A2 prints above a king size.

Browse our navy blue wall art, or add a warm accent with mustard and yellow prints. For room-by-room ideas, see navy bedroom ideas and navy living room ideas.

Sizes at a glance

All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.