Beautiful Blues: Using the Right Hue in Your Kid's Room

Blue isn’t just for baby boys – it’s great for girls, and kids of all ages.

True blue – whether it’s of the morning sky or the deep-sea variety – is one of the most versatile decorating tints out there. Blue is a naturally occurring hue, which is why it’s so often described as calm and serene...We have an innate recognition of it.

In spite of the fact that “the blues” are meant to be sad or introspective, psychological studies have shown that blue is a color that is calming. It’s seen as a shade of stability and reliability (hence, the blue in a policeman’s uniform), and it’s often used to decorate offices, because research has suggested that people are more productive in blue rooms – can you say, “homework?” (How about a nice blue chair for your child’s computer hutch?)

There are two types of blue you can use to enhance your child’s bedroom:

Warm Hues

• Denim
• Cobalt
• Ultramarine
• Indigo

Cool Hues

• Turquoise
• Thalo
• Ice
• Navy

Take home a bunch of paint chips. You want to see what shades of blue work with the room’s lighting (both natural and artificial) and your existing furniture. Don’t rely on online paint samples – color settings on computer screens vary, and isn’t an accurate way to tell if the shade will work for you.

Same goes for blue furniture – head to home decor and furniture stores to see how the items look in person. (Ever read reviews online that go something like “I was expecting a rich navy ottoman, but what I got was a really jarring cobalt blue!”? Don’t make the same mistake.)

Now that you have your ideal shades of blue, here’s how you can incorporate them into your kid’s room:

A Bitty Blip of Blue

An understated palette with a few color accents create a nice overall effect for a room that’s not blue, but looks like it is. Mainly white or eggshell bedrooms benefit from striking pops of blue in pillows, toy baskets, a throw rug, and art on the walls. Baseboards and accented doorways are also a great way to get some blue hue without overwhelming the room.

Blue-Ribbon Winner

Then again, maybe you want to go all-in with the blues and go for it in a big, bold way. This can work as long as you’re careful to keep some balance, such as neutral curtains or lots of unpainted wood items (bed frame, dresser, desk, etc.).

Blue + Other Colors

Don’t think you only need to stick with blue when doing a blue-themed room.

Colors that are adjacent to blue on the color wheel (aka complementary colors) include violets and greens. They’ll add depth to your blues, without being overwhelming.

If you want to accent the blue with something more striking, try orange, a contrasting color that’s opposite on the color wheel.

Don’t forget your primary colors: If you really want those blues to stand out, yellow and red accents will really give your room a bright, bold look.

This versatile, handsome hue is certainly one of your true-blue besties when it comes to decorating!

Tell us, how do you do blue in your kid’s room? Share your tips with us!

All images from Houzz

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