Hot Color Combo: Cool Blues and Warm Brass

Suddenly the combo is everywhere — deep, rich navies and royal blues paired with warm metals like brass, copper and gold. You've probably seen this color pairing on Houzz or gracing the pages of a recent magazine spread, and while it may be a trend, I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

Why? Deep blues are classic. Think pea coats, blue jeans and the late-evening sky. Brass has gotten a bit of a bad rap over the years, and if you've ever had to live with badly designed brass light fixtures or cheap, too-shiny brass door hardware, you may be harboring a prejudice ... and if so, I would completely understand.

But I urge you to give brass a second look: When the brass is solid and stately, and paired with the right blue, the look is sophisticated and undeniably chic. Below you'll find a dozen ways to work with blues and brass, from the kitchen to the living room and everywhere in between.

In the living room, with dark walls. Blue sofas seem to be everywhere lately. Choose a true navy one or something lighter, like the sofa shown here. It might sound counterintuitive, but a deeper, richer neutral color on the walls can help the piece settle in, and it will give you the freedom to add more color around it.


Project idea: Make your bookshelves pop. Remove the shelves and paint the back wall of your bookcases to make the objects stand out. Navy will read as sophisticated and nautical; a brighter royal blue will look fresh and modern. Either will look great with brass and gold accents (feel free to mix them up), and you can never go wrong with library lights.


In the living room, with white walls. A navy sofa works as a bold neutral in this fresh, modern living room. The graphic black and white rug, white walls and glass and brass coffee table alone would have felt crisp; the printed yellow curtains create a more relaxed vibe.


In a tiny kitchen. Buck conventional wisdom in a tiny kitchen and go dark rather than light. Glossy navy cabinets paired with brass hardware look luxurious, giving this postage-stamp-size space a jewel-box feel.


In a larger kitchen. Varying materials and finishes, when done well, is a great way to create a custom look. Try white upper cabinets and navy lower cabinets. And don't be afraid to mix metals — the copper pendants shown here would also work with brass or bronze hardware.

Island paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore


In the bath. Give an old claw-foot tub a makeover by painting the bottom navy and the feet brass. Navy paint on the walls and a gray painted radiator create a sophisticated vintage look paired with classic hex floor tiles.


Brass hardware on the toilet and sink lends the bathroom in this Victorian-era home instant vintage authenticity. To make this look your own, you could track down a unique mirror with a great shape to swap with your plain-Jane medicine cabinet.


Project idea: dress up a chest of drawers. Pull together a color scheme for your entire room in one piece by making over a chest with glossy blue paint and brass hardware. Don't have an awesome vintage find on hand for your makeover? Head to Ikea, scoop up a no-frills dresser for cheap and get painting.

Follow a dresser makeover from start to finish


With rustic pieces: Navy and warm metals like brass, copper and gold make a comfortable match with rustic elements like worn woods, hide rugs and ironwork.


Project idea: Paint a navy chalkboard wall. Chalk paint now comes in any color you can dream up — a rich blue is a welcome change from black in a child's room, and white chalk will still show up well on it. Or why not paint a chalkboard wall in your kitchen to match your navy cabinets?

How to make your own chalkboard paint


In the dining room: Navy walls, a vintage-style brass pendant light and a black and white striped rug come together here for a crisp, modern look. One red chair in the corner and an eclectic mix of art on the wall give this space a quirky edge.

Wall paint: Almost Black, Benjamin Moore


Choose (or make) an accent: Brass decor accents are flooding the market these days, so you can easily find objects no matter what your budget is.

Of course, if you enjoy scouring thrift shops, you can certainly find some fabulous vintage brass animals or objects at good prices — and if all else fails, break out a can of metallic spray paint and give your old accessories a new look.

Tell us: Would you try this color pairing at home?

URL: Hot Color Combo: Cool Blues and Warm Brass http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21400.html