Avoid The Common Trap That Makes Blue And White Outdated

Ahoy there: Are you over the nautical trend that can make interiors seem a little dated? While the classic color combination of blue and white is certainly timeless, you may be tired of the same overplayed coastal-themed items popping up with this color scheme. The good news is that you can still incorporate these shades into your home without leaning into the nautical trap. That way, you can still play into the serene, calming effect that blue has on a space while keeping the look fresh and inviting. The key is to utilize one of the colors as your base, then balance and complement it with accents in the other color. This will create a truly timeless design that is both stylish and chic. Not only that, but it allows you to play with other themes that may work with these colors. If you're ready to cast off from overdone trends, get ready for a new era of blue and white themes.

Coastal and nautical themes are not the only options when it comes to decorating with these colors, so don't box yourself in. What people tend to forget is that a lot of other aesthetics utilize these two colors: Mediterranean, for example. French-inspired designs often work around a blue and white palette as well. Even farmhouse or rustic decor can be done with these complementary hues. But if you do want to stick with the coastal vibe, you can refine the look for subtle hints of the sea without anchors and seashells covering every surface. The main thing to consider is which shade you want as your primary color, then work from that with the other color.

Using blue as your base color is an ideal way to get a saturated aesthetic that can be bold and dramatic or understated and stylish. By painting the walls blue, or even just having an accent wall in a blue shade, you have a statement that you can build around with white or off-white decor, like throws, rugs, and even upholstered pieces. This can create a chic, modern theme. Or add wood and metallic fixtures, hardware, and artwork to bring in anything from a farmhouse design to a more industrial ambiance.

Should you decide to make white your main color, this opens up a variety of options for blue accents. Depending on the shade of blue you go with, you can fill the space with upholstered blue furnishings, rugs, window hangings, and artwork incorporating this shade throughout. Softer, lighter blues can create a cottagecore aesthetic, while deep navy imparts a midcentury modern feel. While wood can be associated with nautical designs, using a lot of it will give your room more of a nature-inspired or biophilic finish, allowing you to add blue accents for a luxurious aesthetic.

Floral or geometric designs are creative ways to incorporate blue into your home decor — the patterns can evoke more of a French countryside aesthetic or a Mediterranean layout rather than the New England coastal vibe you're hoping to avoid. For French countryside designs, use faded, warm wood furnishings (you can paint or buy new), wallpaper with delicate prints in white and blue, and molding that gives your walls texture. Mediterranean aesthetics lean into tile and ceramics in rich, patterned blues and whites with wood and terracotta elements. Just be careful with this theme, as it can easily give way to a kitschy coastal vibe as well. 

Since this combination of colors can create a calming atmosphere and both fall under the best bedroom paint colors to create a peaceful environment, it's no wonder they have not faded from the design world. You can include large amounts of both colors without overwhelming the space. It's all about finding the shades of blue and white that speak to you and fit your desired aesthetic. 

There are so many timeless blue and white home decor ideas that you can use to avoid standard nautical elements so you can still love these colors without dating your designs. Since nautical designs usually revolve around stripes and coastal elements, by removing these, you're already shifting the blue and white core to a different theme. Try to avoid cliché pieces like shells and oceanic prints on fabrics, artwork, and signs, and swap out stripes for softer color blocks.

You can also add in one or two additional accent colors for a few unexpected pops in the decor. Yellow is a classic addition to the blue and white color scheme — it adds a bright, cheery touch to the space. If you want a more dramatic look, pair red with a darker blue. To lean toward an elegant, luxurious space, opt for gold accents.