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Navy is our new neutral. Image: Diane James Home
Usually, when we talk about neutrals, blacks, whites and grays steal the spotlight — and for good reason! They go with everything, they’ve been around forever, and, frankly, they will always be in style. That said, there’s no need for monochromatic colors to be the only game in town.
Thanks to 2017’s design trends, another color is ready to mix up your neutral color palate. Navy is here and there’s no stopping it. As the year progresses, we’re seeing this color get steadily more popular and we predict it won’t be long before you’re seeing it everywhere.
For those ready to dive in, we’ll show you how to best incorporate this powerful shade of blue into your next design project. Those of you who need a bit more convincing, stick with us. Read on and we’ll show you exactly why this faux-neutral needs to be on your radar.
Add a punch of visual interest by putting navy on your walls. Image: Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.
Make a big impact with paint
When you’re ready for a completely new look, adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls is by far the best option. Not only will a bold shade like navy blue bring a huge dose of visual interest into the space, but it will do so without costing much. (One of our favorite interior design secrets? Paint costs pennies on the dollar compared to other design elements and is usually the best bang for your buck.) All you need to do is know how to use it the right way.
Where navy is concerned, you have two options. The first is to focus on how the color is perceived. Typically, people believe navy connotes elegance and sophistication, which makes it a natural fit for the more serious spaces in your home. Consider using wall-to-wall color in places such as a formal dining room or home office.
The second option is to take color psychology into account. In this case, blue tones evoke feelings of calmness and serenity, meaning navy may be a good choice for bedrooms. Using it on a focal wall behind the bed will certainly draw attention.
Give your rooms a pop of color with some navy furniture. Image: Tim Cuppett Architects
Focus on furniture
Believe it or not, navy blue furniture exists. Not only that, but since unconventional furniture fabrics like velvet are becoming steadily more common, we can only anticipate that we’ll see more and more of it as the trend grows.
To use navy blue furniture successfully, you need to make a choice. Either it should be used as your dominant color, as shown above, or as a statement piece. Be sure to take the size of the room into consideration as you make the final decision.
Navy is a strong color, so too much of it can overwhelm tight spaces and lead to them feeling even smaller. In cozy rooms, a single piece of navy furniture such as an arm chair or sofa can easily serve as the room’s focal point. However, if you have the room to spread out, there’s no reason not to buy as many pieces as your heart desires.
Consider navy kitchen cabinets to get in on one of 2017’s hottest trends. Image: Heidi Caillier Design
Kitchen cabinets are peak 2017 navy trend
No one is saying that white cabinets with gray granite countertops are gone for good. However, in 2017, we’re starting to see a few alternatives pop up. By positioning itself as a faux-neutral, navy kitchen cabinets are becoming increasingly common.
Pulling off this trend is all about creating contrast. As you can see in the picture above, the lower cabinets are used as an accent against plenty of stark white. Again, this is a situation where connotations come into play. A navy-blue-and-white combo brings to mind images of a clean and crisp naval uniform, which are undoubtedly positive attributes to describe any cooking space.
However, keep in mind that color isn’t the only way to create contrast. Navy blue cabinets can also benefit from being surrounded by a range of materials. Think about offsetting them with smooth marble countertops, sleek stainless steel appliances and a few natural-looking décor elements.
Try out navy through textiles. Image: INTRO INRED
Try it out in textiles
If you’re not quite sure where you fall in regard to the navy trend, trying it out via textiles is a great way to see how you feel. Since items such as pillows, blankets and rugs are relatively affordable purchases, textiles are often seen as the design equivalent of dipping your toe in the shallow end of the pool. That said, with navy, there are a few special considerations.
Since navy is such a bold shade of blue, using only solid-color textiles may come off feeling a bit harsh. To temper the look, search for navy items in a variety of patterns, prints and textures. This will allow you to incorporate pops of the hue among other, more familiar shades.
As for which other colors will mix-and-match best, there are plenty of options. Navy works well with just about everything. To bring brightness to the room, consider either a sunny yellow shade or a bright orange. However, if you’d rather focus on the room’s richness, opt for something like a regal purple or ruby red.
Contrast navy and white to bring a calm and clean look to any space. Image: Peterssen/Keller Architecture
Neutral colors aren’t just limited to black, white and gray anymore. A new navy trend has recently popped up and has been steadily gaining popularity. Whether you’re all-in on this faux-neutral or you aren’t quite sure how to feel, keep this post close at hand. Use our suggestions to help you create a design that feels on-trend while looking timeless.
What do you think of this navy trend? Will you be giving it a try? Let us know in the comments below.
This post originally from Fresh Home
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