Moody blues: bringing back navy

When it comes to decorating with darker hues, charcoal has had it almost all its own way for a long time.

A study nook painted with layers of blue - drama with serenity

Layers of blues give this study nook drama and serenity without making it dark and sombre.

The left wall is painted in Resene Indian Ink with rear wall in Resene Watermark. Through the door the wall is Resene Duck Egg Blue. The desk is Resene Double Duck Egg Blue with painted desk leg in Resene Quarter Albescent White. The floor is painted in a base colour of Resene Foundation with a second coat of Resene Otter mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and topcoat strokes in Resene Foundation. The DIY artwork is painted in Resene Contented, Resene Tenor and Resene Transition. Plant pot in Resene Tenor and curved decoration and light fitting in Resene Kia Kaha. Chair from Cintesi. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Moody shades like Resene Element have nudged their way into the Resene Top 20 most popular colours for their off-black versatility. But there is another moody group of shades experiencing a stylish revival – and that is dark, navy and inky blues.

These are shades that can veer into almost purple or deep, sea-toned teal. In some spaces they can feel a little more welcoming than blacks, greys and deep browns, while still being a versatile backdrop to a surprising range of shades.

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey says like charcoal and black, deep blues can work almost like a neutral themselves or pair brilliantly with a mix of neutrals to stay grounded and interesting.

“Deep blue shades look good with everything. Try colours like Resene Shadowy Blue with Resene Quarter Heathered Grey, Resene Merino and an accent in metallic Resene Pure Pewter.”

Deeper blues have a lot of strength, she says, so they also sit well alongside brighter colours because the deeper blue can balance other hues. “Try pairing Resene Coast with cool blue Resene Comfortably Numb and Resene Half Sea Fog then accent with a jewel tone such as Resene Very Berry.”

Dark and interesting

When using bold, darker colours there is often a tendency to default to pairing them with lighter creams and neutrals, or in the case of navy, with lighter blues, to prevent darker spaces becoming overwhelming. But, Meryl says, pairing dark blues with other dark colours of similar saturation can create a space that initially appears monochrome but in fact has complex, visually interesting undertones. Try navy Resene Madison as a main colour with notes of deep green Resene Celtic and purple-toned Resene Bullitt to drench your space in deep colour. For visual interest add an accent in yellowed beige Resene Putty and use shimmering surfaces like mirrors or metallics to bounce light around the space.

If you’re tending towards black in your interior or exterior spaces, opting for navy instead, can feel slightly lighter and more visually interesting, Meryl says.

“You could substitute black for a deep blue such as Resene Black Rock, which is a violet-dominated blue, or replace dark grey walls with a stormy grey-blue such as Resene Baring Head, then brighten the room with coloured glass and ceramics.”

Given its association with the night sky, navy blue can be very effective when used in bedrooms. You can try drenching the room in the moody, sleep tones of Resene Ocean Waves with simple contrast trim in Resene Sea Fog. Add glamour and opulence with a lampshade or other accent piece painted in Resene FX Metallic Gold or add a bolt of sunshine with Resene Light Fantastic.

Lean into the night sky theme and paint your ceiling or walls with Resene FX Nightlight glow-in-the-dark paint. Mask out star shapes over the ceiling then cover in two coats of a dark blue like Resene Cello. Once dry, carefully peel off the masked stars to reveal a starry night sky.

top tip Resene FX Nightlight works best when painted over white or light colours.

Blue on blue

Navy blue is also the perfect colour to layer with other blues, Meryl says. “Nature does this beautifully. The sky and ocean are never one colour.

A bathroom with blue wallpaper

The subtle pattern and deep blue colourway of Resene Wallpaper Collection M629-01 gives this bathroom restrained elegance. Try this wallpaper paired with a simple neutral like Resene Quarter Rice Cake to echo the white bath and wood features stained in Resene Colorwood Natural or washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash.

“If you have soft, icy blue walls, bring in a navy blue, as well as rusty browns and buttery yellows to add warmth and stop the room from feeling too cool and monochromatic. Try colours such as Resene Bunting, Resene Yogi and Resene Half Moonbeam.”

If classic navy feels too dark for your space, you can still experiment with darker blues by working with layers of muted, greyed blues. Shades like Resene Echo Blue and Resene Half Hammerhead add soft layers that can be finished with touches of darker Resene Blue Night or Resene Bunting. If you’re feeling adventurous, try them on a feature wall using the lightshade as your main colour and using two darker shades over diagonal sections.

Alternatively opt for an extra pale blue like Resene Hawkes Blue as a neutral with deep Resene Midnight Express and a complementary burst of burnt orange Resene Fire.

Nautical navy

Navy also has strong associations with nautical or coastal looks, particularly the classic Hamptons style, when paired with white and lots of wood. To update this nautical or coastal style Meryl suggests going darker, adding tongue-and-groove panelling painted in inky blue Resene Indian Ink with accents of charcoal blue Resene High Tide paired with wood finished in grey-blue Resene Colorwood Shade.

A deep blue interior using Resene Indian Ink

Deep blue is painted on these walls and onto the vaulted ceiling for a cosy, yet timeless finish.

The walls, sideboard and ceiling are in Resene Indian Ink. Cabinet top stained in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black. Floor stained in Resene Colorwood Bask. Lamp, blue chair and rug and side table from Ligne Roset, red chair from Soren Liv, vases, candleholder and lamp from Tessuti candles, boots from Faraday. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.

A dining room with a blue on blue look

A layered blue on blue look is given levity and drama with notes of lavender and charcoal.

Left wall painted in Resene Ocean Waves, right wall in Resene Timeless and floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. The tabletop is in Resene Invincible with legs in Resene Poet, Resene Indian Ink, Resene Aviator and Resene Rulebreaker. The lightshade strip is Resene Resolution Blue. Shelves in Resene Indian Ink with curved piece in Resene Ocean Waves, planter in Resene Indian Ink, bowl in Resene Poet, small vases in Resene Carpe Noctem and Resene Indian Ink and candleholder in Resene Rulebreaker. Chair from Cintesi, art from endemicworld. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

“Layering the blues will give a modern feel to a nautical-themed space. You can add pops of colour like red Resene Havoc or green Resene Half Limerick. It isn’t all about blue and white,” Meryl says.

Navy in a beachy environment can also help spaces feel warmer and welcoming all year round.

Create a classic beachy look with a layered colour palette of off-white Resene Blanc with Resene Lime White and muted blue Resene Escapade and washed wood finishes in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Then to create a layer of visual warmth and a space that feels inviting in any season add accents of deep blue Resene Wanaka or Resene New Denim Blue. Try darker blues in small touches like picture frames, decor pieces or use it on the floor to anchor your lighter, more wispy shades.

This impact look doesn’t have to be strictly for the beach either. Notes of navy can be very effective at adding impact or solidity to otherwise soothing, pastel looks. Try delicate gelato shades like Resene Clotted Cream, muted grey-green Resene Unwind and dusted pink Resene High Tea with a feature wall or DIY artwork in dark teal-blue Resene Barometer.

Colours mentioned in this blog...

Moody blues: bringing back navy

Dark and interesting

Blue on blue

Nautical navy

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com