Navy blue is a sophisticated color choice for kitchen design. Gentler than black, navy blue’s versatility complements a variety of hues and textures found in kitchens. The timelessness of navy blue can be incorporated in historically sensitive kitchen designs or kitchens with more contemporary features. Below we will review six ways the Airy Kitchens interior design team utilizes navy blue in kitchen designs.
Navy Blue Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinetry creates structure in every kitchen we design. To create balance and contrast we often use color blocking in navy blue kitchens. Color blocking is when two or more blocks of color are combined like blue cabinets, patterned wallpaper and white counters. Navy blue cabinetry provides a sophisticated block of color in our West Mount Airy Open Concept kitchen project along with grey floors and white wainscotting. When we use a dark or unexpected color, it makes a large impact. The Shaker Overlay style cabinets are from our signature line of cabinetry and painted our ‘Midnight’ paint color. A dark navy blue like Midnight grounds this space and is brightened by brass hardware and white quartz counters. Vibrant wallpaper and navy blue cabinetry repeat in the wet bar, coffee station, and pantry in this Philadelphia kitchen project.
Strong color blocking creates structure.
2. Navy Blue Kitchen Accents
Thoughtful interior design can allow a bright neutral kitchen to incorporate navy blue as an accent. In this Philadelphia kitchen project a navy blue starry night wallpaper borders the tops of walls. The wallpaper location allowed tall ceilings to be accentuated with a bold contrast of white and navy blue. The patterned tile above the range creates a thoughtful connection between both details using navy blue. Repeating the same patterned tile in the adjacent pantry, this time surrounded by navy blue cabinets allows two separate kitchen spaces to feel unified. Using navy blue accents in the kitchen creates a cohesive and playful design that allows the eye to dance around the room.
Multiple accents tastefully unify this Philadelphia kitchen.
3. Two-Tone Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
Two-tone cabinetry is a dynamic way to incorporate navy blue into the kitchen. Our Shaker Overlay cabinets create high contrasts in both projects below. The upper level of cabinets in our Wayne Contemporary Kitchen project infuse airy lightness with our paint color ‘Crisp White.’ The lower cabinets are grounded by our navy blue paint color ‘Midnight’ in this luxurious combination. Our designers chose to keep other elements of the kitchen light to let the navy cabinets be the main block of color.
Another example of navy blue two-tone cabinetry can be seen in our Chestnut Hill Shaker Modern project. This project uses navy blue cabinetry at the upper level paired with vintage chicken wire glass and matte black subway tile to create a playful contemporary style. Two-tone cabinetry can balance simplicity with bold colors.
Two-tone cabinetry can create tasteful contrast.
4. Navy Blue Kitchen Appliances
Navy blue kitchen appliances infuse color in unexpected places. We incorporated a luxury range by French brand La Cornue in our Ardmore Mediterranean Kitchen below. A professional-grade range is as pretty as it is functional, allowing there to be customizable options. Colors from the range, like navy blue and brass, connect with other elements in this kitchen. In another kitchen project, featured in This Old House Magazine, we coordinated a navy blue range with matching chairs for a bold color statement used sparingly. Incorporating bold colors in a kitchen necessity, like a range, creates a fun focal point that you will use often.
Colorful ranges can infuse joy into a necessary appliance.
5. Navy Blue in a Unified Kitchen Palette
In a large kitchen, repeating materials in a unified palette creates a strong rhythm. Our Ardmore Mediterranean kitchen design is connected by navy blue elements, including the wet bar for a sophisticated take on traditional custom cabinetry. The entire space is united by a fun Mediterranean backsplash, bringing pops of navy to several areas. Matching the sunroom cabinetry to the kitchen island in color and detailing creates a continuous feel between rooms. We also painted the sunroom walls to match the navy cabinets and designed a solid surface backsplash to add some drama to this space.
A timeless color palette unifies this kitchen.
6. Navy Blue Kitchen Islands
A navy blue kitchen island centers both kitchens below, connecting to other blue elements. Navy blue kitchen islands can punctuate a space, creating a bold accent in a bright kitchen. A dark color like navy blue grounds the kitchen in both scenarios, while lighter blue walls and backsplash tile make a colorful connection. The custom island cabinetry shown in our Ardmore Mediterranean kitchen incorporates brass feet to protect it from daily use. When paired with the right hardware and furnishings, navy kitchen islands can provide the perfect focal point for everyday joys, like morning coffee.
A bold navy kitchen island anchors the room.
From incorporating elegant accents to designing boldly defining elements, our design team loves using navy blue in our kitchen projects. Our experience working with historic homes and building new spaces allows us to create a kitchen that’s cohesive with the rest of your home.