Pale ocean blues and grayish browns reminiscent of wet sand allude to an ocean theme without being literal
The pairing of a primary color, such as blue, with a neutral hue, like brown, is a common design scheme. By mimicking the color elements found in blue's complementary color of orange, warm browns enhance cool blues by creating a subtle tonal contrast. Because of the wide range of shades, a variety of themes centered on the color combination of blue and brown can be implemented, as long as you maintain the proper balance of warm and cool shades of both colors. For example, cooler browns like taupe should be paired with warmer blues that incorporate more yellow into their hue, such as turquoise.
Sand and Sea
Evoke a breezy Hamptons summer or a voyage into the ocean deep with a sand and sea bedroom scheme. For a summery beach feel, opt for pale, nautical blues paired with sandy tans and brilliant white accessories. Accent the d cor with subtle lighthouse and sailboat accessories. For an under-the-sea d cor scheme, opt for deeper, brighter blues and blue-greens paired with tans more reminiscent of wet sand than dry beaches. Seashells, tropical fish and coral accents bring the underwater design concept together. For a less literal seascape theme, let the brown shades become the dominant color in your design scheme, accented with minimal blue and natural fiber accessories.
Chocolate and Tiffany's
Capture romance without resorting to typical romantic colors like dusty pinks by utilizing a color scheme inspired by romantic gifts of milk chocolate and Tiffany & Co.'s expensive jewelry in their trademark Tiffany Blue boxes. Chocolate walls with Tiffany Blue-inspired bedding and accessories provide a gender-neutral design scheme that can be enhanced with feminine rose and cream tones, or can remain slick and chic with silvers and whites. Mirrored end tables, modern chrome and crystal lighting options add luxury to the elegant color scheme.
Leather and Midnight
For a richer, more masculine blue and brown d cor theme, pair deep, blue-black shades like midnight blue with dark brown leather furniture. As this darker color combination might overwhelm a smaller bedroom, you can achieve the same design style by placing leather furniture and midnight blue accessories in a bedroom with brighter, neutral, whitish walls with a brown tint mixed in, such as ecru or eggshell. Although black and brown are two neutrals that are not always compatible in a design scheme, both midnight blue and dark brown leather are tinted with black, so black and white photographs and black lacquer accessories can be used minimally in this color scheme.
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