How to use it
Navy is a surprisingly versatile neutral that works well paired with other colours, as paint and colour expert Annie Sloan testifies:
‘For something quiet, colours like grey-greens, pale pink and white look amazing. If you’re more daring, go for browns and oranges – just remember that a small amount of orange goes a long way.’
Don’t struggle against the poorer light you get in north-facing rooms, rather take the opportunity to go for a bold navy-based scheme. ‘Instead of trying to fight
the gloom with a white, embrace it and make a virtue of its potential for drama,’ says Charlotte Cosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball. ‘Navy is fantastic for the way it creates a timeless feel and adds style.’
If you are not yet ready for coloured
kitchen units, try using navy as an accent colour instead. ‘Navy on a kitchen island will ground the space and create a focal point for the room,’ says Charlotte. ‘Or in a small galley kitchen, paint the shortest wall navy – it will create a feature and bring the wall forward, creating the illusion of a more symmetrical space.’
When building up a softer colour story with navy as its base, take on board Designers Guild founder Tricia Guild’s advice to look to our Scandi cousins for ideas for complementary colours. ‘Their northern landscape informs the palette: navy
and faded denim blues are paired with soft chalky white, fern green, slate blue and lead-pencil grey. There is a natural coolness to it, yet it doesn’t feel cold.’
Navy is infinitely
flexible and works just as well in a bedroom or bathroom. ‘Because it’s such a deep colour it’s universal,’ says Annie. ‘When using it in different rooms, you just dress them differently. For instance, in a child’s room, I’d add lots of pictures.
The navy makes a tremendous backdrop and the images would make it a little more playful and colourful.’