Blue and white bedroom ideas – 10 fresh updates on this cool, contemporary color combination

Blue and white bedroom ideas are timeless, and one of the most classic interior design combinations, perfect for creating a serene yet fresh aesthetic. The pairing is often used in coastal retreats to create chic spaces that look relaxed and informal at the same time.

The blue and white color match dates back centuries, and was often seen on Chinese pottery, and is still popular with ceramicists today. In the home, it evokes an easy-breezy aesthetic with a laidback beachside lifestyle at its core, although you don't need to have ocean views to incorporate the scheme into your own home.

Blue and white bedroom ideas

We've rounded up some beautiful blue and white bedroom ideas and styling tips from top designers so you can achieve a modern, Hamptons-inspired bedroom scheme in your own home.

1. Use contrasting shades in a modern bedroom

Because cool tones aren’t overpowering – in fact they often feel like they are receding – they often help a small room appear to have more space, which can make them a great choice also for your narrow or small bedroom ideas.

'Framing the windows with a deeper shade of blue than the walls really gives this charming bedroom a punchy look,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'It prevents the overall look being too staid, and instead the electric blue drapes literally sing visually, even in a compact space.'

2. Set the scene with a striking wall mural

'A place for relaxation and calm, bedroom design should offer the perfect balance between style and comfort,' says Oliver Webb, director at Cullifords. 'The best wall decor for bedrooms, such as life-like murals and wallpaper, will make the ideal bedroom accent wall ideas.

'For maximum effect, work with a coordinating bedroom color ideas in your furniture, finishes and accessories. Using the colors of the subtle veining in a stone as a starting point for your decorating will result in a wonderfully cohesive yet standout scheme.'

3. Use blue on the fifth wall

'This private apartment in Mayfair owned by a couple who have a wide-ranging art collection has a traditional aesthetic in the bedroom, with a few interesting touches thrown in, such as the wrought iron chandelier,' says Charu Gandhi, founder of Elicyon.

'In the design, Elicyon played with how paint colors and finishes draw the eye, a high gloss pale blue paint to the cove ceiling creates a reflective surface that softens the relatively low ceiling. The main bedroom wallpaper was sourced from Thibaut and fabrics from Pierre Frey, House of Hackney and Rose Uniacke woven across the schemes.'

4. Look to original features for authentic color ideas

Cool blues promote calmness and are the perfect choice for your spare bedroom or guest room – typically spaces that you go to for escape and respite.

'Here we have a guest bedroom painted in Edward Bulmer Turquoise at 60% and an antique corona with James Hare silks,' says Henriette Von Stockhausen, creative director at VSP Interiors. 'I like taking my cue from antique rugs or fabrics, and in this case I took them from the antique suzani on the bedspread. The bedroom curtains are Jean Monro.'

5. Layer your blue bedroom with texture and pattern

'We love working with white and blue room ideas in our interior design projects as well as our home accessories range,' says Penny Morrison, creative director at Penny Morrison. 'It’s always a winner as sharp pops of blue with clean white are so striking and can be versatile for any scheme.'

'In a bedroom we like to create a calm area where you can relax and recharge. As blue and white decor is such a versatile combination, we love using it in a range of fabric designs which mix and match to complement one another. For example, we like matching our Ticking Stripe Ocean with Andean Vertical Stripe Blue and Kenil Indigo. Layering blues in this way is fantastic for adding depth and dimension to a bedroom while keeping things cohesive.'

6. Combine light and dark blue colors

'Blue is a wonderful color to work with when it comes to interiors, thanks both to its versatility and calming nature,' says Clara Ewart, Head of Design at Kitesgrove. 'When using two shades of blue together, we often recommend mixing shades of coral, rust or burgundy to balance the scheme with fresh or rich earthy tones.'

'This allows the variety in the direction of the scheme where the bolder deeper tones can be used to ground the space such as rug or wallcovering, or accent color ideas to bring to the foreground such a focal piece of bedroom furniture or pillows.'

7. Mix and match your patterns

Blue and white is a classic color combination and is a perfect choice for bedroom interiors, as it contributes to a soothing, calming atmosphere.

'In addition to this, with so many different shades of blue to choose from, it also offers a lot of versatility; varying shades of blue can be layered and mixed and matched to create more dramatic interior schemes,' says Tim Walters, managing director at George Spencer Designs.

8. Introduce a playful wallpaper behind the bed

Creating a comfortable, colorful and playful interior for an American couple’s townhouse in Notting Hill was a recent project from Barlow & Barlow. In this bedroom, the headboard idea is framed within the blue painted woodwork and its wavy outline echoes the lines in the wallpaper behind it. Red as a subtle accent shade works well with blue and white schemes.

9. Create a serene sanctuary

A calm sea of indigo blues makes for an inviting retreat. The small scale pattern in the bedroom wallpaper, a more textural alternative to paint, works well with the playful lampshade design. Mixing the blue patterns with white keeps the scheme crisp and fresh. Blue-tinted furniture continues the theme.

10. Layer textural elements

Inspired by shibori designs, this blue and white bedroom corner is all about texture. A beautiful artwork has been created by framing a Japanese inspired wallpaper in a smart reeded white wood frame. The blue and white palette has been continued throughout, layering the scheme with pale denim walls and deep indigo upholstery.

Is blue and white a good combination for the bedroom?

A bedroom should be a place where you want to retreat to, and blue and white a good combination for the bedroom.

'Classic combination of blue and white relies heavily on its simplicity – the exact tones of blue and white are crucial; both elements should come from the same tonal family for the palette to work,' says Tricia Guild, OBE, founder and creative director at Designers Guild.

'Accessories, too, can bring an instant touch of tranquillity. Simply adding a cushion or two, a soft throw or a tactile rug will update the room in a moment, and because they are not permanent changes, why not have fun and really experiment with restful tones of blue hues, pattern and print.'