{"id":347709,"date":"2026-08-06T11:08:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T15:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=347709"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:55:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T19:55:38","slug":"color-chart-the-joys-of-a-navy-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-navy-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Navy Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into luxury design? Navy blue is a classic for a reason, writes Jill Krasny<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Foyer<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Notting Hill, London<\/a> | United Kingdom Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some homes leave a strong impression while others quickly fade from the mind. Almost always, the design and color scheme is a factor. Terracotta<\/a>, an ancient hue that\u2019s been used for centuries, works in contemporary and traditional spaces alike, while yellow<\/a> and lilac<\/a>, which are both enjoying a design moment, suit homes with more of a period feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy\u2014which our series on color in luxury design turns to next\u2014is \u201c elegant, versatile and timeless\u201d and has long been a staple in upscale homes, says Sarah Brown<\/a>, a London-based interior designer. \u201cIt also has strong associations with traditional British decorating, from painted cabinetry and libraries to Victorian homes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Navy<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hudson Valley, New York<\/a> | Four Seasons Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The color\u2019s name derives from the fabric the British Royal Navy used for its officer uniforms once they began to source indigo pigment from India, says Joa Studholme<\/a>, color curator for British paint maker Farrow & Ball. She points to the walls of The Wallace Collection<\/a>, a historic museum house in London, which offer a stunning example of navy bringing out the rich details of the ornately framed artworks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, navy remains as popular as ever, thanks both to its versatility and the fact it presents a more lively alternative to other darker colors. \u201cIt pairs beautifully with warm neutrals, pinks and quite unexpectedly with greens,\u201d says Brown, and \u201cworks best when balanced with contrast, texture and plenty of light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Navy<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cape Elizabeth, Maine<\/a> | Legacy Properties Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sprawling estate<\/a> in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, proves Brown\u2019s theory right with a grayish navy exterior that blends in with its verdant surroundings. \u201cThis is a hugely brave use of color,\u201d says Studholme, \u201cbut it has certainly paid off. The house feels like it has always been there: the use of blue makes it feel at one with the greens of the landscape.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, a tastefully restored Victorian home<\/a> in Notting Hill, London, uses navy to bring out the building\u2019s historic character while creating a sense of cohesion from room to room. The high-gloss blue \u201ccreates a ribbon of color throughout the house,\u201d says Studholme, and looks equally stunning on the joinery, door trims and built-ins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hudson Valley, New York<\/a> | Four Seasons Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ulster Landing<\/a>, an early 1800s estate in Hudson Valley, New York, a home office covered in navy patterned wallpaper feels suitably warm and inviting. That\u2019s down to the dark blue used on the trim and the ceiling, says Studholme. Had white been used on either element, she says, \u201cthe look would have been compromised.\u201d Elsewhere, in a living room, navy carpentry and doorframes contrast with the paler blue walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a striking mountain estate<\/a> set on Sweden\u2019s historic County Road 322, with buildings that date back to the 18th century, uses navy at several points in its updated design scheme. The color features most strikingly in the large, mostly open-storage kitchen, to accent the cabinetry. It also strikes a sophisticated note in some of the living spaces, via a bold patterned wallpaper, soft furnishings, bedding and bathroom tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"kitchen<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

J\u00e4mtland, Sweden<\/a> | Sweden Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the kitchen, \u201cit creates a strong visual element while allowing other parts of the room to stand out,\u201d says Brown\u2014and Studholme wholeheartedly agrees. \u201cI love how this blue has been used on the cabinetry,\u201d she says. \u201cIt is mostly below your eyeline so it doesn\u2019t overwhelm in any way. The tone is harmonious with the raw wood floor, which complements the warmth of the wall color and brick perfectly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore our Color Chart design series, from<\/em> bold red<\/a>,<\/em> joyful pink<\/a>,<\/em> zingy orange<\/a><\/em> and<\/em> uplifting yellow<\/a><\/em> to<\/em> natural lilac<\/a><\/em>, historic terracotta,<\/a><\/em> classic green<\/a>,<\/em> calming white<\/a><\/em> and<\/em> versatile turquoise<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into luxury design? Navy blue is a classic for a reason, writes Jill Krasny Notting Hill, London | United Kingdom Sotheby\u2019s International Realty Some homes leave a strong impression while others quickly fade from the mind. Almost always, the design and color scheme is a factor. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770377,"featured_media":347726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1399,1565],"tags":[1526,1472,1495,1505],"class_list":["post-347709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","category-home-style-ideas","tag-maine","tag-new-york","tag-sweden","tag-united-kingdom"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1ssd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345665,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-bright-red-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":347709,"position":0},"title":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Bright Red Home","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"December 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into a luxury home? 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Almost always, the design and color scheme is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"home in Germantown, NY with rustic wood and burgundy accents","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Burgundy_Germantown2.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":348246,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/color-chart-the-joys-of-a-black-and-white-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":347709,"position":2},"title":"Color Chart: The Joys of a Black-and-White Home\u00a0","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"October 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: How do you use color in luxury design? 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