Written By Danielle Blundell | 10.6.18
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The white walls and navy sofa combo (plus a bunch of plants) is pretty much ubiquitous when it comes to living room design at this point. And if I had a dollar for every time a designer recommended Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy to me, I’d have more than enough dough to paint a room. Maybe even a whole house? That said, there’s a reason for all the navy love. It’s a versatile color. But if you’re searching for something new and a little more exciting, and you’re into navy, then a peacock blue shade may be where it’s at for you.
I wouldn’t say peacock is quite as neutral as navy, because there’s definitely more green in the equation. And while some of the shades you’ll find match navy in tone and intensity, this jewel tone, on the whole, is a little bit more glamorous and unexpected. I’m not telling you to abandon navy if you love it and want to use it in your home. Just maybe give peacock blue a thought. Because it basically does what navy can do for your space—ground your decor, introduce a touch of color to an otherwise tonal scheme, and even subtly reference nature (birds, duh!) and the sea. Let’s look at peacock blue in action.
(Image credit: Geinger Hill)
The first room I really noticed the navy-to-peacock progression in was the kitchen. In recent years, people have been daring to go darker with their cabinetry, and navy was one of the first shades designers really embraced. Lately, things have been going greener, and I’ve seen lots of emerald in kitchens (and elsewhere) and am now starting to see peacock popping up. Dana Tucker, who owns Bella Tucker, a design firm and decorative refinishing company that specializes in cabinetry, just redid her own kitchen and went with Sherwin-Williams’ Blue Peacock (SW 0064), which definitely speaks to the decorative punch and potential longevity of this hue. It’s not the first kitchen she’s done in this exact shade either.
(Image credit: Jacqueline DuBois)
What’s amazing is that peacock blue can also be a wonderfully neutral, rich backdrop for a gallery wall in a living room. Sure, I’ve seen grays and blush pinks rise to this challenge. But this Scandinavian home is making the case for peacock blue paint, am I right?
(Image credit: Mackenzie Schieck)
If you’re so over the navy or midnight blue tufted sofa phenomenon I mentioned earlier but still want a darker blue couch for its stain-hiding and comfort attributes, then give peacock blue a look. It’s riskier than navy, sure, but it’s also less likely to be the same couch as what’s in your neighbor’s house or all over Pinterest. You can get really funky and choose something like the one in this Seattle home, with an even cleaner-lined, mid-modern silhouette. I wouldn’t call this sofa or home crazy though—just colorful.
(Image credit: Jacqueline DuBois)
Subtle pops of color more your style? Then why not find dining chairs that have peacock blue seats? Or better yet—a wooden style with peacock seat cushions, so you have the flexibility to change up the look of your dining area later.
(Image credit: Anna Spaller)
Bedding is another place where peacock can replace navy. It is maybe not quite as gender neutral, but peacock is not over the top feminine either. I’m giving this homeowner extra credit for pulling that perfect shade of peacock for her velvet comforter right out of that graphic Orla Kiely wallpaper.
