8 Ways to Work a Rust Red and Blue Palette in the Bedroom
We’re seeing variations of this combination all over Houzz right now. Check out these tips for trying it yourself
From terracotta to ruby, there are many shades of rust red beyond the perhaps obvious orange tones – and all have a perfect partner in blue. But should you go for powder blue, teal or petrol? Scroll down to see how Houzz designers have nailed this popular combo.
2. Dial it down
Fade rusty red and petrol blue and the effect is super soft, as in this Otta Design bedroom. Curves emphasise the softness – in the bedhead, lamp base and cabinet handles – while the paintings echo the theme.
Note how the blue of the lamp base and the colour in the cushions is a stronger, deeper version of the shade on the walls; these additions anchor the scheme.
Find interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Fade rusty red and petrol blue and the effect is super soft, as in this Otta Design bedroom. Curves emphasise the softness – in the bedhead, lamp base and cabinet handles – while the paintings echo the theme.
Note how the blue of the lamp base and the colour in the cushions is a stronger, deeper version of the shade on the walls; these additions anchor the scheme.
Find interior designers in your area on Houzz.
3. Go deep
The red in this cocooning Yoko Kloeden-designed room is at the ruby end of the rusty spectrum, while the blue is deep with warm undertones.
Here, the depth of the colours creates an intensely cosy space, but the effect is significantly boosted by rich textures, particularly the velvet of the bed, but also the rich wooden cabinet fronts and brass lighting.
The red in this cocooning Yoko Kloeden-designed room is at the ruby end of the rusty spectrum, while the blue is deep with warm undertones.
Here, the depth of the colours creates an intensely cosy space, but the effect is significantly boosted by rich textures, particularly the velvet of the bed, but also the rich wooden cabinet fronts and brass lighting.
4. Use pattern
A simple – and cost-effective – way to create a new colour combination is with accessories and accents. In this blue and pink bedroom designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, it’s all about that feature cushion, which echoes the blue of the woodwork paint, but also introduces a red contrast shade that’s a game-changer for the mood of the room.
Down the line, if you get restless, swap in a new cushion and perhaps different bedding and – boom – a new room.
A simple – and cost-effective – way to create a new colour combination is with accessories and accents. In this blue and pink bedroom designed by Emilie Fournet Interiors, it’s all about that feature cushion, which echoes the blue of the woodwork paint, but also introduces a red contrast shade that’s a game-changer for the mood of the room.
Down the line, if you get restless, swap in a new cushion and perhaps different bedding and – boom – a new room.
5. Inject elegance with grey
This sleek dressing table in a bedroom designed by Imperfect Interiors has a grown-up, classic look. The grey panelling is an understated, elegant backdrop for the feature colour combination of rusty red and petrol blue, and it quietens down the whole effect elegantly.
This sleek dressing table in a bedroom designed by Imperfect Interiors has a grown-up, classic look. The grey panelling is an understated, elegant backdrop for the feature colour combination of rusty red and petrol blue, and it quietens down the whole effect elegantly.
6. Go dark for definition
The deep rust tones in this room by Kinder Design – contained in just two cushions – add real definition to this otherwise pale and airy space.
There are other rich hues that could replace it, of course, but note that the dark colour is echoed in lighter versions in the paler, pinky-red details around the room (the plant pot, cushions, ottoman) and that it’s this layering that adds depth to the design. So you’d either go for another strong colour related to those pinks or change the lot.
The deep rust tones in this room by Kinder Design – contained in just two cushions – add real definition to this otherwise pale and airy space.
There are other rich hues that could replace it, of course, but note that the dark colour is echoed in lighter versions in the paler, pinky-red details around the room (the plant pot, cushions, ottoman) and that it’s this layering that adds depth to the design. So you’d either go for another strong colour related to those pinks or change the lot.
7. Mix it up
A stripy cushion with tassles, a lightly textured cushion with a faint (totally different) motif, a tactile throw and lamp shades – with solid colour bases – that throw another pattern into the mix… There’s a lot going on in this room designed by Brooke Copp-Barton, yet it feels pleasingly pulled together.
There’s an art to combining patterns so they clash in a complementary way and, here, it works partly thanks to the unifying use of that pinky-rust colour. The overall effect gives the room depth.
Another key element is the bed linen, which provides white space in the scheme, ensuring the overall effect doesn’t feel cluttered.
The whole lot is boosted thanks to the rich-coloured wall behind the bed. The blue has lots of green in the mix, making it more of a teal, and not an obvious a choice to go with the rust accents, but it really works.
A stripy cushion with tassles, a lightly textured cushion with a faint (totally different) motif, a tactile throw and lamp shades – with solid colour bases – that throw another pattern into the mix… There’s a lot going on in this room designed by Brooke Copp-Barton, yet it feels pleasingly pulled together.
There’s an art to combining patterns so they clash in a complementary way and, here, it works partly thanks to the unifying use of that pinky-rust colour. The overall effect gives the room depth.
Another key element is the bed linen, which provides white space in the scheme, ensuring the overall effect doesn’t feel cluttered.
The whole lot is boosted thanks to the rich-coloured wall behind the bed. The blue has lots of green in the mix, making it more of a teal, and not an obvious a choice to go with the rust accents, but it really works.
8. Channel cottagecore
This characterful, beamed bedroom is in a 200-year-old cottage, sensitively updated by Completion Interior Design using lots of colour throughout.
The combination of rust red and blue here has helped to create a quaint and setting-appropriate bedroom. The patterned wallpaper, particularly, combined with the patterned Roman blind and powder blue walls sets the tone, with the eiderdown bringing in a warm accent.
Tell us…
Which of these ways to combine rust red and blue do you like most? Let us know in the Comments.
This characterful, beamed bedroom is in a 200-year-old cottage, sensitively updated by Completion Interior Design using lots of colour throughout.
The combination of rust red and blue here has helped to create a quaint and setting-appropriate bedroom. The patterned wallpaper, particularly, combined with the patterned Roman blind and powder blue walls sets the tone, with the eiderdown bringing in a warm accent.
Tell us…
Which of these ways to combine rust red and blue do you like most? Let us know in the Comments.
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In this warm, inviting child’s bedroom, interior designer Alex Dauley has kept the backdrop a chalky off-white. Colour comes in with creative use of accent colours – chiefly rust in the valance and the painted cornice and blue in that fabulous patterned ceiling.
The darker ceiling works with the angles in this space to boost a sense of cosiness, while the white stops things from feeling cramped. A flash of egg yolk yellow is the perfect palette complement.