Shape Your Dream Kitchen With a Navy Blue Focal Point Island

Is your kitchen looking lackluster? Are the cabinets, counters, and floors blending together into one yawning beige canvass? We've all been there. As the heart of the home, a kitchen should feed souls as well as stomachs. An inspired, colorful cookspace boosts time spent prepping and gathering. The solution may be as simple as infusing personality with a navy blue focal point island.

Like a bright cobalt dress, a navy kitchen island attracts eyes. Its rich hue pops against commonplace grays and tans. Navy also introduces stylish contrast for modern and traditional spaces alike. Read on to discover how to leverage navy's strength through a showstopping island.

Choose Navy Blue for Maximal Impact

Color Psychology of Navy Blue

Deeper than sky blue yet brighter than black, navy exudes sophistication. Its medium brightness feels grounded. Combining blue's peaceful qualities with black's strength, navy promotes tranquility. This is ideal for busy kitchens which see rushed meals and bustling gatherings.

There's reliability to navy blue. Unlike orange or yellow, it won't overwhelm the senses. Navy offers a steadying hand amidst chaotic cooking and living. It brings weight and trustworthiness to furniture pieces like islands. Its versatility also appeals as either a neutral or color accent depending on the scheme.

Benefits of a Navy Focal Point

Islands provide convenience by enlarging countertops and storage. Painting an island navy blue maximizes its visual impact. The pop of color naturally draws attention. It introduces pleasing contrast against common white, gray or wood cabinetry and counters. This focal point adds interest to modest kitchen plans lacking room dividers or architectural details.

A navy island also showcases personality. It speaks to preferences for color and introduces an unexpected elegance. Navy blue islands prove especially versatile in adapting to styles from coastal to contemporary. Properly executed, it lends polish and purpose to any cookspace.

Downsides to Consider

While mesmerizing, navy blue poses some risk. Without adequate lighting, navy can read ominously dark and gloomy. To avoid a black hole effect, ensure plentiful overheads, sconces and natural illumination. Cool, north-facing rooms may magnify navy's darker properties.

Painting only the island blue also courts awkwardness. Surrounding cabinetry should establish balance through light counters and backsplashes. All-blue kitchens without professional guidance often lapse into overwhelming caves. Keep the navy color accent contained to your island for best results.

Selecting Your Navy Island Color

Match Navy to Your Style

Navy blue embraces personalities from outgoing to refined. Before picking a paint color, consider your design aesthetic. Classic navy with green or gray undertones suits Cape Cod styles. Lighter shades of blue-gray navy match airy cottage rooms. Deeper eggplant navies enrich modern glam kitchens.

Factor in how the cool blue will interact with other palette players like flooring or textiles. Golden oak floors may clash with some naval shades but welcome others. Let your style intentions guide navy selections for foolproof outcomes.

15 Top Navy Paint Colors

Ready to commit to navy? Here are favorite blue paint contenders to color test:

• Sherwin-Williams Naval (SW 6244)
• Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (HC-154)
• Behr Nebulous Blue (N370-5)
• Sherwin-Williams Raindrops (SW 6257)
• Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray (HC-173)
• Valspar Vintage Ink (5007-10A)
• Behr Blueprint (S470-5)
• Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue (HC-152)
• Sherwin-Williams Technology Gray (SW 7068)
• PPG Porter Paint Dragonfly (PPG1153-6)
• Behr Harbor Blue (540F-5)
• Benjamin Moore Blackened Blue (2062-10)
• Valspar Cobalt (5004-7A)
• Sherwin-Williams Passive (SW 7064)
• Behr Blue Danube (S450-5)

Favorites include Sherwin-Williams' rich Naval, Benjamin Moore's green-gray Boothbay Gray, and Valspar's near-black Vintage Ink. Evaluate colors in your lighting to avoid disappointment. Prioritize undertones suiting surroundings.

Pro Decorating Tip

What looks perfect on a paint deck may underwhelm when spanning a sprawling island. Before whole-heartedly committing, secure samples to preview colors in context. Many brands sell affordable mini test cans. Paint swatches onto posterboard or removable stickers to judge in different spots. Light shifts day to night so stay vigilant.

Complementary Design Elements

Cabinet and Countertop Pairings

A navy island demands a supportive backdrop. Lighter cabinetry keeps the cookspace feeling open versus cave-like. Off-white, dove gray or light wood finishes contrast nicely. Neutral counters also encourage navy to take center stage. White or lightly veined gray quartz directs attention while harmonizing.

Take care not to overpower navy with competing colors like red or orange terra cotta backsplashes. If set on lively counter partners, use navy tones with more gray or brown. Green granite can accent blue without overwhelming.

Hardware and Lighting

Warm metallics magnify navy's splendor for compelling vignettes. Unlacquered brass hardware gleams against the blue, especially with traditional detailing like bin pulls. Bronzy pendants and sconces cast an uplifting glow. Their sheen plays well against matte navy islands.

For contemporary schemes favoring cool hues, opt for satin nickel or oil-rubbed fixtures. Their dark gray metal contributes modern contrast without warmth. Use glass pendants to continue lightweight transparency amidst solid navy islands.

Stylish Accents

Beyond cabinetry and counters, accessories reinforce navy's versatile magnetism. Woven baskets house fruits and veggies with natural texture. Live edge wood cutting boards bridge modern and farmhouse styles. Both neutrals temper navy islands.

Glass canisters, ceramic vases and metal bins stow staples with cool hues contrasting the rich island paint. Clear glass pendants descend to illuminate prep zones without competing. Continue this lightweight yet lovely layering around the anchoring navy focal point.

Painting Your Island Navy Blue

Equipped with inspiration for tailoring navy islands to kitchens, discover how to execute this advanced DIY. Proper prep and patient painting delivers striking focal points worth their demands.

Prep Steps

Before stirring paint buckets, set the stage for success. Clean island surfaces thoroughly removing grime and grease inhibiting adhesion. Lightly sand glossy areas so the finish grips better. Then use painter's tape to define sharp edges along ceiling and cabinetry edges.

Primer provides an essential foundation smoothing old surfaces while allowing fresh paint to cling. For navy's depth, tinted primer helps colors bloom fully. Gray enhances navy vibrancy better than stark white.

Painting Process

Apply two full coats of navy paint for best opacity and even sheen. Avoid skimping on product. Use a foam brush to coax the tinted primer and paint into corners and edges first. Then quickly roll over the broader flat surfaces with a mini paint roller before sections dry.

Let each coat dry completely according to manufacturer guidelines before adding another. Dark colors like navy can read uneven, streaky or flat without enough drying time between layers. Patience presents gorgeous outcomes.

Protect the Finish

Once the paint cures fully, protect navy island investments with polyurethane or clear coats. These sealants defend against scratches, spills and general wear-and-tear in busy kitchens. Otherwise, constant cleaning and cooking may degrade painted surfaces quickly.

Refrain from placing hot pots, pans or baking sheets directly on island tops too. Trivets defend paint against cracking under high heat. Also opt for soft-close doors and drawers to prevent slamming and dings over time. Handle navy focal points with added care.

Kitchen islands set focal points reinforcing function and style. Painting an island navy blue ensures it captures attention without overwhelming adjacent cabinetry or counters. Navy islands lend cohesive polish through our tips for perfect shade selections and pairing elements.

Ready your paint brushes and take on this advanced DIY for breathtaking effect. Introduce navy blue on a test wall or removable sticky paper first if unsure. No longer settle for a lackluster kitchen when a single blue island easily uplifts the space and your experiences.