Using a rug in a living room is a great way to define the seating space and visually separate it from other areas in the room. A rug will also add a softer touch, both physically and from a style perspective, if you have a wooden or tile floor.
For this reason, rugs are commonly used underneath or in front of sofas and armchairs. As the two items will be in such close proximity to each other, it’s important that the colors of each one are complimentary. Here we will be looking at rug colors that will work well with a blue couch.
Dark Blue Couch
Dark blue as a color in interior design has really taken off in the last few years and is now a staple in many different interior styles. Dark blue is a color that has become popular as a choice of fabric for sofas, as it is versatile and can be matched to so many different colors.
As a sofa is a big investment for most people, it’s sensible to buy a couch in a color that will see you through for a long time, rather than a passing trend that you might get bored of quickly.
Dark blue is a strong choice for a couch color because it reads as almost neutral due to the fact that it is so calming and is associated with nature in the form of the ocean and the night sky. It’s also a practical color choice because it won’t show stains as obviously as a paler color.
Stylish shades of dark blue that would work well on a couch include navy blue, midnight blue, royal blue, denim blue, and oxford blue. When looking for a rug to compliment your dark blue couch, consider these colors:
Red
Red can really make dark blue pop, as it is a contrasting color that sits almost opposite blue on the color wheel. If you want to make your couch stand out as the showpiece of the room, then choose a red rug to position at the feet of your sofa, and you will see the color come to life in front of your eyes.
Try to avoid using two solid colors as this can make the area look basic and cheap, and instead, pick either your sofa or rug in a patterned print. For example, with a solid blue sofa, choose a patterned rug featuring red as one of the dominant colors. With a patterned blue sofa, opt for a plain red rug.
Orange
Orange is the best color for contrasting against dark blue, and there are so many delicious shades of orange that can really transform the style of a living room.
Consider a rusty shade of burnt orange for an earthy feel with a blue couch or a coral orange for a more feminine take on this color combination.
Yellow
Yellow is another contrasting color of blue that can really make a blue sofa stand out. Opt for a soft lemon yellow for a more subtle contrast or a deep honey yellow for a richer contrast.
Yellow and blue is a color palette that goes perfectly with geometric designs and Scandinavian decor styles, so opt for a yellow and white geometric patterned rug to go with a blue couch.
Gray
Gray and blue work well together from a tonal perspective, and they make for a really modern style when used together.
With a dark blue sofa, choose a soft gray rug so that even though there isn’t much of a color contrast, there will still be the shade contrast between dark sofa and light rug. A dark gray rug could also work with a blue sofa if it is a patterned rug rather than a solid gray rug, as this will prevent the two items from blending together.
White
A white rug beneath a dark blue couch will create a stark contrast without adding another color to the mix. This can be a really great choice if you want to keep the color scheme simple. It also works really well if you want to apply a nautical theme to the space.
To encourage this theme, use a white rug with a dark blue couch, and then add striped blue and white cushions to the sofa to accessorize it.
Beige
If you want to embrace a more laid-back and natural style, then beige is the perfect color choice of rug to pair with a dark blue sofa. Choose a deep pile beige rug for a luxury look or a beige jute rug for a more casual look.
Pink
As a color with components of red in it, pink works as a softer contrasting color for dark blue. For a subtly elegant look, pair a dark navy blue sofa with a pale blush pink rug.
The contrast of both the colors and the shades make for a really luscious pairing that is appealing without being too obviously striking.
Light Blue Couch
Light blue is a color that is associated with tranquility and peace due to its links with ocean waters and clear skies, which are said to have a calming effect on the mind. This makes light blue a nice color choice for home interiors, as our homes are where we go to relax.
As a color for a couch, light blue can work really nicely to bring a subtle hue to a neutral space, or it can also be a good choice in a dark room to add contrast. Shades of light blue that are popular choices for sofas include powder blue, cornflower blue, frost blue, duck egg blue, sky blue, and aqua. For rugs that would pair nicely with a light blue colored couch, consider these options:
Lavender
Pale blue and pale purple is a cute color combination that can make for a quaint interior style. This is a look that would work well in an old country farmhouse or a stone cottage. Choose a neutral palette for your background shades, such as ivory for the walls, then team a pale blue couch with a lavender patterned rug.
This look would be finished off nicely with pale blue curtains and lavender and ivory printed throw cushions. Florals are the go-to print when it comes to blue and lavender because they just go so perfectly with this color scheme, but you could also make this style work with plaid or checked patterns.
Off-White
Pale blue sofas cannot withstand the harsh contrast that dark blue sofas can, and it can make them look drowned out or overshadowed by the rug. For this reason, it’s best to stick to softer colors with pale or earthy tones.
The same principle applies to white, which can be too stark next to pale blue and make it feel cold and icy. Off-white shades will work much better for a rug next to a light blue couch, as they have some pigmentation that stops them from appearing as harsh as pure white. By using off-white, you can still create a similar color scheme as you would do with white, but the whole room will feel more welcoming.
Green
A green rug next to a light blue couch can look very stylish. Choose a patterned green rug with a solid-colored blue sofa to add interest, and opt for a shade of green that isn’t too vibrant.
Olive green or forest green are nice shades that are heavily saturated yet have an earthy appeal to them that prevents them from being overpowering. You can easily pair a green rug with a green sofa but choose different shades of green to avoid the monotonous feel.
If you want to create more of a lively and fun decor style, then lime green can be great with light blue. Once again, choose a patterned lime green rug so that the color isn’t too overwhelming. Geometric patterns, zigzags, and modern florals can all work really well with lime green.
Gray
If you want a dark rug to ground the room and contrast against a pale blue sofa, then gray is the color to choose. Pick a shade that is dark but not so dark that it could be mistaken for black, as this will be too harsh next to a light blue sofa.
A textured gray rug with some dark gray and some light gray in it would be a good option. This color scheme will make for a modern style, but it can create a cool space that doesn’t feel inviting, so consider adding some warm accents to the space. You could do this with a brown hardwood floor showing around the edges of the rug or rich brown-colored wooden furniture.
Light gray rugs will also look stylish with light blue sofas for a bright and breezy atmosphere in a casual style decor. These colors could also be translated into a beachy or coastal theme, along with the use of white or some pale beige elements in the room. The texture will play a key role here, so opt for a natural fabric for your gray rug.
