Color Therapy for Your Home: Blue

1. This color works with everything. On its own, blue is lush and calming. But it's also a strong anchor for bright red, yellow, or green accents.

2. Got a small space? Upbeat hues like cobalt and cyan are perfect for making it look bigger and brighter.

3. Navy makes for great accents, but it can darken a room. "Softer blues work well in any light," says designer Anthony Baratta, who did the bedroom below. "I use it all over--bathrooms, dining rooms, everywhere!"

Love the upholstery here? Get a similar look by placing a blue bench at the foot of your bed.

"Never paint the wood doors in a blue room," says Suzanne Kasler, who designed this space. "Let them stand out like a piece of decor."

Hang art with blues that are a shade or two darker than your walls, says designer Bunny Williams, the genius behind this living room. "It creates contrast but still feels like it belongs together."

Clockwise from top left:

Sherwin-Williams, Danube SW-6830

Benjamin Moore, California Breeze 757

Sherwin-Williams, Sapphireberry 2063-60

Hand-painted dishes, $12 each; shopterrain.com.

Side table, $89; urbanoutfitters.com.

Marimekko pillow, $24.95; moddiva.com.

Glass lamp, $50; pier1.com.

3-piece table set, $99.99; homegoods.com for stores.

Reflection pool wallpaper, $17 per square foot; eskayel.com.