The term 'new neutral' is one that should be used sparingly, but in the case of Hailey Bieber's midnight blue cabinets, it is accurate.
'Dark blue has become "a new neutral" and is here to stay, especially in kitchens,' says designer Kasia Kronberger from Studio Bosko. And model Hailey Bieber is a pioneer of this on-trend hue.
Hailey, who lives with her husband, singer Justin Bieber, shared a look inside their LA kitchen via her YouTube series What's In My Kitchen, throughout which we were slightly distracted by the dark kitchen cabinet colors that dominate her backdrop.
'Yes, we actually are in my real kitchen, in my real house; this is not a set,' Hailey clears up at the start of the footage before cooking up her go-to breakfast recipes. However, as we hinted, we were more taken by her kitchen color choices – and we aren't alone in our admiration for this daring yet versatile hue.
'Dark blue color is a fantastic way to bring interest to your kitchen without risking a short-term fad,' Kasia says.
'These tones are softer than minimalist blacks and more characterful than ubiquitous greys. Both a Shaker style cabinetry and a simpler Scandinavian design can look great in midnight or stormy blue shades – creating a timeless yet never boring visual result.'
However, despite its statement-making abilities, the designer reminds us that dark blue is surprisingly versatile.
When styling dark blue, Kasia recommends following Hailey's lead and pairing it with natural materials, such as marble or quartz, on a countertop, brass hardware, and oak parquet flooring for a stylish yet timeless space.
'In Studio Bosko, we've been designing dark blue kitchens for our clients for a few years, and they don't go out of style,' she explains.
Plus, this paint's longevity has similarly gone unnoticed by Brooklyn-based designer Monica Breese.
'Blue is such a great color for a kitchen. It's a great neutral, giving the trend longevity. The rich navy pairs with any color hardware. I see it as the new neutral. I love to see this color used in kitchen cabinetry,' she reinforces.
Monica also recommends pairing the hue with a 'checkerboard floor or terracotta' that allows the color to pop. 'I have been using a lot of different marble as backsplash and countertops paired with blue cabinets. I love it,' she adds.
Ready to follow suit? We're trying out a color-matched paint sample via Backdrop below.
