Color Battle: Navy vs. Indigo

Indigo might be the dark blue of the moment. However, it is nothing new to home interiors; it’s a stylistic reincarnation of navy blue. Indigo and navy are both a dark blue bordering on black, but one color name is associated with an eclectic style, while the other expresses a traditional style. We love it, whichever name it goes by.

Indigo is a natural dye extracted from plants and has been around the world for centuries. Indigo gives dark blue an eclectic spin with inspiration from tie-dye, ancient shibori techniques and ikat designs.

Navy blue is the preppy description for dark blue with its roots in the crisp blue and white uniforms worn by the British Royal Navy in the 19th century. Indigo dye is the basis for navy blue so there is a deep connection between the two colors.

Top Row left to right:

1. A desert oasis in Marrakech, Morocco fromElle Decor

2. Farrow and Ball’s newest dark blue,Stiffkey blue

3. Soft washed linen bedding in Indigo fromDesigners Guild

4. Indigo textiles including shibori tie dye and ikat designs.

5. A relaxed living room look with deep indigo walls and a loose linen sofa.The Guardian

Bottom Row left to right:

6. A perfectly organized office fromReal Simple

7. Mod stripe bed linen in navy fromWest Elm

8. A living room painted in Farrow and Ball’s Hague Blue,House and Home

9. Navy fabrics in traditional stripe and floral prints fromRalph Lauren Home

10. A dark navy bedroom painted in Benjamin Moore’sHale Navyis accented with a hot pink scarf hung on the wall.