Designers Say This Classic Color Combo Will Never Steer You Wrong

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OK but can we talk about the color combo that literally never misses? In Hudson Moore's new book, Blue and White Done Right, the design editor dives deep into one of the most iconic, everlasting pairings of all time: blue and white. "It's a match made in heaven, a classic pairing, the design world equivalent of milk and cookies—or better yet, champagne and caviar," the book opens. Hard to argue with that.

Fun fact: Ever since the ancient Mesopotamians used this duo for pottery glazes (the earliest recorded use!), blue and white have been basically inseparable. And the best part? No matter your vibe, the combo just works. In this excerpt, Moore shows us two totally different ways designers have made the pair their own over the years.

Here's the thing—even the chicest modern interiors can sometimes feel a little cold. But blue and white? They fix that instantly. The duo brings this effortless, gimmick-free liveliness to literally any style, and it plays especially well with a contemporary, no-frills approach. Think of it as your shortcut to keeping things light and airy, no matter how strict your design sensibility.

OK so the less-is-more camp? It's deceptively hard. Your floor plans look so simple, your schemes so elemental, that any maximalist might think furnishing with barely anything is easy. But here's the truth: the more you take out of a room, the more impactful every single thing that's left becomes—so you'd better bring your A-game or the whole thing falls flat. That's exactly why blue and white should be your secret weapon in a pared-down space. The combo gives you all the depth and dimension you're craving without a single whiff of fuss.

Excerpted fromBlue and White Done Right: The Classic Color Combination for Every Decorating Styleby Hudson Moore with Mario López-Cordero. Published by Schumacher and Monacelli.

Julie Vadnal is deputy editor of Domino. She edits and writes stories about shopping for new and vintage furniture, covers new products (and the tastemakers who love them), and tours the homes of cool creatives. She lives in Brooklyn.

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