Catherine Zeta-Jones's dramatic-hued closet uses this 'show-stopping' shade in excess

Wednesday's Catherine Zeta-Jones may be best remembered for the clothes hanging in her closet – but her decorating choices are equally as noteworthy. 

Inside her $4.7 million home in Irvington, NY, Catherine has filled her closet with shirts and gowns of varying hues – but her shelving, cabinets, and carpet all showcase all sport one of the most daring tones of all: dark blue. 

With its glossy dark cupboards and striking blue floor, Catherine's dressing room experiments with this bold hue in excess, but it is by no means overpowering. Instead, her white walls rebalance the room – allowing the dark blues to feel dramatic but not overly intense. 

Experimenting with dark blue can feel daring, but alongside Catherine's approval, it's (crucially) celebrated in the interior design industry, too.

'When choosing colors to decorate your home, dark blue is one of the boldest and most daring shades – second only to black,' says interiors stylist Maxine Brady.'This bold shade is ideal for creating a dramatic, show-stopping look that will complement modern and traditional style homes alike.'

Drama aside, New York-based designer Tara McCauley adds that this hue can make small spaces (such as closets) feel more spacious – despite many believing the contrary.

'In my last apartment, my bedroom was relatively small and had only one window – conventional wisdom would advise painting the walls a light color, but I embraced the coziness of the space and turned the room into a jewel box by painting it a deep navy blue,' she explains.

'I used a matte finish paint, which created the illusion of receding - to my eye, it looked like the walls were a bit farther away – which made the room feel a bit bigger in the end.'

Tara McCauley

Downtown Manhattan-based interior designer Tara McCauley is always on the lookout for the perfect vintage find. A lifelong lover of color and pattern, she met her ideal match in the A-List decorator Nick Olsen, under whom she apprenticed for eight years.  She views design as a means of storytelling – a space that can reflect both where a client has been and their aspirations for the future. She recently designed the Primary Bedroom at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse.

How to master dark blue – inspired by Catherine Zeta-Jones's closet 

When decorating with blue (everywhere, not only our closet), Maxine says we should begin by considering our light levels. 

'If your room is east facing - so it gets light in the mornings but is dark at night, then dark blue is the perfect color choice because it will make the space feel warmer,' she comments. 

After investing in the best dark blue for your space, Maxine urges us to look beyond our walls – by drenching our woodwork, furniture, accessories, and our carpet (like Catherine demonstrates) in the same tone. And, if we're 'feeling brave', she also recommends painting our ceiling blue – though this is even bolder than the actress's space. 

Maxine Brady

With over 20 years experience in the interior design industry, UK-based designer Maxine Brady has designed thousands of rooms for magazines, TV shows, brands and private clients.

When it comes to accessories and accents, Maxine says we can (unsurprisingly) learn a lot from Catherine's styling –starting with the gold finishes. She recommends choosing fixtures and fittings in brushed brass and gold drawer handles, like the actress', to create a quietly luxurious aesthetic in our space. It's on trend, daring, and of course, loved by Catherine Zeta-Jones.