Farrow & Ball's De Nimes is 'timeless and flexible to use in any room' – here's how to decorate with this muted blue paint

Blue paints are among the most timeless and versatile, ranging from sophisticated navy blues to calming pale blues, and Farrow & Ball's De Nimes is the latest to win us over.

In true Farrow & Ball style, De Nimes feels incredibly liveable thanks to its muted finish and grayed-down tones. Whether used in modern homes or traditional, this blue paint adds depth and interest while maintaining an understated quality.

If you're looking to add more color to your home than neutral hues, yet don't want to veer too bold, De Nimes makes a great choice. Below, we explain all you need to know about this soft blue before incorporating it into your scheme.

What color is Farrow & Ball's De Nimes?

'De Nimes, our ‘grayest’ of blues, has a sophisticated restraint about it and is wonderfully flexible for either a modern or traditional sensibility,' explains Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball.

Liveable and subdued, De Nimes makes for a timeless paint color that doesn't overwhelm rooms with color but adds subtle depth. As Patrick mentions, its gray tones give it more of a neutral quality, meaning if you're someone who doesn't want to go too bold with your room color ideas, De Nimes is a failsafe choice.

'De Nimes is a very elegant and beautiful tone with a layer of depth,' explains interior designer Natalia Miyar. 'The deep blue-gray is timeless and flexible to use in any room or even on cabinetry and architectural moldings. It is moody and sophisticated, and the way it complements natural elements like wood is especially interesting – it enhances the warmth of the wood. It can create a calming yet inviting atmosphere, ideal for spaces that need that special balance.'

How to decorate with De Nimes

Since De Nimes is muted and toned down with the presence of gray, it's versatile to use in all sorts of rooms, from kitchens to bathrooms, as explained below.

1. Use De Nimes in a kitchen

If you're looking to go a bit darker with your kitchen color ideas, De Nimes makes a stylish choice. 'It looks great on kitchen cabinetry without feeling like just another blue kitchen, especially when teamed with a dirty white on your walls such as Old White,' advises Patrick.

While navy kitchens have seen plenty of appeal in recent years, colors like De Nimes which read as muted can offer more of a timeless look. 'It’s a refined alternative to navy, offering a bit more softness and versatility,' adds designer Jessika Gatewood of Gatewood Designs.

While De Nimes feels fitting for country and farmhouse kitchens, it can work just as well in modern kitchens. Here, interior designer Bambi A'Lynn Bratton of Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design used this sophisticated blue paint on the kitchen island, adding interest and color to the otherwise white scheme.

2. Add warmth by pairing it with pink

Since De Nimes features gray undertones, giving it it subdued quality, you may wish to add warmth to your color scheme. One way to do this is to add warming pink or red tones to the room, whether that's through decor or a contrasting paint color, as Patrick suggests below:

'Give it a fresher feel by combining with the muted pink of Calamine and a clean white like Wevet for ceilings and trim. It also works as a treat for a small, inviting study or home office where its darker notes will help focus the mind. Simply apply Strong White to the trim but do throw accents of wine red on upholstery to avoid feeling too sombre.'

3. Create a cozy bathroom

So often, bathrooms are decorated with light neutral paints such as whites, and beige tones. While these colors can help keep things feeling calming and airy, adding more color to the walls is a great way to create a cozy, design-led bathroom.

Here, it is used to color-drench the bathroom, resulting in a cohesive and uplifting space. 'Paired with natural materials like wood and leather, it enhances the overall design,' adds designer Laura Lubin of Ellerslie Interiors.

How will you decorate with Farrow & Ball's De Nimes? Whether you use it boldly with color-drenching ideas or more sparingly as an accent color, this subdued blue paint will add a sense of timelessness to your home.