I'm rethinking my kitchen design after seeing Naomi Watts' unexpected color pairing – it has me coveting sky blue and copper

The actress has paired industrial-style, metallic cabinets with light blue paint, in a move that softens the space while remaining contemporary

naomi watts on a tan background
(Image credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Dior)

There is nothing I love more than an unexpected color and material pairing in the home. While some combinations are to be expected (for example, wood cabinets and white paint), experimental duos can provide a unique feel in any room of the home.

Take Naomi Watts' kitchen, which features pale blue paint, as well as industrial-style, metallic cabinets. The combination of sleek, modern materials with soft, traditional coloring makes for a visually appealing space, giving me major kitchen inspiration.

While light blue could often be considered a staple color within designs such as modern farmhouse or French country, its use within a more contemporary space adds just the right amount of lightness.

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The softness of light blue stems from its calming properties, which experts say make it a fantastic color choice for any space that could benefit from a serene ambiance.

'Painting a room blue is a great way to promote relaxation and relieve stress as cooling blue shades resemble the sky and being in nature, which can feel very tranquil for many people,' explains Charlotte Ford, design expert at Ruggable. 'To achieve this effect, I would recommend opting for lighter shades, such as soft blue and powder blue, which have been extremely popular in the interior space over the last couple of years. These calm, tranquil blue hues are seeing no sign of slowing down either and are tipped to be a top trend in 2025.'

Meanwhile, the metallic finish of the upper cabinets provides a contemporary feel, particularly since they are paired with frosted glass windows. They would have a minimalist impact if the other cabinets were painted a cream or gray, but the blue helps enliven the space without drawing too much attention away from the upper cabinets' sheen.


If you're working with metallic features in your kitchen, try experimenting with an accent cabinet or wall in a soft color, like sky blue or pale pink for a softer space.

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Hannah Ziegler
News Editor

Hannah is Homes & Gardens’ News Editor, with a focus on celebrity style and entertainment content. She got her start in media as a digital editorial assistant at ELLE Canada, and has since written about lifestyle and culture for publications such as Nylon and i-D.

Her love of film is rivaled only by one with a great soundtrack, and she hopes to someday decorate a Nancy Meyers-worthy kitchen.

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