Blue never completely goes out of fashion. This is because it fits into many styles, is multi-functional, practical and beautiful. And it's back at the top of the popularity charts!
From the coolest pale, powder blue to the deeply warming and intense sapphire, blue reaches from one end of the colour and emotional spectrum to the other. It is the colour of the sea and sky. It is happy thoughts. It is electric and invigorating. It is escapism. It is holidays. It is coolness. It is sadness. It is calming and relaxation. It is distance. It is abstract. And it is this very myriad of shades and the emotions they evoke, that makes blue so powerful.
Having read that, it may now feel like using blue is not easy - but it is, and here's how:
- Step one: think about the purpose of the space you are decorating. What kind of feel do you want to create? Do you want it relaxed or invigorating? Do you want to glam it up or keep it simple and rustic? To help you with this we have a few styles and idea palette choices listed after step three.
- Step two: pick the right shade of blue to achieve the purpose you defined in step one and introduce tones of that shade. In descending order, it goes colour, shade, tone. To further clarify - a tone is the varying degrees of a colour that make up a shade. So, if sky blue is a shade of the colour blue, then just as the sky is never composed of a single flat colour but rather a myriad of tones, so is the shade of colour you've chosen made up of a myriad of tones. And it is with these tones you want to work.
- Step three: layer with the appropriate tones using patterns and texture. The key to success with blue is working with a mix of patterns and tones. This will keep it interesting without ever overdoing it.
Are you ready to dive in?
Ultramarine and turquoise shades are vivid, versatile and trendy. They are the ones we are seeing most on catwalks and are great tones to use if you want to inject a feeling of spring/summer into your home. Layered tones will provide texture and interest.
If you are looking for a calm, coastal feel, pale aquamarines, denims paired with sandy beiges are the way to go. They are restful and soothing - well suited to rooms made for relaxing, like the living room or bedroom.
At the other end of the spectrum, an invigorating cobalt or electric blue paired with brilliant white is another take on the traditional monochromatic look. This is a great combination for a space that requires you to be productive, like a home office or kitchen.
If you love glam, opt for teals, paired with turquoise and petrol blues for sophisticated bling.
If pretty is more your thing, sky blues should be your palette of choice. They can have the effect of increasing a sense of spaciousness.
Whether you're an urban angel or a country romantic, love rustic or retro, there's a blue for you. Check out our collection of 35 blues by filtering colour choice in our webshop.
Photos: all from Bemz
I find blue to be such a versatile colour - it can look great in any room! Gone are the days of blues being confined to the bathroom, as your images showm it looks great on upholstery and bedding.
Posted by: Hannah from Plumbs | March 12, 2012 at 12:59 PM
What about the psychological effects of the blue color?
Posted by: laba.edu | May 25, 2012 at 06:53 AM