Blue is a very popular choice in interior design, particularly in the current trend for Hamptons style which is almost exclusively white and blue. This is hardly surprising, given that blue is a cool colour known for its calming and relaxing effect. It’s often popular in bedrooms for that reason.
Interestingly, blue is the only primary colour in the cool spectrum, and is generally more subdued than its warmer counterparts. It has strong links to nature, particularly the sky and water. It’s also considered to be a responsible colour, hence its popularity amongst tie-wearers in business.
Although overall blue is considered restful, there’s still a wide range of blues to choose from, and they evoke a range of emotional responses. It’s considered quite spiritual in many cultures, and is deeply embedded in many religious traditions. For example, the Virgin Mary is generally pictured wearing blue robes.
Light blues are considered friendly and refreshing, and can be a great way to add an element of difference in a softer, gentler way.
Dark blues fall more on the strong and reliable side of the coin. So it can be a great choice for a room where you want to project that image, such as a home office. You don’t necessarily need to have a lot of it in the room, but use accessories to get the feel – kind of like wearing a blue tie.
Brighter blues can feel very refreshing, even energizing, and are often used to inject more of a holiday atmosphere into an interior. They’re great in a coastal-themed style.
Remember to keep in mind, though, that blue can also have a flip side, as it’s tied to meanings such as depression. Depending on how it’s used, it can appear cold and uninviting. So it’s important to use the right shade of blue to suit the look you’re trying to create.
And when in doubt, try it out using pops of colour such as cushions, before taking any big steps such as painting the walls of the room or buying a sofa in a particular shade of blue.