Forever Blue!

“Navy blue owes its ozonic whiff of brisk respectability to the ocean. It was the sea that bore cakes of indigo dye – made from dried, fermented Indigofera tinctoria leaves – from India and South America to the port of Europe, and it was the seafarers who first adopted the darkest shade of indigo dye…” Quoted from ‘A Colourful Tale – Navy’ by Kassia St. Clair, Elle Decoration, May 2014.

Photo: HA Interior Design

Incorporating blue colours may be the most timeless way to design a room or a home. Blue is a colour that seems to always be up-to-date, and a love of blue is often a life long affair. Many designers tend to use blue over and over again. A blue colour reflects the ocean and the sky and is also associated with honesty.

Blue can be a cold colour, and is said to be especially good for bedrooms because of its calming effect. I find blue good for any room, but the way you combine it with other colours may be crucial to how the colour makes you feel.

Photo: HA Interior Design

Natural linen, leather, oak, aged and dark wood are all great combinations in a room with blue hues. You can give your room a touch of blue in the form of tiles, some cushions, a sofa or a chair.

Decorate your home with neutral colours and it will instantly feel airy and relaxing – freshen up with some blue colours. For some reason, I find the darker blues easier to combine with warmer colours in order to design a balanced, warm and inviting room.

For a softer touch, you can add different nuances of the same blue tone.

Photo: HA Interior Design

To warm up your favourite blue, you can always add different shades of taupe or a palette of brown.

If you want your walls to be blue, choose a smaller and darker room – a library, entrance, TV room or a bedroom can be perfect for a richer colour. A small room is actually more likely too feel and look good in a darker colour than a larger room will.

A designer who is likely to decorate with a dash of blue is Emily Henderson, take a look at her stunning designs here.