Colour consultant Samantha Bacon believes blue is a favourite colour for many people and represents stability, reliability and accomplishment.
According to colour psychologists, people who like blue are wealthy and successful and not impulsive like lovers of red. This symbolism suits the feelings of coolness and serenity the colour blue evokes. The colour also has a definite physiological impact on our bodies, lowering blood pressure, suppressing the appetite and cooling body temperature. Of course, blues come in many guises, from a lavender shade that has a large proportion of red through the spectrum to teal, which definitely teeters on the edge of green. The true mid-blues are the cooler tones of aqua and sky blue. Add grey to these or make them paler with additions of fresh white and they really are the ice colours of the spectrum. For many of these reasons, the colour blue is an ideal choice for bedrooms. However, to relax, we can also benefit from the element of comfort and softness some of the warmer hues bring to a colour scheme.
Mid-blue teams perfectly with neutral biscuit tones and, used only as a small accent, this colour really takes the edge off the cool blues. Consider using blue to complement rich, natural floorboards, as these bring warmth to the scheme and ground the room as well. Blue is also a good choice for a living area, but make sure the room faces north or west, otherwise the effect may be too bleak. Large expanses of wall are best painted with either a mid to deep blue or an off -white with a blue base, as very pale blues can be tiring for the eye. Porter’s Paints have a wide range of mid-blues from the subtle grey-blues like Nordic Blue and Jodphur Blue to the sparkling clear blue of Big Sky. The Oriental Garden collection from Designers Guild has some stunning blue designs. The wallpaper in Kabuki Aqua is beautifully delicate and the pale blue is broken up with a natural leaf design, demonstrating how well blue and brown work together. Complete the look with upholstery in Taisho Blossom Water Blue and Kibushi Ocean.
