MOODY BLUES
“WE live on a blue planet and are immersed in [this colour] every day, from the blue of the sky to the endless blue oceans, so it’s no wonder that blue is the world’s favourite colour,” declares Dulux creative director, Marianne Shillingford.
“Historically, blue was an elusive and difficult colour to create in pigment and dyes with any vibrancy, and so early forms of it were originally highly expensive and highly prized.
“But it’s probably the familiarity and reliability of blue that accounts for its popularity. After all, 35% of the world’s population wear some form of blue denim every day, and it’s a colour that seems to work for everyone. It connects us somehow fundamentally with the planet we live on.”
For painting, Marianne recommends choosing gutsy, velvety blues like indigo or sapphire.
“Both love to be seen in a warm candle glow, so consider vintagestyle bulbs in the light fittings, and add orange ember and golden shades to the accessories.”
Blue, Marianne believes, can be used very successfully as a wraparound colour. But if a full immersion is too OTT, you can enjoy the calming essence of the colour by teaming a mid-blue, like Dulux shades Stonewashed Blue or Cornflower Blue, with warm, stone neutrals, like Egyptian Cotton and Nutmeg White.
Blue can look cold in dark, north-facing rooms, but Marianne notes : “If you use these rooms predominantly in the evening and add layered lighting in table and floor lamps, the effect is utterly seductive and gorgeous.” “The energising power of translucent water was the starting point for our ‘Immersed’ palette,” explains Neville Knott, Crown Paints colour consultant.
“The aqua spectrum drifts from a midnight blue to a light fog, carrying with it a depth of tranquillity that helps us imagine home as a get-away.
“Shimmering and reflective, it blurs the structures of any space, bringing light and tranquility. A dark navy blue adds depth and anchors the palette, and I love the use of aqua that gives a slightly retro, Fifties mood.”
If decorating a whole room blue feels like a step too far, simply feature a few deep blue accessories. In navy or indigo, they’re guaranteed to bring drama and life to a space – especially one with a predominantly white/neutral setting.