So if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know my love of all things green! If it’s not monochrome, it’s green I’m drawn to. Well, if you’re like me, and a little hesitant to use any colour at all, t0day I want to talk about green’s soothing neighbour – blue interior inspiration. Both colours are ideal stepping stones into a (slightly) more colourful world and perfect alternatives to grey, whether you use a splash of cobalt blue to brighten up a neutral scheme or a dose of blue-grey to add a soft hue to your walls.
In terms of colour psychology, blue is traditionally seen as a colour that’s safe, secure and conservative (think of school uniforms, doctor’s scrubs and classic blue jeans). Much like green, it’s thought to be calming and serene, bringing to mind bright skies, reflective waters and clean, pure surfaces. It’s trustworthy and timeless, connecting us to the uplifting power of nature. While some people might look at blue and think of rest and relaxation, to others it can appear cold and clinical.
It’s all about combining those cool tones with warm accents and lots of texture to create an interior that feels oh so peaceful and inviting. It’s no wonder we’re looking to the blue end of the colour spectrum at the moment. Perhaps we’re searching for a safe constant in a crazy, uncertain world. And blue might provide that reflective ambience to help create a soothing sanctuary at home.
There’s something in the water… and paint companies have been picking up on the trend for blue interior inspiration, releasing several new blues in the past couple of years.
For 2020, Norwegian paint company Jotun unveiled two blues: Serene Blue and the more classic Statement Blue. Serene Blue ‘evokes the freedom and possibility of the sky and the sea,’ while Statement Blue similarly brings to mind ‘the serenity of an open sky and the profundity of a boundless ocean’. During lockdown, one of the things I longed for the most was to see the sea and dip my toes in the water. I was recently in Cornwall and there’s just something so restorative about breathing in that fresh, salty air and hearing that familiar rhythm of waves crashing on the shore. No wonder you might want to bottle a little of that feeling and bring it back home.
Earlier this year, London-based paint company Mylands also released a Spring colour palette featuring four contrasting blues – Walpole, Morning Blue, Observatory, and FTT 018. The four tones, from a pale off-white with blue tones to a bold electric blue, were chosen to reflect the versatility and perennial popularity of this much-loved colour.
Then of course there’s Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020 – Classic Blue, a bright yet safe and dependable ultramarine blue. ‘Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era,’ they said at the launch. Blue had re-entered our thoughts in a moment when we need clarity and perspective, they posit.
With that in mind, here is a mood board with some blue interior inspiration to help you bring that serene feeling into your own home. From graphic artwork and tactile ceramics to soft textiles and clean, contemporary furniture, these 24 items are sure to appeal to the minimalists out there and bring a pop of bright tone to a neutral scheme.
1. Borrowed Light, Farrow & Ball
2. Morning Blue, Mylands
3. Observatory, Mylands
4. Smalt, Little Greene
5. Plimsoll, Paint & Paper Library
6. Scotch blue, Farrow & Ball
7. Thrown porcelain vases hand painted in cobalt-blue, Rhian Malin
8. White and a bit of blue print by Hôtel Magique, £35, Smallable
9. Into the Blue 01 poster by Paper Collective, £65, Nordic Nest
10. Petrol blue chair, £54.50, Maisons du Monde
11. Kink vase by Muuto, £165, Skandium
12. Ombre fringed throw blanket, £88, Anthropologie [affiliate link]
13. Duo candle set of 2 by Ferm Living, £10, Huh. Store
14. Nocto candle holder by Normann Copenhagen, £14.40, dotmaison
15. Linen duvet cover in indigo, €139, ByMölle
16. Stationery, Smythson
17. Spring 2020 colours including Walpole, Morning Blue, Observatory, and FTT 018, Mylands
18. Terracotta plant pot, £25, Arket [affiliate link]
19. Kumo modular 2 seater sofa, €2,999, Hem
20. Blue Naive Side Tables by Emko, from £207, Bombinate
21. Rice raffia storage basket, £29, Nordic Nest
22. Moroccan blue babouche leather slippers, £35, We Are Nomads
23. Navy Blue and Ivory Jamakhan Line Handwoven Rug by Tiipoi, £150, Bombinate [affiliate link]
24. WeatherBeeta denim dog bed, from £23.50, VioVet
Many thanks to my lovely new intern Helena, who created this beautiful mood board of blue interior inspiration – you can find her @hels_interiors
So what do you think? Could you be convinced to go over to the blue side? I think the key is being deliberate with the placement and not going too overboard with the colour, otherwise it could easily end up like a cliched coastal rental. I love what Farrow & Ball have done below with Scotch Blue – by keeping the rest of the features white and the furniture neutral, it allows the rich, dark blue to really sing and stand out. Subtle blue accents in the rug and cushion help soften the tone and create a pared-back yet joyful and uplifting space. If in doubt add warm wood, a hint of pattern and a hint of nature!
