Fun facts: blue is the color most preferred by men and is often defined as a neutral, non-threatening color. It’s associated with calm and serenity and is often described as soothing, peaceful, tranquil, and orderly. It’s also one of the most common colors in office decoration because it’s been shown to improve productivity.
The color blue is found in nature—the sky, bodies of water—but there are few naturally blue fruits, vegetables, or flowers. (So it makes sense that blue is the backdrop to a palette of other colors). And, in this year of change and uncertainty, Pantone has named Classic Blue the 2020 color of the year.
Why should you care about all of this when it comes to your home or business space?
Because blue is a color that can be everything: trendy and on-point but classic and timeless. Happy and whimsical (think cornflower blue Crayolas and blue-green turquoise) or timelessly elegant (think navy and steel blue).
And if you want to dig a bit into science, you’ll learn that because blue has a short wavelength, it’s easiest for us to see. Shades of blue can be comforting, but they can also illuminate: the right shade can illuminate even the darkest space while a darker shade can ground a room that feels unsteady.
If we talk design, blue can be a neutral that pairs with countless other colors. Play with combinations of green and grey for a soothing vibe; or go opposite the color wheel and pair blue with orange tones for a vibrant, lively look.
The point is this: blue can be whatever you want it to be, and that’s why it’s arguably the most popular color in interior design. Used in a business setting, it can make people feel safe and comfortable—but not so much so that productivity suffers (in fact, it improves). Used in a bathroom, it can soothe. Blue is the supercolor that fits in every space—the trick is finding the blue that works for you.
