A color that finds inspiration in nature and is one of the most beloved hues in both fashion and interior design, blue is indisputably a classic. Certain shades have immediate and iconic associations, from the pale blue of a Tiffany box to the royal blue on our nation’s flag to the faded and comfortable blue of a favorite pair of jeans. As one of the three primary colors on an artist’s palette, it evolves depending on what other pigments are combined with it, creating an entire spectrum of shades with which designers can work.
Blue is a universal color that offers a variation that can go with anything and fit any aesthetic. The French artist Yves Klein even created his own shade of blue, known as International Klein Blue, which is a shocking, pure color that even people with colorblindness can see clearly. Says Klein, “All colors arouse specific associative ideas—psychologically material or tangible, while blue suggests at most the sea and sky and they, after all, are in actual visible nature what is most abstract. Blue has no dimensions, it is beyond dimensions, whereas other colors are not.”
Whether it’s the predominant story of a room or a subtle accent, this versatile shade has its place in any environment, from the most traditional of settings to the most avant garde.
Dig into this timeless hue with these true-blue examples.
The Palladio Volume I collection includes this beautiful illustration, Royal Exchange, in Taylors Grey and platinum, which was inspired by a 1644 Wenceslaus Holand etching of London’s Royal Exchange. From Ebanista comes the Vienna Angled Sofa, with a sculptural back and arms, hand-carved legs and antiqued nail head trim.A subtle geometric pattern rendered in deep indigo forms the backdrop in this serene room. The pattern, Trace, is part of the functional and beautiful wallcovering collections available from Innovations in Wallcoverings and is inspired by Kantha blankets made from upcycled saris, with a pattern that combines the effect of embroidered and quilted running stitches and layered, textural vertical stripes.Embellish anything from drapes to pillows to the skirt of a sofa with trimmings from Thibaut. Inspired by techniques like embroidery, applique and pleats, these trims come in various colorways and coordinate with a wide range of sizes and designs. Shown here is Kelly and Bermuda.Apretty shade of blue in jacquard velvet. It’s part of the Nuala collection from Black Edition, available through ROMO.Sargasso is a pattern reminiscent of undulating waves. It’s among the many eclectic decorative prints, embroideries, sheers,and textures that take their inspiration from textile traditions around the globe at Cowtan & Tout.The slabs in Porcelanosa’s XTONE collection range from ¼ to½ inch, light enough to hang from a wall or clad a countertop or table. Shown is Macauba Blue, in a pattern designed to mimic natural stone and marble. New contemporary linens from Osborne & Little are crafted using traditional dyeing techniques, with a focus on the beauty and qualities of natural materials. The new collections —Temko, Darari Stripe, Kama, Kanoko, Kiri, Hakami, and Kozo Stripe —come in wide widths and are designed to coordinate with wallpapers, plain fabrics, and upholstery.The linen borders and trims in the Oceania collection from Samuel & Sonstake their cues from the deep blue sea. The collection of passementerie is reminiscent of waves, coral, white sand,and other elements in the Pacific. The walls in this powder room are clad in Carlisle &Co’s Tecido Vinyl in a blue-green shade called Emerald. Sourced through Holly Hunt, this high-performance vinyl wallcovering has a subtle striping and pattern that lends it the appearance of a finely textured fabric. Les Chimeres in pink from Clarence House.Les Chimeres in blue from Clarence House.Kinabalu in blue from Clarence House.In classic blue on white, the Kentia pattern from The Vale London’s World’s End Collection takes cues from ancient folkloric and spiritual motives, rendered in a contemporary way.Among the 60 color combinations in the Build Your True collection from True Residential is this lovely deep blue-gray hue called Juniper, inspired by the tree of the same name. It’s a versatile color that could easily be a neutral background or a bolder accent.Afraid of clashing colors or patterns? Pindler design pairings make it easy to coordinate colorways and graphic patterns. Cerulean blue and poppy red are shared in these bold geometric patterns, Nouveau and Maestro, creating an unexpected combination that truly works.Artistic Tile’s Doge Fete mosaic tile in the Multi colorway, includes shades of blue, grey, beige, and rust.Alsace Linen in delphinium from Clarence House.
