Introspective Indigo
Nestled between blue and violet on the color wheel and in the rainbow is the color indigo. This often overlooked color has been around for many years and has quite the history. This blue and purple hybrid is the color of jeans, many flowers, the night sky, and is a popular dye color. Read on to learn indigo’s meaning and symbolism, history, and how you can use this color when designing in your home.
Color Meaning and Symbolism
Indigo is an introspective, powerful, creative, and dramatic color that inspires, encourages, and calms. Indigo is often said to be connected to our intuition and is a color of deep wisdom, truth, and structure. From this wisdom comes freedom, spirituality, and the opportunity to look at life from a new perspective. However, indigo has some negative effects as well. For some, indigo can be an irritating color that feels very critical and intolerant.
History of Indigo
Indigo has been used as a dye for many years. Made from the indigofera plant indigenious to India, Africa, and Asia, natural indigo dye was in high demand prior to the creation of a synthetic version of the dye in the 1800s. Indigo has a difficult history, with the dye being deeply connected to the slave trade and the mistreatment of workers in Africa, India, and beyond. Western European cultures often traded slaves for indigo and forced cultivators in India to grow indigo in order to meet the rising demand for the dye. However, in her interview with National Public Radio (NPR) author Catherine E McKinley discusses the ways that indigo also financially empowered many African women despite the many negative associations it has throughout history.
Indigo also has a connection with something many of us wear often: jeans! In 1873, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss were given a patent to create the first pairs of blue jeans using indigo to give the pants their infamous color.
Designing with Indigo
Indigo is a versatile color when it comes to its uses in design. Indigo is often seen as a luxurious color and can give a modern feel to the room you use it in. Looking for a dramatic statement? Use indigo as the main color in your space on the walls and in your furniture choices. Not looking for too much drama? Start by using pops of indigo in your home decor as an accent color through throw pillows, rugs, or throws. For a coastal feel, combine indigo with white, beige, or cream. Or, go for a vibrant look and combine indigo with bright pinks and oranges. Indigo is a great color choice for almost any room in your home, however, avoid using it in the kitchen or dining room as it is a color known to suppress your appetite!
Looking to add some indigo into your home decor? Start here at Domanda Design! Our products are made-to-order and customizable, allowing you to select a style and pattern that best matches your style. The possibilities are endless!
This blog post was written by Emma Becker.
