The Peaceful World of Blue
We are surrounded by a world of blue. Above our heads we see the pale blue sky, and, if you are lucky enough to live in a coastal community, you can see the deep blue oceans that make up the majority of our world. This tranquil color is the most common favorite color across the globe with a wide variety of shades evoking different meanings. Universally, all shades of blue are said to represent loyalty, peace, openness, trust, confidence, and protection. Light blue symbolizes peace, serenity, understanding, and healing while dark blue connects to knowledge, power, intelligence, trust, and authority.
Influence of Blue in Culture
Blue makes an impact in various areas of our lives. In nature, blue appears in the water and sky but in little else. Blue eyed individuals make up only 8% of the world's population and blue rarely occurs naturally in the foods we eat (except for blueberries and blue/purple potatoes). In corporate culture, blue is one of the most commonly used colors in branding due to its ability to evoke feelings of trust and loyalty in the company. Blue has had its influence throughout history as well, as a color of wealth and importance. Historically, blue was one of the more expensive pigments to create since it was not commonly found in nature, therefore painters reserved the use of this color for important figures such as the Virgin Mary.
In popular culture, blue makes a frequent appearance in beloved characters. Over the years we have been introduced to a variety of loveable all blue characters including The Smurfs, Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, Dory from Finding Nemo, and the Genie in Aladdin. Blue has had its influence in music as well making an appearance in many well known songs and in the musical performance art group Blue Man Group.
Incorporating Blue in Your Home
Blue has many meanings and values associated with it, but almost all of them connect to a sense of calm and relaxation. It is said to help us decompress. Studies show that blue lowers heart rates and blood pressure, helping with relaxation and sleep. For these reasons, blue is a great color choice for rooms where you want to relax, for example your living room or bedroom. Lighter blues are a great way to add color to your space, creating a calm, bright, natural atmosphere where various other colors can be incorporated to add variety. However, you may want to consider avoiding blue in your kitchen, as blue is often said to suppress appetite. Additionally, when used in excess blue can feel a bit cold and unfriendly, particularly when using dark shades, so start by introducing blue as an accent color!
Domanda Design offers a wide range of blue products you can add as accents to bring this tranquil color into your living space. Bring the relaxing qualities of blue into your life on the go as well with our customizable totes, tumblers, journals, and weekender bags.
If you enjoyed learning about blue, don't miss the other colors in this series including A Pop of Yellow, The Duality of Green, and Mind, Mood, Mentality: Pink.
This blog post was written by Emma Becker.
