​A Blue Monday Without The Blues: Exploring The Cobalt Blue Trend

Cobalt blue is all the rage for interior design and art. Its calm, understated vibrance and energy make it perfect for a number of rooms in the home, including bathrooms, kitchens and living areas.

This shade of blue is a bit of a chameleon: absolutely perfect for creating those serene spaces in your home, but it can also be used to add energy to an area. It’s a high-saturation blue with a lot of character.

The History of Cobalt Blue

Cobalt blue was first noted as a colour name in English in 1777. In an impure form, it has been found regularly in things like paints and blue and white Chinese porcelain. As a pigment created from fairly accessible materials, we’ve seen its popularity grow and because it is so widely used, it’s become a staple colour for art works and illustrations.

Cobalt Blue for Interior Design

Cobalt blue works perfectly with a number of other colours that are very popular for modern home decor. For an elegant and luxurious space, it can be paired with greys, whites and beiges for that high-end effect. When used with these calming colours, it can be a soothing and relaxing presence.

 

Explore the cobalt art trend (Left) Swimming Wild by Sifa Mustafa (Right) Don’t Give Up By Inoui

Bold Blues

If you’re feeling the need for a warmer space, don’t write off cobalt blue just yet. Not all blues are for relaxing spaces, some are bold and offer vibrant pops of colour to bring energy to your decor.

Although it is typically quite a soothing and natural blue shade, cobalt blue can work very well as an accent colour, particularly in ultra modern or industrially styled homes. Pair cobalt blue artwork with yellows, golds or pale pinks and this colour immediately feels warmer. These colour palettes are extremely common in modern illustrations and art, and are particularly used in abstract artwork and posters for motivational prints.

Cobalt blue has really seen a resurgence as part of the trend to use bold colours as accents for traditionally neutral rooms. Dark or bold blues are much more commonly used for things like kitchens and sofas than they have been in recent years.

What Styles Suit Cobalt Blue Best?

We’ve already spoken about how well this fun blue works for ultra modern and industrial-style spaces. It’s flexibility means it can really be used in a much broader scope. It’s pairing with wood and other natural materials makes it great for boho and Scandinavian style spaces and its boldness suits more retro styles.

Realistically, when choosing such a common colour, you can’t go too far wrong. Art prints featuring cobalt blue are very flexible in their use. You could use a print in your living room or office without making the space feel cold and you could easily move that same artwork into a bathroom, for example, for a more calming effect.

With cobalt blue, it really is about how you pair it, and the flexibility makes these blue art prints and illustrations the perfect option for any home.