Decorating with sky blue, this season's top colour trend

Bring the outdoors into your home this year with the colour of the season: sky blue. Synonymous with tranquillity, this timeless hue works well throughout the home, whether it’s to lighten up a hallway or add a sense of calm to a bedroom. 

There’s no surprise then, that it’s seen massive popularity of late—from wall paint to furniture, cushions, and bedding, people are fully embracing this colour trend.

John Lewis has reported online searches for “sky blue” are up 137 per cent compared to this time last year, with blue furnishings proving to be popular buys. The retailer has introduced a family of blues this season.

Big on blue, colour specialist Melanie Archer shares her interiors expertise, from why we should be hopping on the blue hue trend to how we can easily incorporate it throughout our home.

“Sky blue is an uplifting tone which brings lightness to a space, perfect for the oncoming spring.”

Blue is a brilliant interior colour; it comes in a wide range of shades and works well layered into existing schemes to give a fresh, new feel. We have introduced a family of blues this season. Our key tone is a powder, hazy sky blue. 

Our blue selection has been a 12-month collaborative process with research and product development across home design, buying and fashion. The result is a colour that feels modern and fresh but works with traditional styling too.

As the colour blue has a connection to nature, it works well in a hallway, linking outdoor and indoor spaces. It’s a peaceful and friendly colour so it is perfect to welcome your guests.

Blue is a great colour for a living room. It’s versatile and can be used in a modern or contemporary space, whether it’s a cool tone to give a fresh and crisp feel, or dark inky hues for a cosy cocooning space—there’s bound to be a shade you will fall in love with.

As it’s on the cooler side of the colour spectrum, adding touches of warmth will make your space feel welcoming to the eye.

Incorporate terracotta, oranges and pops of red to complement the deeper blue tones and it’ll offer some interesting contrast.

Another great way to use blue is by pairing it with shades of green—a natural colour combination that nods to indoor/outdoor living.

The timeless nature of blue makes it great for a space you want to invest in. Paler shades work well for opening up the space, creating a clean and fresh atmosphere, while darker shades can add drama and impact.

All shades of blue pair well with a variety of materials, from rustic woods to slick marble, offering a wide choice of finishes to choose from. 

As blues are a calming tone, introducing a brighter, bolder blue on items such as cabinetry will give the scheme an updated feel. Bright pops of colour such as red, orange or bold blue and rich green on lighting, artwork and rugs will add some character.

Think blue and think of the ocean. It evokes associations with the sea and the sky, inducing a sense of calm and tranquillity, so it is a wonderful choice for a bathroom to create a relaxing spa-like look and feel.

To avoid the space becoming too cold, add some warmer accents, natural materials and texture. 

Pale hues work particularly well in the bedroom as they are calming, restorative and mentally soothing. Known to help lower the heart rate and blood pressure, using blue in areas of sleep aids relaxation. 

Blue tones can be layered up for maximum effect to create depth and interest. Use bed linens, throws, cushions and lighting to achieve a colour-drench effect. Mixing patterns, plains and textures works well to create a scheme that’s inviting, without feeling too cool.