A case of the January blues

We have now reached what is, for many, the darkest month of the year – January. The joy of Christmas is but a memory once again, and there often seems to be little to look forward to; the days are still short, springtime is still a long way off, and as for summer holidays, they may as well be an eternity away.

Once again, we have the January blues here at Roman Blinds Direct, but we are always excited to feel this way, because it means we are able to put the focus on one of our favourite colours.

Christmas may be over, but our Winter Collection is far from finished, and we are proud to say that there are several choice blue roman blinds featured in it, but this article is not limited to just blue blinds, however.

Picasso’s famous ‘Blue Period’ was a drastic contrast to the vibrant and uplifting colours and works of art we have grown accustom to from this artist. The subjects of this period were a much more sombre affair. The 19th century genre of music used to express sadness has been named ‘The Blues’. When a person is feeling down, it is so often referred to as ‘feeling blue’. The list of negative connotations surrounding blue seems to be endless; so why was it proven to be the most-favoured colour by the public in both America and Europe? The answer is, because blue has far too much depth to merely be seen as a gloomy and miserable colour.

The proof that blue is the most favoured colour by the majority of US and European citizens comes from several surveys. Similar surveys show that blue, despite being thought of as ‘cold’ and ‘sad’, is also universally associated with intelligence, tranquility and imagination.

The American expression, ‘true blue’, is a metaphor for being loyal and trustworthy. Back on our side of the pond, the tradition at weddings has always been for the bride to wear ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue’ – blue as a sign of devotion and faithfulness to her husband. Even the Queen gets on board with the idea that blue is a positive colour, often wearing a blue sash at official events.

Blue even defines half of the human race, and has done since the 1940’s; who wasn’t brought up to believe it is ‘blue for a boy’? It can’t be all doom and gloom, really now, can it?

Blue is a colour universally associated with intelligence, reflection and tranquility – the latter two no doubt due to the ocean. Blue has the power to make a person feel calm and relaxed; it is a soothing colour, which affects us mentally, stimulating our brains and allowing us to think with more clarity and compassion.

In the world of interior design, blue is also a favourite. It is often believed to be the most productive colour, making it perfect for the workplace, as well as home offices and living rooms. Because blue is also the colour of calmness and serenity, a deeper shade would work wonders in bedrooms, too, helping you to relax and unwind at the end of a long day.

For those who like the idea of incorporating blue into your decor, but who aren’t mad about it being the focal point, why not make white the main focus, and add blue overtones? The result will be a soothing and friendly atmosphere, with blue merely accentuating the class and style of your room. A blue roman blind would be perfect for adding an understated complement to your interior, and we at Roman Blinds Direct recommend trying Prestigious Polo Pacific to add a cool and calming dimension to your decor.

That being said, you may wish to go all out and turn your home into an aquarium, drenching the walls and windows with blues, in which case we can help you there too. Maybe you should try out one of our bolder shades of blue, such as Accent Midnight from our very own Touched by Design range, or maybe Polo Turquoise. 

Does your decor feature a lot of blue? Let us know in the comments!

You could always send us a photograph of your interior on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.