In my first blog, I shared the story behind the dopamine shift we are all feeling and why I craved a move from grey to colour in my own space and in what I create. But colour is not just visual. Every hue carries weight, memory, and meaning. So, I want to take you deeper, one colour at a time, starting with the one that has shaped my life the most: Blue.
Blue Skies and First Memories
As I write this, it’s a beautiful day, blue skies are out, but purely for aesthetic purposes because it is freezing cold. 🥶.
Ever since I was a young girl living in a landlocked country, the return of blue sky after a week or two of grey, rainy days was always a welcome sight. From the depths of my heart, I loved it when the sun appeared again. It always came with that beautiful contrast of blue and white, and sometimes the clouds would carry a silver lining or that warm spread of gold, orange, and red as sunset drew closer. On rainy days, sunshine would peek through and create a rainbow-like reflection bouncing off the raindrops on green leaves. It was truly a special scene.
I could not explain why it made me feel the way it did. But I will tell you that when a boy once told me I was his sunshine, that was something. 😅 He spoke my love language. 😅
The Ocean and the Healing It Carried
Years later, when I moved to Sydney, as an asthmatic, the first few weeks were very difficult. I landed during the rainy period. Overcast skies, grey everything. Not my favourite.
On one of those grey days, I took a short trip to the beach. The sky was as overcast as it could be. But that blue ocean, oh my, it was a beautiful sight. I do not know if it was the salt water particles in the air, but I can confirm that from that day onwards my chest cleared up for months. 😊
I continued my love-hate relationship with grey cloudy days because I appreciate a lush green lawn, and rainfall makes that possible.
A Moment I Will Never Forget
A few years later, our family together with a group of friends, took a trip to a coastal town for the weekend. It was on that trip that I received news that my sister had suddenly passed away. What a day that was.
Leisure activities had been planned, and one of them was a mini boat cruise on the ocean. I decided I was not going to spoil it for the others by staying behind. So I tagged along, even though I was crushed. While on that boat, I went to the back for some quiet reflection.
The view of that blue ocean was the most beautiful scene I had ever experienced. I had been on the ocean countless times before, but on this day I was in deep distress. In that moment, as I prayed and thought about my sister, I felt a calm and a peace wash over me. I realised how small I was. I contemplated the fragility of life, the vast beauty of the earth we all call home. The healing beauty of that moment is forever forged in my mind.
Above the Clouds
Some years later, flying home to visit my mum, I took a daytime flight. That majestic view from up in the clouds was priceless. Because of my state of mind at the time, the view carried a whole different meaning. Much like that moment on the ocean, it reminded me how precious life is, and how tiny we are against the vast beauty of creation. The sea of cloud in shapes and sizes that no one else would ever see again. I could not help but marvel at the Master Designer's handiwork.
A famous saying, "time is like a river, it will never pass this way again," in that moment, translated to "time was like a cloud, and it would never pass that way again". It served as the reset I needed to believe that all would be well. Regardless of what lay ahead, I was at peace because I knew I was in good hands.
Why I Am Telling You All of This?
I share these stories because they are the only way I can honestly explain why I do what I do. 😅 There is a series of events that led me here, but also because I know I am not the only one who has experienced the healing effect of nature and colour combined.
So, What Does Blue Actually Do to Us?
As we begin to talk about the psychology of colour, let me start where my heart lives: blue. I always say there is a reason the largest surface area in our natural world is covered in, or reflects, this beautiful colour. Think about how you feel when the blue skies emerge. That is the worldwide definition of "a beautiful day."
I am not an expert on this, but fortunately I can read, so here is what I found. 😊
What blue does to your body and mind
Blue has been shown to slow down metabolism, reduce heart rate, and lower body temperature. It reduces stress and increases focus, which is why it works so well in workspaces and study areas. Because of its tranquil nature, it is frequently used in healthcare environments to promote mental relaxation. Interestingly, research shows that placing blue lights in high-stress transit areas can promote calm and even deter accidents.
Blue in the world around us: In branding, blue signals trust and dependability, which is why it dominates tech, finance, and automotive industries. It is also considered one of the least appetising colours because naturally occurring blue foods are incredibly rare.
Culturally, blue carries different meanings. In North America and Western Europe, it represents truth, responsibility, and tradition. In Latin America, it is tied to trust and peace but also to mourning. In Egypt and Greece, it was historically believed to ward off evil, in China, it represents immortality and in Christianity, it represents divinity and heavenly authority, it is also referred to as God's favourite colour.
Balance: When Calm Needs a Counterpart
The idea that blue enhances physical calm, slows metabolism, and lowers heart rate makes a lot of sense to me. It explains why I found it so calming during difficult times. But what about on days when the opposite effect is needed?
This is where balance comes in. By combining colours and textures, we can offset the natural tendencies of blue and create environments that serve us at different stages of life. Fortunately, nature has already shown us how.
Blue + Orange: Blue calms the mind. Orange sits directly opposite blue on the colour wheel, creating the ultimate physical and psychological balance. Orange wakes up digestion and brings back appetite. Navy or teal with terracotta or peach looks elegant and helps the body feel more energised.
Blue + Yellow: Yellow supports the stomach, liver, and gut. It boosts metabolism and lifts mood, which can ease anxiety around eating. Blue walls with pops of citrus yellow keep things calm but active.
Blue + Warm Red: Red gets the heart pumping and makes us feel hungry. The vital boost. Soft blue with warm reds like brick or tomato gives that appetite boost without feeling too intense.
Blue + Earthy Green, my personal favourite 😊: Green feels safe, fresh, and healthy. If stress is affecting appetite, green offers gentle healing. This pairing supports a calm, mindful approach to eating. It encourages a mindful relationship with nourishment while supporting balance in a gentler way than red or yellow.
So which colour resonates with you? Which one makes you feel warm, safe, alive? Have you ever considered how much it influences your choices, from what you wear to how your home feels when you walk through the door?
I challenge you to explore what your favourite colour invokes in you, and what you could combine it with to create something truly cohesive for your life.
Take a walk. Look at the way nature shows off its expertise in combining colour and texture. Even a dry log puts us to shame. 😊
As we choose what to bring into our spaces, I believe it matters to pick the things that resonate with who we are. To choose what our bodies need, what our lifestyle requires. Life changes, circumstances shift, and things do not always stay the same. So it is good to be aware of our surroundings and to adapt when we need to. Maintaining balance, creating a cohesive environment for our enjoyment and nourishment.
That is what I design for. And blue is where it all began.
The Colour Psychology of Blue: Why the sky has always been the reset
In my first blog, I shared the story behind the dopamine shift we are all feeling and why I craved a move from grey to colour in my own space and in what I create. But colour is not just visual. Every hue carries weight, memory, and meaning. So, I want to take you deeper, one colour at a time, starting with the one that has shaped my life the most: Blue.
Blue Skies and First Memories
As I write this, it’s a beautiful day, blue skies are out, but purely for aesthetic purposes because it is freezing cold. 🥶.
Ever since I was a young girl living in a landlocked country, the return of blue sky after a week or two of grey, rainy days was always a welcome sight. From the depths of my heart, I loved it when the sun appeared again. It always came with that beautiful contrast of blue and white, and sometimes the clouds would carry a silver lining or that warm spread of gold, orange, and red as sunset drew closer. On rainy days, sunshine would peek through and create a rainbow-like reflection bouncing off the raindrops on green leaves. It was truly a special scene.
I could not explain why it made me feel the way it did. But I will tell you that when a boy once told me I was his sunshine, that was something. 😅 He spoke my love language. 😅
The Ocean and the Healing It Carried
Years later, when I moved to Sydney, as an asthmatic, the first few weeks were very difficult. I landed during the rainy period. Overcast skies, grey everything. Not my favourite.
On one of those grey days, I took a short trip to the beach. The sky was as overcast as it could be. But that blue ocean, oh my, it was a beautiful sight. I do not know if it was the salt water particles in the air, but I can confirm that from that day onwards my chest cleared up for months. 😊
I continued my love-hate relationship with grey cloudy days because I appreciate a lush green lawn, and rainfall makes that possible.
A Moment I Will Never Forget
A few years later, our family together with a group of friends, took a trip to a coastal town for the weekend. It was on that trip that I received news that my sister had suddenly passed away. What a day that was.
Leisure activities had been planned, and one of them was a mini boat cruise on the ocean. I decided I was not going to spoil it for the others by staying behind. So I tagged along, even though I was crushed. While on that boat, I went to the back for some quiet reflection.
The view of that blue ocean was the most beautiful scene I had ever experienced. I had been on the ocean countless times before, but on this day I was in deep distress. In that moment, as I prayed and thought about my sister, I felt a calm and a peace wash over me. I realised how small I was. I contemplated the fragility of life, the vast beauty of the earth we all call home. The healing beauty of that moment is forever forged in my mind.
Above the Clouds
Some years later, flying home to visit my mum, I took a daytime flight. That majestic view from up in the clouds was priceless. Because of my state of mind at the time, the view carried a whole different meaning. Much like that moment on the ocean, it reminded me how precious life is, and how tiny we are against the vast beauty of creation. The sea of cloud in shapes and sizes that no one else would ever see again. I could not help but marvel at the Master Designer's handiwork.
A famous saying, "time is like a river, it will never pass this way again," in that moment, translated to "time was like a cloud, and it would never pass that way again". It served as the reset I needed to believe that all would be well. Regardless of what lay ahead, I was at peace because I knew I was in good hands.
Why I Am Telling You All of This?
I share these stories because they are the only way I can honestly explain why I do what I do. 😅 There is a series of events that led me here, but also because I know I am not the only one who has experienced the healing effect of nature and colour combined.
So, What Does Blue Actually Do to Us?
As we begin to talk about the psychology of colour, let me start where my heart lives: blue. I always say there is a reason the largest surface area in our natural world is covered in, or reflects, this beautiful colour. Think about how you feel when the blue skies emerge. That is the worldwide definition of "a beautiful day."
I am not an expert on this, but fortunately I can read, so here is what I found. 😊
What blue does to your body and mind
Blue has been shown to slow down metabolism, reduce heart rate, and lower body temperature. It reduces stress and increases focus, which is why it works so well in workspaces and study areas. Because of its tranquil nature, it is frequently used in healthcare environments to promote mental relaxation. Interestingly, research shows that placing blue lights in high-stress transit areas can promote calm and even deter accidents.
Blue in the world around us: In branding, blue signals trust and dependability, which is why it dominates tech, finance, and automotive industries. It is also considered one of the least appetising colours because naturally occurring blue foods are incredibly rare.
Culturally, blue carries different meanings. In North America and Western Europe, it represents truth, responsibility, and tradition. In Latin America, it is tied to trust and peace but also to mourning. In Egypt and Greece, it was historically believed to ward off evil, in China, it represents immortality and in Christianity, it represents divinity and heavenly authority, it is also referred to as God's favourite colour.
Balance: When Calm Needs a Counterpart
The idea that blue enhances physical calm, slows metabolism, and lowers heart rate makes a lot of sense to me. It explains why I found it so calming during difficult times. But what about on days when the opposite effect is needed?
This is where balance comes in. By combining colours and textures, we can offset the natural tendencies of blue and create environments that serve us at different stages of life. Fortunately, nature has already shown us how.
Blue + Orange: Blue calms the mind. Orange sits directly opposite blue on the colour wheel, creating the ultimate physical and psychological balance. Orange wakes up digestion and brings back appetite. Navy or teal with terracotta or peach looks elegant and helps the body feel more energised.
Blue + Yellow: Yellow supports the stomach, liver, and gut. It boosts metabolism and lifts mood, which can ease anxiety around eating. Blue walls with pops of citrus yellow keep things calm but active.
Blue + Warm Red: Red gets the heart pumping and makes us feel hungry. The vital boost. Soft blue with warm reds like brick or tomato gives that appetite boost without feeling too intense.
Blue + Earthy Green, my personal favourite 😊: Green feels safe, fresh, and healthy. If stress is affecting appetite, green offers gentle healing. This pairing supports a calm, mindful approach to eating. It encourages a mindful relationship with nourishment while supporting balance in a gentler way than red or yellow.
So which colour resonates with you? Which one makes you feel warm, safe, alive? Have you ever considered how much it influences your choices, from what you wear to how your home feels when you walk through the door?
I challenge you to explore what your favourite colour invokes in you, and what you could combine it with to create something truly cohesive for your life.
Take a walk. Look at the way nature shows off its expertise in combining colour and texture. Even a dry log puts us to shame. 😊
As we choose what to bring into our spaces, I believe it matters to pick the things that resonate with who we are. To choose what our bodies need, what our lifestyle requires. Life changes, circumstances shift, and things do not always stay the same. So it is good to be aware of our surroundings and to adapt when we need to. Maintaining balance, creating a cohesive environment for our enjoyment and nourishment.
That is what I design for. And blue is where it all began.