A bold blue ottoman makes a statement at the Lillian August showroom at market.
Did you know that blue is a relatively new color?
According to historians, ancient civilizations never identified – or perhaps even saw – the color blue.
They described the sea as “wine-dark!”
Blue wasn’t mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, and the color doesn’t appear in the Koran, ancient Chinese stories, or an ancient Hebrew version of the Bible, according to recent news reports like this Daily Mail news story.
Fast forward to the 21st century and blue isn’t just one of the most easily identified colors, but it is widely used in every facet of our culture.
Today, there are thousands of variations of blue, from periwinkle to navy.
In design, we use a specific shade of blue on a wall to evoke a mood or emotion, or select a deep blue accessory to add that bold pop of color to a room. Blue can be masculine or feminine, calming or powerful.
It seems so strange to consider that our ancestors couldn’t see this beautiful, impactful color. Then again, some modern day folks must still struggle to see blue in all its glory.
Remember the blue/black (or gold and cream) dress that broke the internet?
Colors and how people perceive them is a fascinating subject we’ll tackle in another post.
Let me know how you use blue in your home! I’d love to see pictures. Email me at jill@myjsbdesigns.com.