Cobalt chic

The bolder, the brighter, the bluer, the better.

In the ever-evolving world of interior design, trends come and go, but there are certain colour choices that have a timeless appeal. Cobalt blues, with their striking nature, are enjoying a resurgence in home interiors. Bright, electric blues exude confidence, energy and a touch of sophistication. Intense blue hues instantly draw attention and pack a punch in any space. Whether used as a focal point or as an accent colour, bold blues like Resene Aviator and Resene Ocean Waves have the ability to transform a room.

Bright blue hues have a rich history that spans across cultures. The use of bright blue can be traced back to ancient civilisations; the Egyptians were among the first to create a synthetic blue pigment known as Egyptian blue, made from ground minerals. This intense blue colour was associated with the divine and was used to adorn sculptures, tombs and ceremonial objects. Ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia and China also employed bold blues in their artwork and textiles. In the Renaissance era, bright blue pigments gained prominence once again as artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo used ultramarine in their masterpieces. The expense and scarcity of these pigments limited their widespread use.

Through later art movements like Cubism and Fauvism, artists like Picasso and Matisse often incorporated bright blues to evoke emotions. The influence of these artistic movements extended to interior design, where bold and expressive blue hues began to grace walls, furniture and decor. And now, cobalt blues are back in a big way. As we seek spaces that foster well-being, bright blue offers a burst of colour that enlivens interiors.

Getting bold blues right though at home does require a little planning. It’s absolutely key to strike a balance between using the hue in moderation and allowing it to make a statement. The answer is to combine any bold blues you use with complementary shades and texture to soften the look. This funky dining space embraces the fun of pure, bright blue hues like Resene Aviator and Resene Ocean Waves. To ensure this room remained liveable and fun, we used brighter pops of colour against a backdrop of muddier tones.

We applied Resene Ocean Waves on the left wall and Resene Timeless on the right. Resene Ocean Waves is a luxurious deep sea blue, bright and cheerful, while Resene Timeless is complementary to the hue, a silvery grey green with a subtle tint of airy aqua hiding in it. The silvery grey of Resene Timeless enables the back wall to drop back, but not entirely disappear. It’s a soft backdrop ideal for an adjacent brighter wall and for bold-coloured furniture.

The table is a happy pop of colour with its top in Resene Invincible, a steel charcoal black, and legs in Resene Poet, Resene Indian Ink, Resene Aviator and Resene Rulebreaker. Adding colour pops keeps a space full of intrigue and adds a clean look. Lilac may seem like an interesting choice to combine with blue, but the pair of Resene Aviator and Resene Poet are stunning together. Lilac and bright blue are situated opposite each other on the colour wheel, making them complementary colours. This means they naturally enhance and intensify each other when placed side by side. The cool undertones of lilac provide a delicate counterpoint to the vibrant and energetic nature of bright blue.

To add further contrast, we added a bowl on the table painted in Resene Torea Bay for a touch of richness and a vase painted in Resene Illuminate. Showing restraint and using a strong contrasting pop of colour, like the yellow of Resene Illuminate, on a small object keeps the room feeling chic and put-together, rather than overwhelming it with a large hit of yellow.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2023