Blue has always been synonymous with boys.
There are many shades of blue, and although it is thought of as a cool colour, its mood changes with its intensity and as it combines with tints of other colours.
The palest watery blues ,when paired with white, are pure and serene, a favourite for baby-boy nurseries and clothing. Add a touch of red to blue and you get lilac and lavender, prettier colours that are still tranquil but warmer. Add green to blue for turquoise and aqua, and the mood shifts; these are shades that are youthful and invigorating.
Blue-greens are receding colours that open up spaces, making them appear bigger. Deep blues radiate an extraordinary power. Blue-jean denim is a no-nonsense, workhorse blue that matches up with any other colour. Navy blue connotes a feeling of order and is quite dramatic when paired with white, lots of fun beside bright green or orange.
It's quite a collection, and a bit daunting when faced with the decision of which shade to go for. But this most popular of colours has a staying power that makes it irresistible. It's worth exploring the many combinations till you find one or two that offer the mood you are after.
The young boy's room here shows blue utilized in a contemporary way. It would be cold without the splashes of orange. A focal wall of grey and blue circles and full-length drapery panels accentuate the room's height, making it feel free and open, even though there is a good-size bed, a play area and table and chairs. The soft blue and grey walls make up a neutral background that is brought to life with the bright accent colour.
When picking colours for your child's room, start with a neutral shade, then add contrast colours one at a time. Children's toys and books often come in vibrant shades, and too much high-energy colour and contrast can be tiring. If your child is intent on a vibrant shade that is going to be hard to live with, try it on only one wall, in a pattern or stripe. I think of it as controlled intensity -- something to strive for with active little boys, something I never quite achieved with my two.
The latest style in kids' beds is the new platform bed -- felt covering a mattress or hard foam base. Low to the ground with soft corners, it makes a great transition bed from a crib.
Here's the place to splash on some colour with hard-wearing blankets and novelty pillow shapes. Jumping on the bed just got a little bit safer. Undersize and child-size furniture is becoming easier to find in colours as well as white or wood. This set is easy to move from the bedroom to family room if the need arises and will last for years.
To get inspired, visit a fabric store and peruse all the newest patterns and colour combinations for today's kids. You can sew up some bed covers, pillowcases and curtains, or get ideas for paint colours and wallpaper patterns. If you don't have a fabric store close by, see what's to be found on the Internet. You can order fabrics by email.
Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.
