At the end of 2019, Pantone revealed Classic Blue as their Colour of the Year for 2020 – a prestigious achievement from a global authority on colour trends, signifying the importance of Classic Blue as part of the contemporary design and fashion scenes.

As is customary, Pantone has released the CMYK values (Cyan 88, Magenta 67, Yellow 20, Black 0) as well as the unique reference code for their top choice – Classic Blue 19-4052.

Glam Bar Stool Blue Velvet

Given the range of different hues that are available, you may also want to consider mixing shades in your kitchen or dining area. Doing so can have a dramatic effect on the visual complexity of the space, adding depth to your interior. Perhaps try combining lighter walls with darker seats, units or worktops for a bolder, more stylish aesthetic.

Alicia Walnut Bar Stool Black

Alternatively, try pairing blue furnishings with fixtures and appliances in similarly cool tones to provide a textured look. Chrome or brushed steel accents can make your room look even trendier by contributing to a modern-feeling colour palette, while grey and blue contrasts can be used to play with the relative warmth of your interior. The Serena Bar Stool Blue is one example, offering an eye-catching yet sophisticated pairing through its vivid ABS seat and polished, contemporary frame. However, we also stock a wide range of items in brushed and grey wood frame finishes that can have their own dramatics effect upon the feel of your workspace.

Serena Bar Stool Blue

Failing this, you can achieve a nautical or beachside aesthetic by selecting certain tones and materials. Our range of breakfast stools includes the ever-popular Drift Oak & Blue, the rustic wooden frame of which adds a timeless sense of character. Additionally, a brightly complementing shade of yellow may provide a seasonal, summery atmosphere that will no doubt inspire guests.

Drift Oak Stool Blue

History of the Colour Blue

Because vivid shades of blue are rarely found in nature, with some obvious exceptions, there seems to have been little in the way of depiction or consideration for this colour in early civilisation. Ancient Greek texts, including Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’, have been found to use terms such as ‘wine-dark’ to describe the ocean and other blue objects.

This began to change as we continued to experiment with new materials. The Egyptians began to create blue-coloured dyes from precious stones and minerals including lapis, though these dyes were still rare as a result of how expensive they were to make. On the other hand, this also made them popular with those who could afford them, and they were increasingly used in cosmetics.

Moving on to the Renaissance period, we see a continuing trend in the colour’s popularity. Ultramarine, an especially valuable pigment, was at times more expensive than gold and became a sought-after inclusion in some of the period’s most esteemed paintings and structures. It also became closely associated with the Virgin Mary, which may explain why this colour evokes feelings of trust and comfort to this day.

Over time, the colour blue became more common in art and clothing. A synthetic form of ultramarine was invented in 1826, and further developments in manufacturing and technology allowed cheaper, more readily attainable blue pigments to become even more widespread in fashion and interior design.

As a result, it is a generally accepted belief among historians that ‘blue’, as a word and concept, became more ingrained in human understanding once we began to develop blue dyes and pigments – in other words, our appreciation grew once we could make it ourselves.