The color most people name as their favorite, blue is calming, soothing, rejuvenating--a classic

Given the ubiquity of the sky, blue is a natural backdrop for a wide range of colors -- from leafy greens to carnation pinks to sandy beige -- which makes it easy to decorate with. Blue and white, the colors of Delft and Chinese pottery, are an eternally pleasing combination; yellow and blue conjure up the charms of French country; blue and green are as soothing as the Caribbean Sea; and sky blue and chocolate brown are a fresh modern favorite. From the turquoise of a California pool to the purpley-blue of hydrangeas to robin's egg or cool icy blue, blues can be layered and mixed very easily. Because of its pacific nature, blue is a favorite choice for bedrooms, but it's equally elegant anywhere in the home.

Blue feels expansive -- perhaps because of its celestial associations, but also because it is a cool color, which recedes, rather than overtaking a room. While "the blues" may have sad connotations as a feeling, in the home it is anything but!

Image shown: Chesapeake Ultramarine Rug