Kinds of blue

“Blue is associated with the power to soothe and relax. It’s ideal for finally banishing the dull, sombre tones of winter and making rooms look fresh and invigorated.”

This colour palette’s an easy winner too, reminding us of cloudless skies and glittering seas and pools. Teamed with crisp white it can conjure a relaxed, beach house feel, or you can be more dramatic by using deep indigo tones.

“The main focus is bold, punchy and strong. Cobalt, royal blue, navy and azure rather than softer shades,” advises Marc Petring, head of marketing at furniture chain Dwell. “It takes confidence, but you can dip your toe into blues by experimenting with one statement piece of furniture, a rug or blue accessories. Too much blue can be oppressive so be sure to mix it up with whites or greys.”

Jocelyn Warner, best-known for her beautiful wallpapers, has launched a new fabric collection suitable for curtains and upholstery. Her nature-inspired Treetops, £49 a metre, comes in a subtle pale blue.

Make a statement with designer Orla Kiely’s contemporary Lusk sofa in reef, £1,995 from Heal’s. Rock away the blues in a Charles Eames-style Rar Rocking Chair, £189, in pale blue, from online company Interior Addict or pick up Marks & Spencer’s bestselling simple blue side table, £49.

Blue’s an ideal colour for kitchens and you could pick up on the trend with tiles, such as Fired Earth’s stunning hand-decorated Andalucia range. The 10 x 10cm hand decorated tiles are £3.25 each and 20 x 20cm hand-decorated tiles are £11.95.

“Blue’s a great colour for both novices and adventurous homeowners alike,” says Clare Price, founder of The Contemporary Home.

“Everyone’s got their own favourite shade and my favourites are an almost white powdery blue and by contrast the deep, purple-laden indigo.”

Splash out – A Smeg Retro fridge freezer, £1,349 from Marks & Spencer, in pale blue, and its China Blue crockery featuring blue blooms on a white background, starts from £5 for a mug. Have fun with blue by adding quirky accessories or finishing details such as lampshades, or even door handles. “Blues have always been a popular colour for interiors and until recently the trend was for pale hues with a lean towards eau de nil,” says Victoria Wright, style advisor at HomeSense. “This summer will see a stronger, more playful blue emerge as the fashionable choice – it’s somewhere between duck egg and navy.”

Blues can enliven a pale grey or cream-themed room, she says, or can also look striking against darker, more arresting colour schemes. Designer Clarissa Hulse’s Buds lampshade, £82, in Midnight/Rainbow is bang on trend with shades of iridescent cobalt and pale blue and would be well complemented by a blue Butterfly clock, £140, both from Heal’s.

Dwell has a deep blue Jolly Jack Rabbit ornament, £39.95, and a Carina midnight blue coffee table, £349.

Try online interiors company Milk & Honey’s navy blue star cushion cover, £14.50.