The Significance of the Color Blue

By DoItYourself.com Staff

Blue is one of the seven colors of a rainbow. Nature is generously endowed with this color. The infinite sky, the deep seas, and the vast oceans - all generally appear to be blue to the human eye.

Scientifically, blue color is an electromagnetic radiation of wavelength 440 to 485 nanometers in the visible spectrum. There are several shades of blue, ranging from light powder blue to deep midnight blue. Each shade has its own connotation in terms of its significance, effect on human emotions, and moods.

The color blue signifies distance, love, peace, and happiness. Light blue color produces calm, cool, and soothing effects.

Choice of color is a vital consideration in interior design and decoration. Interior designers extensively use blue color to produce an impression of openness (distance). Moreover, blue color has a tranquilizing effect, generates a sense of well being, and imparts a refreshing feeling. It also produces an environment of love, peace, and sexuality. The cool, calming effect of light blue color is pleasing and can induce one to sleep. Blue is, thus, a favorite color for bedrooms. It is now often seen on the outer walls of houses, too.

The spiritual blue is a favorite color in advertising. It is suggestive of purity, cleanliness, and freshness in household products like detergents and fresheners. The cooling effect of the icy blue color is well known. Light blue colored drinks are, therefore, deemed to be cool and light.

The color blue has always been associated with fidelity in relationships. Fidelity is generally proven from a distance - as an opportunity for unfaithfulness may lurk when one of the partners is away! Sending of blue flowers, such as Forget-me-nots and Violets, is a popular practice among the romantic couples of all ages to demonstrate their eternal love.

In the Western countries, the traditional "something blue" bridal dress represents love. The color blue is also known to induce romantic emotions and moods. Its cool vibrations seem to relax the mind, overcome inhibitions, and encourage communication. (Perhaps the terms "Blue Films" and "Blue Rooms" emanated from this notion!)

Blue gemstones are believed to promote peace. They are used to calm ragged emotions. They are often prescribed to provide relief to the people who suffer from insomnia or nightmares. It is an old belief that the sky-blue shade has the power to keep the evil away. This is based on a hypothesis that the radiation of this color creates an invisible shield to prevent the approach of bad spirits!

The color blue gives a perception of distance. Artists use it often to depict depth in their works of art. The color blue is commonly used to portray heavenly Gods to highlight the distance of the divine.

Philosophically, the color blue allows us to look beyond and increase our perspective outward. The blue sky seems to beckon us to look ahead in life - always upright.

However, too much blue can also dampen spirits. Extreme cold temperatures are known to turn a human body blue. On the morbid side, sometimes death causes human bodies to turn blue. In Iran, blue is the color of mourning.

Blue is a universal natural color with several attributes associated with it. It is a calm, cool, and a soothing color. It symbolizes distance, love, spirituality, peace, and happiness.