Throughout the ages, blue has always been the colour of the gods. A symbol of divinity and fidelity, it was deemed ‘the vault of heaven’.
Evocative of the celestial kingdom, the sky and the sea, blue is the colour of home. From the woad painted faces of Celtic tribes to Van Gogh’s Starry Night, blue pigment was once more precious than gold.
Prized for its beauty and symbolism, in Ancient Egypt, blue was used to honour the dead and create the tomb paintings that would accompany them into the afterlife.
Because of the high value of the pigment, blue was strictly reserved for use in only the most important artworks - and in the West, none was more revered than the mother of god herself, the Virgin Mary. Baroque artist Vermeer’s iconic use of the colour in his paintings was so exquisite that he is said to have created visual music - a testament to the rapturous beauty of blue. This heavenly hue has since become synonymous with devotion, purity and innocence.
The Alchemy of Blue
Egyptian Blue was the first synthetic pigment ever made. Created in the ancient world over 5000 years ago, the mineral azurite was combined with limestone and sand and heated to make an opaque glass. This was then crushed into fine powder and mixed with egg whites or gums and resulted in the first blue paint. In Medieval Europe, gold-speckled lapis lazuli, venerated for centuries for its healing powers, began to be imported from Afghanistan where it had been used since the 6th century in sacred Buddhist frescoes.
The colour of the heavens, blue had always been coveted but never attainable - it was all around but just out of reach, until, with the arrival of lapis, came ‘Ultramarine’. Meaning ‘beyond the sea’, ultramarine was created by grinding the semi-precious stone into a fine powder.
Create heaven on earth with the celestial power of this hallowed hue.
Perfect for instilling calm and serenity into bedrooms and bathrooms - create your own nirvana with our divine blue paints and prints. For full colour saturation, try layering different tones of blue to create depth and visual interest, like our LIMERENCE wallpaper in ‘Ink’ with a rich blue paint in APATITE and PRUSSIAN BLUE. To create a tranquil, sky-like space, coat all walls in SKY or BYZANTINE. If you want to introduce the hue to an existing scheme, add design details like fabrics, furnishings and decoration in shades of ‘China Blue’, ‘Azure’, or ‘Midnight’. Blue works well with neutrals as well as earthy tones of orange and brown and creates the perfect pairing to our SUMATRA or WILD CARD prints.
Whether you want to coat all four walls with wonder or need advice on how to introduce the harmonious hues of nature into your space, we are here for you. With a decade of experience, our in-house experts are ready to help you with everything from colour matching to creating your dream interior - no space is too small or project too big. For more information or to book your complimentary Design Consultation, simply follow the link below, and get ready to immerse yourself in the art of nature.
Drapes can be a statement making focal point, or a complimentary final touch, perfectly tying a scheme together. Here's everything you need to know about our bespoke service, and how to measure your windows for perfectly fitted drapes.
By House of Hackney September 09, 2025
