As we move into July many of us are looking for ways to cool off. While many people just like the color blue, it also can have a visually cooling effect, which is perfect for the summer.
Oner thing that is important when looking for a fabric for hot summer days is not only the color, but also the actual scale and pattern placement of a fabric. Busy patterns with close design elements have a very different effect from a more easily read pattern.
Too small a pattern or too busy a pattern does not lend itself to a room that is cool looking and calm. A simple buffalo check is perfect for this.
Not all blues have a cool ambience. The Blue Foral Medallion Fabric uses intense colors, and has a very busy pattern.
The blue bird spring flower fabric uses a soft tone of blue, with an undertone of aqua. That, coupled with the warm almond and tan tones gives it a warmer look. Grey is often used with blue for a cooling effect, but in this fabric the warm tan tones over shadow the coolness of the greys. And, the blue is the background for the pattern, it not used with the grey. And, the actual design is quite busy, with many stems, berries, and flowers filling the space.
The Fall Nature Fabric uses a cool mineral blue. And while this fabric has a lot going on, the open placement of design elements keeps it from seeming busy. The background is butter cream, a warm tone. Even though the background is a warm tone, the cool tones of the blue, charcoal, and hickory brown against the cream background gives the effect of cool tones against a neutral.
So, when looking for a fabric to give a specific effect, think about what the fabric actually does. Does it deliver what you want in terms of color? Is the scale what you need for balance in your room? And does the pattern tie in with what you are trying to achieve? All of these things need to be considered.
See the Blue Fabric Category
for all the blue fabrics.
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