Blue grey is a color that falls somewhere between blue and grey. It’s a cool, muted shade that has elements of both colors in its appearance. But is blue grey ultimately closer to blue or grey? Let’s take a deeper look at the origins and visual qualities of blue grey to determine whether it skews more towards blue or grey.
The Origins of Blue Grey
Blue grey first emerged as a color name in the early 19th century. It was originally used to describe the cool, icy tones seen in some shades of grey with hints of blue. The first recorded uses of “blue grey” referred to the blueish color of weathered, blued steel or the blue-tinged plumage of certain bird species.
So from the start, blue grey was conceived as a grey with blue undertones – a color halfway between blue and grey. This sets blue grey firmly apart from more purplish grays like cadet grey. So in terms of its historical origins, blue grey leaned more closely towards grey than true blue.
The Visual Qualities of Blue Grey
When we look at swatches and samples of blue grey paints, fabrics, and other materials today, blue grey continues to display a closer affinity to grey than blue on the visual spectrum. Here are some of the key qualities that give blue grey its greyish cast:
- Blue greys are desaturated, low in chroma and intensity
- They are cool in tone, lacking the warm yellow tones of true blues
- They have lower value and brightness than strong blues
- Greys dominate over blue in their visual presence
Blue greys sit near the midpoint of blue and grey, but they typically appear more greyish than blue. Let’s analyze some specific shades of blue grey paint to see their grey skew.
Analyzing Blue Grey Paint Colors
Many popular paint brands offer their own take on blue grey. Let’s look at a few notable blue grey paint colors and see where they fall on the blue-grey spectrum:
| Paint Color | Brand | Hue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Valley | Behr | More grey | Very desaturated, light grayish blue |
| Rain Sky | Valspar | Evenly balanced | Slightly greenish blue grey |
| Grayt Escape | Sherwin-Williams | More blue | Bluer than most blue greys but still muted |
As this small sample shows, most blue greys lean slightly more towards grey, like Behr’s Glacier Valley. Valspar’s Rain Sky sits right in the middle of blue and grey. Only one of the colors, Sherwin-Williams’s Grayt Escape, skews slightly closer to blue than grey. Overall, blue greys demonstrate a stronger pull towards grey on the color spectrum.
Using Blue Grey in Home Decor
When using blue grey as a paint color in home decor, it takes on an unmistakably greyish tone. Blue grey evokes qualities like:
- Calm
- Cool
- Muted
- Reserved
- Understated
It creates soothing, elegant spaces with a touch of color. While blue adds subtle depth, the overall look leans towards light, cool greys. Blue grey paint often reads as a neutral backdrop compared to bolder blues.
Here are some decorating ideas that highlight blue grey’s subdued, greyish personality:
- Pale blue grey walls in a beach cottage bedroom
- Medium grey blue dining room with white trim
- Soft blue grey kitchen cabinets paired with marble countertops
- Dark charcoal blue grey sofa or armchair as a accent
- Blue grey as a exterior house color for a coastal home
In all these settings, blue grey takes on a grey foundation, overlaid with a cool blue quality. The blue adds interest while the grey creates a soothing backdrop.
Using Blue Grey in Fashion
Turning to clothing and fashion, blue grey makes an impactful neutral color. It pairs especially well with greys, blacks, whites, and other cool neutrals. Blue grey clothing flatters most skin tones.
In fashion, blue grey leans towards a monochromatic greyish appearance, but with extra sophistication from its hint of blue. It makes an excellent color for:
- Suits
- Overcoats
- Trousers
- Button-down shirts
- Blouses
- Knitwear
Both men and women can pull off various shades of blue grey clothing. Applied to apparel, blue grey clearly displays its greyish persona with subtle blue undertones.
Conclusion
Blue grey is classified as a color between blue and grey, but it skews closer to grey than true blue. Its origins, technical qualities, and use in design contexts all emphasize the dominance of grey over blue.
While hints of blue provide visual interest, blue grey ultimately reads as a light-to-medium grey with cool, muted blue undertones. So of the two colors, grey is the prevailing force behind blue grey’s soft, understated aesthetic.
