Blue is one of the primary colors, meaning it can’t be created by mixing other colors. However, you can mix blue with other colors to create different shades and hues of blue.
Mixing Blue with White
Adding white to blue creates lighter shades of blue. The more white you add, the lighter the blue becomes. Here are some common shades created by mixing blue and white:
- Baby blue – A very pale tint of blue
- Periwinkle blue – A light purplish-blue
- Powder blue – A soft, pale blue
- Ice blue – A pale, icy blue
- Sky blue – A light blue the color of a sunny sky
Adding just a touch of white to blue creates a soft pastel blue. The more white you add, the closer you get to a crisp icy blue. These lighter blues remind us of blue skies, baby blankets, and fair weather clouds.
Mixing Blue with Black
Mixing blue with black creates darker shades of blue. The more black you add, the darker the blue becomes. Some darkened blues created by adding black include:
- Navy blue – A very dark midnight blue
- Prussian blue – A dark blue with purple undertones
- Denim blue – The blue used for denim jeans
- Royal blue – A rich mid-range blue
- Slate blue – A dark greyish blue
Adding just a small amount of black will create a deep rich blue. Adding more black results in very dark midnight shades. These darker blues remind us of dark nights, deep oceans, and sophistication.
Mixing Blue with Grey
Mixing blue with grey also creates lovely muted shades of blue. Popular greys to mix with blue include:
- Blue grey
- Grey blue
- Air force blue
- Steel blue
Grey and blue are complementary colors, meaning they look great together. Adding grey to blue results in sophisticated muted tones. These blues remind us of stormy skies, steel, and wise old owls.
Mixing Blue with Purple
You can also mix blue with purple to create beautiful shades. Here are some blue-purple hues:
- Indigo – A dark inky blue with purple tones
- Blue violet – A vivid violet-blue
- Purple blue – A blue with strong purple undertones
- Periwinkle – A soft lavender-blue
The amount of purple you add will determine how bright, vivid, or muted the resulting blue is. These shades remind us of deep twilight skies, mysticism, and royalty.
Mixing Blue with Green
Mixing blue and green together makes lovely cool hues. Some popular blue-greens include:
- Teal – A vivid green-blue
- Aqua – A light green-blue
- Turquoise – A green-blue jewel tone
- Aquamarine – A soft pale green-blue
The more green you add, the brighter and bolder the blue becomes. With just a touch of green, you get a cool relaxing hue. These colors remind us of the ocean, mermaids, and paradise.
Mixing Blue with Yellow
Believe it or not, you can also mix blue with yellow to create vibrant hues! Some examples include:
- Green-blue
- Blue-green
- Yellow-blue
- Blue-yellow
Adding just a small amount of yellow will give you a bold dynamic blue. Too much yellow results in a greenish hue. These colors remind us of electric light, bold graphic designs, and bright tropical birds.
Mixing Blue with Red
Red and blue are complementary colors opposite each other on the color wheel. When mixed together, they create shades of purple. The less red you add, the more the blue still dominates. Some red-blue shades include:
- Violet
- Blue violet
- Purple
- Indigo
These shades remind us of mystical night skies, creative energy, and ancient Roman emperors in their purple robes.
Mixing Multiple Colors with Blue
You can also mix blue with several colors to create complex multi-hued shades. For example:
- Blue + purple + white = lavender blue
- Blue + red + yellow = brick blue
- Blue + green + white = baby blue
- Blue + violet + black = midnight blue
The more colors you mix together, the more muted and complex the resulting shades will be. Feel free to experiment to invent your own signature hue!
Shades of Blue Color Chart
Here is a chart summarizing some popular shades of blue and how to mix them:
| Shade | Mixes |
|---|---|
| Baby blue | Blue + white |
| Periwinkle | Blue + purple + white |
| Sky blue | Blue + lots of white |
| Navy blue | Blue + black |
| Denim blue | Blue + white + grey |
| Royal blue | Blue + tiny bit of black |
| Blue grey | Blue + grey |
| Teal | Blue + green |
| Turquoise | Blue + green + tiny yellow |
| Indigo | Blue + purple |
| Violet | Blue + red |
Uses for Different Blue Shades
Different shades of blue convey different moods and feelings. Here are some typical uses for various blue hues:
- Light blues – baby products, clouds, ice, water, sky
- Medium blues – jeans, corporate logos, social media icons
- Dark blues – law enforcement, authority, intelligence, stability
- Bright blues – energy, health, vibrancy, tropical water
- Dull blues – comfort, relaxation, masculinity, depression
- Warm blues – friendliness, openness, peacefulness, tranquility
- Cool blues – calmness, harmony, fatefulness, professionalism
- Purple blues – mystery, spirituality, sophistication, antiquity
Conclusion
Blue is incredibly versatile – with different mixes and shades conveying anything from cheerful skies to corporate power to artistic melancholy. By mixing blue with white, black, grey, purple, green, yellow and red, you can come up with every hue under the blue sun. Keep experimenting to invent signature shades for your next artistic or design project.
