This Cool Color is Heating Up Summer

Cobalt Blue

What is the hottest color for summer? Cobalt blue. You may have heard about the recent discovery of a new, brilliant blue hue. This new color blue that was discovered by Oregon State University scientist is now coming to market and its similarity to cobalt, yet with stronger and more durable properties, will have it fitting right in with summer. That’s right, blue is the color on everyone’s mind this summer. In fact, The New York Times has proclaimed, “Cobalt Blue Is Color Rushing Our Summer,” noting that in a world filled with turmoil, it’s important to embrace the buoyancy provided by life’s little color pops. 

Dunn-Edwards’ Vibrant Blues

You’ll even find a lively blue such as this cobalt called Kinetic Energy (DEFD49), from our Live In Joy color story, part of our Dunn-Edwards 2023 Color + Design Trends. In fact, the Live in Joy color story also echoes a similar sentiment toward energetic colors like cobalt blue as stated in The New York Times. Live in Joy reflects how the ups and downs of the past few years have resulted in a determined resilience - and making our spaces come alive with color is a playful display of optimism. Kinetic Energy blue is also a member of one of our newest paint color collections, the Dunn-Edwards Front Door Limited Edition Color Collection.

When Was Cobalt Blue Discovered?

Let’s take a brief look at the history of cobalt blue. Cobalt blue dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries where it gained prominence in China. It was used to color ceramics and jewelry. Later, in the early 1800s another version of cobalt was discovered in France and produced commercially where painters like Renoir and Van Gogh utilized it in their artworks.

More Top Blues For Summer

But to be clear, it isn’t only cobalt-esque blues that are trending for summer. Home and Gardens and Real Simple are calling out the prominence of light sky and baby blues this summer, as well. It is clear that the color blue, whether cobalt or breezy blues, are on trend and on everyone’s design to-do list this summer. In fact, you’ll see many light blues trending in the Coastal Grandma aesthetic—a perfect design scheme for summer that also accomplishes the kind of escapist aesthetic that have been so prominent throughout the pandemic period. For another sky blue paint color, look at our recent April Color of the Month, Mountain Bluebird (DET573), which might provide the summer design inspiration you’re looking for.

Dunn-Edwards’ Sky and Light Blues

Did The Color Blue Always Exist?

Scientists and historians alike have suggested that the color blue may have been a later discovery. For example, the ancient Greeks may not have even had a word for the color blue (Homer never mentions it in “The Odyssey” and rather uses a term such as “wine-dark” to describe the color of the sea). Despite not having a term for the color blue in ancient Greece the color is, today, widely associated with Greek architecture and culture. So for even more summer color palettes that embrace blue, check out these color schemes inspired by Greece.