Blue, By State: Most Popular Shades (+ Decor Tips)

No matter its shade, blue packs a wealth of style potential. Whether you want to use blue to calm or invigorate, get inspired by these looks and see why the color blue is one of the most popular of choices for interior design.

1. Stately Blues

Here is each state’s favorite shade of blue – according to Google trends. See if your state shares your opinion – and which states tend to agree!

Teal

Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Navy Blue

Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Delaware

Aqua

Arizona, Florida, North Dakota, Connecticut, Vermont, Indiana, New Jersey, Hawai’i, Tennessee

Turquoise

Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Baby Blue

Alaska, California, Louisiana, Michigan

The Google Trends data report used for the map* showed that teal was by far the most popular shade of blue in the U.S., representing 70% of search interest in the past year alone. Aqua was the first runner up, followed closely by Baby Blue. Above, you can see a visual representation of the data by state.

*Data taken from Google Trends on September 05, 2019

The data above interestingly shows that as a general trend, colder states gravitate toward darker blues and warmer states lighter blues. In particular, teal, which is simply blue warmed up with green, comprises a majority of the Midwest and its snow-prone terrain.

The way we see it, this just proves the idea that not only color but color temperature can have a powerful effect on a room’s environment – cooling down or heating up as needed.

Singin’ the Blues: The Ultimate Guide to Popular Shades

Color	Color Meaning
Teal	Similar to – but darker than – turquoise, teal is a mixture of blue and green. It is used to simultaneously warm up and cool down, and is often associated with the vibrant colors of summer.
Turquoise	Like teal, turquoise is a mixture of blue and green. In design, turquoise is used for its light, chirpy properties and often connotes feelings of refreshment.
Navy	Dark, classic and grounding, navy is often associated with the U.S. Navy, and for good reason: both epitomize strength, discipline and are used in their respective spaces to guard and protect – emitting feelings of safety and calm.
Baby	If you’ve ever been to a baby boy’s baby shower, you probably saw this shade everywhere. Soft, fun and sweet, baby blue is nothing if not a celebration of joy.
Aqua	Imagine, for a moment, a lush green meadow around a blue lake on a spring day. Now, focus in on the way the light bounces off the water; see the sparkling droplets, reflecting blue sky and green meadow? That, precisely, is aqua.
Cobalt	Named after the eponymous compound (an alloy chemical found in the Earth’s natural iron which bears a dark, silvery undertone), cobalt is a rich, powerful shade of blue – brighter and bolder than its silvery counterpart.
Sapphire	The bluest of blue gemstones – and only slightly darker than cobalt –, sapphire is rare in nature – but when it’s seen, it dazzles and inspires.
Indigo	Often considered the halfway point between blue and purple, indigo brings out the best of both colors. In the home, it brings complete balance – invoking the calming, cooling properties of blue and charming, regal properties of purple.
Azure	Gearing towards the lighter end of the blue color spectrum, azure is nonetheless bright and powerful. Think of a summer sky on a gorgeous day, throw in some of that playful vacation ambiance – and you’ve got a good grasp on azure and the dazzling effect it can bestow!

2. Dark Blue in Interior Design

Let’s get one thing straight: we love blue. In decor, in food (we’re looking at you, blueberries), in nature and in fashion, its energy makes us want to sing our hearts out with songs of life and love every time we come across it. (Okay, maybe that’s exaggerating a little bit…but you get the point.)

We’re especially loving dark blue.

In the home, dark blue can calm, focalize and add depth. Dark blues commonly used in interior design include navy blue, denim blue and royal blue. When decorating with dark blues high in saturation, stay away from darker accents, like black or charcoal. Compared to lighter colors, dark blue brings more depth, and can be styled on its own to define a space with a ‘pop of color’ – without any help from other hues.

Color Meaning: All Shades of Blue

Whether it is light, dark or true blue, the color blue is universally associated with nature. Perhaps this is because blue is the color we see in lakes, springs, rivers or other fresh water sources – reflected from the sky above – on bright, sunny days.

Or, perhaps this is thanks to a more ironic of reasons. Other than the sky and water, blue is almost never seen in the natural world – but when it is, in the form of a rare butterfly or flower, it brings an unforgettable aesthetic almost mystical in its beauty.

When used together in the home, the different shades of blue sing, creating melodious harmonies of texture and style.

Our current blue obsession? Jade. A powerful hue which, in the Allie sofa, brings mid-century modern details to life. Vintage never felt so fresh.

3. Light Blue in Interior Design

Light blue, such as shades of turquoise, teal, sky blue and robin’s egg, can refresh and invigorate any space. Light blue with warmer undertones (such as turquoise and teal) will make a beachy, tropical splash, while light blue with cooler undertones (such as sky blue and robin’s egg) add a softer, breezier elegance.