Icy Blue: the new paint color rage.

Ok I have to admit it. It was Pinterest that told me Icy Blue has become a new thing. Apparently it’s a millennial and Gen-Z color-love. With the emphasis in the past few years on warm colors like burgundy, maroon, oxblood, terra-cotta and brown it’s hard to imagine where this came from. Has design gotten too toasty for the wee ones? Or is this a case of simple associations? Blue being a cool color so icy blue being a “cool” cool color? Know what I mean?

Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s gorgeous. It’s a cool color which adds freshness to any room.
As a light color it will keep your room light. It mixes with so many other colors well.

What makes an Icy Blue?

These blues tend to not skew green, as some blues can, neither towards purple, like a periwinkle. They tend to center on more of a “true” blue. But they are light to mid-tone-light. They might be a tad grayed down, but still pale. Now ice is a reflective surface so it’s a little bit of a stretch to be able to get an icy feeling from a surface that’s coated with paint (that isn’t glossy). It takes a bit of imagination. Still the lightness of the blue is the key. It’s a fine line between “little boy” bedroom blue (for those who still go by the tropes of yore) and icy blue.

Does it work for most interior design styles?

You can use this wonderful icy blue paint for most interior decorating styles. But I wouldn’t use it in a mountain lodge rustic space nor a southwest adobe – pueblo style house. I wouldn’t use it in a prairie style house nor a craftsman…. if you wanted your wall colors to align with your architectural style, that is.

Painting your walls Icy Blue in a room with antiques.

I find the juxtaposition of icy blue walls with antiques wonderful. The color looks great with a flash of gold in fact. While glossy walls are not ergonomically healthy to live in, the glare from the glossiness creates reflections which can cause eye strain then headaches, that does help push the “icy” theme.

Is it just for walls?

Remodelista

No. Try ice blue on your kitchen cabinets, on your backsplash, or even your fireplace surround for a playful, unorthodox look.

Some great Icy Blue paint colors.

Here are a few winning icy blue paint colors.
Benjamin Moore  icy blue paint colors                      
Sheer Bliss                                        
Morning Sky Blue                        
Ice Mist                                                 

Farrow & Ball icy blue paint colors
Skylight 
Parma Gray
Sizing 

Sherwin-Williams icy blue paint colors
Dew Drop
Hinting Blue
Lullaby

Trends do come and go but there’s nothing short-lived about the appeal of icy blue. If you paint your walls this color it will never go out of style.