Slate Blue Color Palette – Various Shades of Slate Blue

Blue is a color that most people love or at least like, and the slate blue color should be on your list to consider for your next design project. As a classic paint color, it can look amazing as a color scheme choice for the home.

What Is Slate Blue?

The slate blue color can generally be described as gray-blue. What colors make slate blue? You can say the slate blue color is a combination of a muted blue and light gray, or it can be considered a lighter shade of periwinkle. Some would also define it as being a shade of gray, with blue undertones, which makes it a cool color to work with, while others might see it as a blue-gray. Below, you will see the web version of slate blue in the number one slot, while the second slate gray is closer to what the color looks like slate stone.

Slate Blue: A Brief History

The word “slate” comes from the stone or rock that is often used in construction and comes in a variety of colors. Another name for the color is “livid”. If you are livid, this means you are furious. The word comes from Latin and means “bluish-gray”. This is the perfect definition for the color, for example, a livid bruise.

Slate blue has some deep connections with a place known as Slate Valley in the United States. The area is located near the borders of Vermont and New York and contains a high mineral composition, which provides a variety of slate colors from blue to red, green, and more.

Slate was popular as roofing shingles during the 1800s. However, during this time, excess to slate roofing was more localized, and it only became more popular nationally in the mid-19^th century. During this time, the most popular style was the Gothic Revival houses, which often displayed darker slate or a combination of darker and lighter slate tiles.

Today, manufacturers have created a polymer slate, that looks exactly like stone slate, but it is more durable and less expensive. Besides the slate tiles, today you can also get a variety of slate paint shades that can be used for both exterior and interior designs.

Meaning of Slate Blue

Slate blue is a tranquil color that is calming, but too much of it and it can become a bit moody. Blue is also associated with stability, loyalty, intelligence, imagination, freedom, and inspiration, and reminds you of open spaces and the ocean. The gray color adds balance and is also calming and soothing. However, it can become dull.

Shades of Slate Blue

Slate blue can come in a variety of shades, tints, and tones. The shades of slate blue can range from darker versions to light blue-gray. When working with a single color, but a variety of shades, and you use these in a design, this is often referred to as a monochromatic color combination.

What Colors Go With Slate Blue?

Blue and gray as separate colors are both flexible to work with and can go with many different hues. So, the combination of the slate blue color does the same, and pairs well with neutral colors like white, classic gray, and cream, amongst others.

We have already mentioned the monochromatic color combination, but other combinations also work well. When reading up on color theory and taking a look at a color wheel, you can determine what colors go with slate blue. To make it easier, many online tools and programs provide this information for you. However, below are some examples of color combinations for the slate blue color.

Complementary Colors for Slate Blue

Lying on opposite sides when looking at the color wheel, complementary colors are what you are looking for if you want great contrast. When paired, these colors stand out and grab attention. The complementary color for blue is orange, so for this particular slate blue, you have a dark, washed-out orange.

Analogous Colors for Slate Blue

If you are looking for a more harmonious pairing, then an analogous color combination is something to consider. These colors are all neighbors on the color wheel. When looking at these colors side-by-side, there is no jarring contrast, and they are pleasant to look at.

Triadic Colors for Slate Blue

This color combination includes three colors that on the color wheel, form an equal-sided triangle. These colors are similar to the complementary color combination in that they form a contrast. Using these colors can help to create a vibrant and uplifting design that is still pleasing to look at. When applying this color combination, make sure to choose the main color, and use the others as accents or more sparingly. This will create a better-balanced look, instead of overwhelming the viewer.

Four or More Color Combinations 

Working with four or more colors is a little more challenging, but the principle of choosing the main color and using the others as accents stays the same. These colors can be seen as an equal-sided square or as a rectangle or tetradic color combination. This last-mentioned color combination can be seen below in the table provided.

How to Mix Slate Blue Paint

As we have established, slate blue is a gray-blue, so when mixing the color, you can experiment with various shades of blue. Create a slate blue color chart, where you can test out the color samples. The slate blue color chart can also be helpful for future projects.

Try to go for a pale blue, for example, Columbia blue as your base to begin with. Add a small amount onto your mixing surface. You can then add in tiny amounts of gray paint, you might need to experiment with proportions to get the particular hue you are looking for.

You might need to add more of the blue paint, or you can add a little white to lighten and brighten it. If you wish to darken the color more, try adding navy blue, as black paint can be a bit too much. Paint can sometimes darken when it dries, so before you decide on a blend, allow it to dry properly first.

A completely different variant to mix slate blue is the following:

To create the web version of slate blue, proceed as follows:

Interior Designing With Slate Blue

Slate blue color palettes are relatively easy to work with when applying them to interior designs. You can use slate blue on the walls or as an accent color, it can work both ways, depending on what you wish to achieve. There are also many different shades of slate, so you do not have to stick to a single hue. You can use the cooler slate blue color together with richer and warmer hues, which can help to provide more of a vibrant atmosphere.

Slate Blue in the Living Room

Blue is one of the top well-liked colors, and it can be used in any room of the house. A living area is a great place for the slate blue color, as it produces a calming and welcoming atmosphere.  The color is also cool and relaxing, perfect for coming home after a hard day’s work.

 You can choose a specific shade of slate blue to work with, something darker or maybe something more subtle. Combining slate blue with white and other neutral colors is a classic choice, and you can add pops of green or orange color for added effect. You can paint all the walls, or simply choose an accent wall for a darker shade of slate blue. You can also bring the slate blue color in as an accent color, for example, slate blue sofas, chairs, rugs, and curtains. The color also goes wonderfully with natural wood elements.

Slate Blue Kitchens

Create a statement with slate blue in the kitchen, by adding it as an accent color and focal point with things like a kitchen island, slate blue cabinets, and backsplashes. Choose a lighter shade of slate blue on the walls to brighten up the kitchen area. Darker slate blue colors can be paired with white to create a calming and clean feel to the space. To add a little bit of luxury appeal, consider adding brass accents with the slate blue color palette in the kitchen.

Slate Blue Bedrooms

Slate blue is a relaxing and comforting color, which makes it an ideal color for the bedroom. This is a perfect color for any bedroom or nursery. You can play around with lighter shades of slate blue, or if you want a more luxurious look, you can opt for a darker aesthetic.

Slate Blue Bathrooms

The bathroom is another space where the slate blue can create a relaxing and tranquil space. Combining slate blue with white or even black can create a more elegant appearance. You can also create a slate blue color palette that leans towards a feminine or masculine feel, which can depend on the décor you use.

Slate Blue Office Spaces

Slate blue is cool and calming, but it also helps to promote intelligence and inspiration. This makes it an ideal color for an office space or workstation. You can also add pops of color such as orange or red, or keep it balanced by using a neutral color scheme.

Slate Blue Exteriors

Slate blue is also a popular color for exteriors and can look good on modern-style homes as well as more traditional-style homes. If you do not want to go for a whole slate blue look on the exterior, you can opt for the front. A slate blue door can act as a focal point and it is a welcoming color, so is ideal for this purpose.

Blue-Gray Paint Colors

Different lighting in a room can affect the paint colors you choose. So, we recommend you test out various paint colors before you commit to purchasing and painting. You can first see what the paint colors do in different lighting, helping you make the best choice. There are two well-known paint manufacturers that most people have heard of Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. Below are a few web color approximation examples of their blue-gray paint colors, which many designers will recommend.

Conclusion

All the shades of slate blue you can get are great choices for interior design. The slate color is easy to pair with most other hues and will provide you with a peaceful and relaxing environment. Not only is it easy to work with, but the color can also be used in any room of the house, and even outside. A definite color choice for your next design project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Slate Blue?

Slate blue can be described as being a desaturated dark blue, a blue-gray color, or a grayish blue. What colors make slate blue? The actual slate stone is more of a dark shade of gray with a blue undertone, while many of the web color versions are blue with grayish undertones.

What Colors Go With Slate Blue?

Slate blue can work with most colors. However, some of the best colors include neutral colors like white as well as, gray, cream, and even black. To add a bit of color, slate blue also goes with orange, red, and green.

Is Slate Blue a Cool Color?

Yes, slate blue falls under the category of cool colors along with green and purple, and has a muted or desaturated appearance. You might want to add some warmer and more exciting colors to your slate blue color palette.

Charlene Lewis( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )

In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.

Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.

Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.

Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.