What colour is seagrass?

Is it blue or is it green?

Seagrass is a very popular colour at the moment and we’re not surprised. A gentle mix of greyish blue and green, it is calming during these anxiety-ridden times; even its name recalls whooshing waves and relaxing walks on the beach. To answer the question above, however, we have to admit that technically, seagrass is from the blue colour family but we’re refusing to come down on one side or the other! The beauty of this enchanting colour is that it suits so many palettes and that’s because it’s such a gorgeous melange of blue and green, natural colours from the environment.

What’s the history of the colour seagrass?

While very fashionable as a colour in 2021, there is no mention of seagrass at all until 1578, although the plant itself has been around for over 100 million years. Those stone-age interior designers seemed to have missed a trick when picking colour schemes for their caves! Seagrass itself is found all over the world and is one of only three flowering plants to be found in marine environments. It’s not a true grass but is so-called because of its long leaves, which resemble grass found on land and it’s extremely important for the maintenance of marine habitats. There are a lot of reasons to like seagrass.

While seagrass may not have been referenced in print until the sixteenth century, a very similar hue was found on Chinese pottery from about two thousand years ago. This colour was named celadon and you can see a lovely example of a celadon vase below. Vases such as these were produced by applying a wash of diluted iron-rich clay. Being a natural, variable product, the colour produced by this clay gave rise to a range of slightly different colours, some more blue, some more green hence the similarity to seagrass. When referenced today, celadon is considered a green colour whereas seagrass slips around between blue and green, giving it a versatility we love!

What colours go well with seagrass?

Well, as we’ve seen above, seagrass is a chameleon in the world of colour! Because of its blue, green and grey credentials, it works with different shades of these self-same colours. It also marries well with creams, and whites for a fresh, natural look but we love it too as a fabulous foil to more dramatic colours. Have a look below at our seagrass ottoman; it’s a wonderful contrast to the dark green on the walls, adding a little oasis of peace in this lively room. Of course, because it’s drawn directly from nature, seagrass is also wonderful outdoors and is often seen on garden fencing as it complements planting so perfectly.

We’re not following every fad here at Twisted Loom but we’re definitely behind the seagrass movement! Have a look at our very own seagrass options here>>