With so many varied associations, it can be tricky to decide on the perfect shade of blue to use in your work. Colors have a strong psychological and emotional component, so our best suggestion is to spend some time looking at different shades. You will very quickly be able to feel the color, and you can then decide whether this is the feeling you want to evoke in your designs. As a general rule of thumb, lighter and brighter blue shades tend to be more relaxing and joyful, while darker and moodier blues can evoke sadness.