The story of Majorelle blue – Reed Family Linen

Lifestyle

The story of Majorelle blue

The striking hue of ‘Majorelle blue’ is one of our most vibrant and beloved linen shades – and its Moroccan origins are just as captivating as its colour.

As you meander through the labyrinthine alleyways of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, the thread connecting each of the garden’s enchanting spaces is an intense, fresh blue paint colour, quite unlike any other. Adorning walls, water fountains and walkways, pools and plant pots, this radiant and unique blue hue is known as ‘Majorelle Blue’, a fitting homage to the artist who created it, and these gardens, Jacques Majorelle.

These magnificent Moroccan gardens were first conceived by Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s, and its boldly-coloured buildings blend Art Deco and Moorish influences, which feel as fresh today as 100 years ago. As the REED collections show, the gardens continue to inspire designers across the world, and Majorelle blue can be found throughout the brand’s bed linen and table linen designs.

“For many years, the Jardin Majorelle has provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and I have often dreamt of its unique colours.”

Yves Saint Laurent

“Majorelle blue is such an invigorating and joyful colour, says Karen Reed, “and although it is certainly on the bolder and braver side, you shouldn’t be afraid to drench rooms in it, as it works extremely well alongside other colours, particularly white and neutrals, is fabulous accessorised with brights such as pink and yellow – as shown in the Moroccan gardens – and with rustic and natural materials for a relaxed coastal look.”

This summer, REED has added another Majorelle blue linen style to its collections with the arrival of Skye, a table runner and napkin design with crisp blue and white waves offering a clean and contemporary look that can be dressed up or down.

“Summer is the perfect time to play with blue bed linen and table linen,” adds Karen. “A striking shade such as Majorelle blue really brings the feeling of the outdoors in, and looks radiant in bright summer sunlight.”

“When used in the bedroom, Majorelle blue creates an uplifting and calming ambience, and pairs beautifully with REED’s classic white bed linen collections,” notes Karen. “Our colourful bed linen collections are all about inspiring you to experiment with unexpected palettes in the bedroom – there is far too much joy to be found in colour to simply stick with white.”

Dress your Skye table with brightly-coloured handmade tableware for a fun and casual summer look, or with decorative fine china for a more polished and formal feel. Either way, the Skye blue table linen design is very much at home in the garden or ding room, for a spontaneous lunch outdoors or elegant dinner.

Jacques Majorelle would surely agree and as Yves Saint Laurent – who made Marrakesh his home and purchased the Jardin Majorelle in the 1980s – was fond of saying, “Morocco taught me colour.”