Discover The Story Behind The Oldest Colour Trend In The World For November 2019

Colour Stories

Discover the story behind the oldest colour trend in the world!

Did you know that the colour yellow is the oldest colour in art history? Read on to know all about it.

If you observe, yellow is seen in the oldest painting of Egypt and Ancient Rome. Egyptians were quite fascinated by the colour and used it extensively. Thanks to its association with the colour gold, it was considered indestructible, eternal and powerful.

The colour was made using natural ochre mineral. In fact, it can be found as far back as the prehistoric times in cave paintings. The yellow sun has been worshipped by many religions with numerous sun gods wearing yellow as representations of it. Owing to its associations with sunlight, yellow is often seen as a warm colour, representing optimism and happiness. It is a colour that has an old connection with the world of art, with famous painters like Vincent Van Gogh using it as a signature colour, symbolising happiness.

Interestingly, an artificial substitute for yellow ochre was found in the 1920s, and it is still used till date. Yellow is a colour that runs common in many different communities. In India, there is also a custom behind the colour yellow. Turmeric, a yellow antiseptic paste was applied at the entrance of Indian houses on or near the front door as a ‘cleansing’ ritual.

With time, it turned into a design feature with people using yellow paint. Its ability to absorb heat less added to its charm and encouraged further use of this colour. It became a favourite with those living in a hot and humid climate. If you take a walk on the streets of Panjim in Goa, you are bound to come across beautifully-restored buildings in this lovely hue, displaying the rich heritage of Portugal.

It is the colour of traffic lights and signs that indicates caution all over the world. In Japan, it is often used to represent courage. Bright marigold yellow is associated with death in some parts of Mexico. Back in the day, those condemned to die during the Inquisition wore yellow as a sign of treason. Jews during the Middle Ages were labelled with a yellow patch. During the Nazi era of prosecution, the European Jews were forced to wear yellow or yellow “Stars of David."

To conclude, no matter where in the world you go, you are sure to see the colour yellow being used. It is a popular wall paint colour for house.

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For November 2019

1. The ocean gets its blue colour because of the way it absorbs sunlight. Long wavelength light like red, orange and yellow is absorbed more strongly by the water than blue, which is a short wavelength light. So, when the white light from the sun enters the ocean, the colour blue is what gets returned. This is the same reason why the sky appears to be blue. This effect, however, works only in water that is very pure. The ocean may also take on other colours like red, green or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water.
2. Yellow is said to be the most common colour for highlighters. One of the reasons for this is because yellow doesn't leave a shadow on the page when photocopied. Our eyes are likely to be most sensitive to the colour yellow, so they are easier colours for us to notice, even when we aren't paying attention. Even if your favourite colour is red, blue or green, you are more likely to notice yellow first in the presence of these colours. In fact, even people with red-green colour blindness can see yellow, making it a popular colour choice for highlighters.
3. Soap bubbles, interestingly, can change colour when viewed from different angles. This is because when light falls on a soap bubble, part of it gets reflected from the other side of the bubble. And since the film of the bubble is so thin, the reflected light tends to get out of sync with each other. White light is made up of seven colours, with each colour corresponding to a particular wavelength. So when the light waves get reflected, some wavelengths get a boost whilst some disappear. This gives rise to the colour of the bubble on the oil film on water. This phenomenon is also called Iridescence.

Colour Quotes For November 2019

• I did not know how to paint or even what to paint,
  but I knew I had to begin.

  - Margaret Atwood

• Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

  - Pablo Picasso

• Without black no colour has any depth.

  - Amy Grant

Colour Tips For November 2019

1. Incorporating different patterns and textures in your home décor can be tricky. But by following the basic rules of design, you can nail the look like a pro. Choose your colours wisely, sticking to a colour palette with a few contrasting hues to serve as accent pieces. Mix up your patterns but don’t go overboard and complement it with neutral pieces for a perfect balance. When adding pattern to your home décor, try to keep it fun, but not overwhelming. Too much pattern play can be distracting. You can also experiment with texture wall paint on your home walls for an interesting look.
2. Bookshelves can be a great addition to your home décor style. However, unless you have a collection of curated coffee table books, filling your bookshelf and making it visually appealing can be difficult. You can use simple tricks to style a bookshelf and inject a bit of style and pizzazz- just paint the bookshelf in an accent colour or add wallpaper on the back of the bookshelf. You can use interesting wallpaper prints- be it floral, Aztec, nature-inspired and style it up with some brass or metal décor pieces. This is a great way for renters to add wallpaper for their home décor, without painting or changing the walls.
3. Decorative mirrors help bring light and depth into a room since they reflect light, making a space look bigger and open up a room. For living room interior design ideas, mirrors are a great addition. They can become a focal point and show-stopping centrepieces in the room. They are also easy to install and move around, so if you want to change the décor in a room, you can simply use them in other spaces around the house. Don’t limit mirrors for the dressing room; you can install decorative mirrors in even bedrooms and dining areas to make the space feel brighter and larger.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For November 2019

1. There is a higher probability of those wearing red winning in competitive sports. People perceive those wearing red as aggressive and dominant. There is science behind this with experimental evidence that red stimuli is perceived as dominating and causing negative effects on those viewing them. Scientists at the University of Durham published a research in 2005 that showed that athletes who wore red were more likely to defeat their opponents.

   According to a study conducted at the University of Munster by German sports psychologists, if one of the competitors is strong and the other weak, it won't change the outcome of the fight. However, closer the levels, the easier it is for the colour red to tip the scale in the favour of the team wearing red.

2. Although different colours can be perceived in different ways, did you know that the descriptive names of those colours also matter? According to a study titled “A rose by any other name…,” when subjects were asked to assess products with different colour names such as cosmetics, fancy names were preferred over simpler names. For instance, “mocha” was found to be more likeable than “brown,” despite the fact that the subjects were shown the same colour. Amusing, isn’t it?

Colours & Fashion For November 2019

When we break the word “kimono” into two, we are left with ki, which means “wear,” and mono, which means “thing.” A kimono, then, is a “thing to wear.” The silken, long-sleeved robes are admired all over the world for their beautiful prints and vibrant colour shades – striking fuchsia pinks, deep blues and flashy geranium reds. Interestingly, the shape and colour of a Kimono reveals certain hints about its wearer. A Japanese woman clothed in red robe would be better understood as communicating a message of prosperity. Interesting how a colour can be symbolic, isn’t it?

Colours & Gems For November 2019

1. Cordierite
   Take a look at this gemstone. It is called the Cordierite. It was discovered in 1813, in specimens from Níjar, the province of Almería in Spain. It gets its name from the French geologist, Louis Cordier. Cordierite is a strongly pleochroic mineral, meaning it appears in different colours according to the direction of view. Its colour will be noticeably different when viewed at different angles. It is one of the few minerals that exhibit such strong pleochroism, and is the most popular mineral displaying this optical property. When a transparent Cordierite specimen is viewed through an angle, it appears violet-blue to blue, and when shifted, looks grey or yellowish.
2. Chrysocolla
   Wondering which gemstone this is? It is known as Chrysocolla. It is first and foremost a Stone of Communication. It is also known as the stone of Goddess. It is devoted to teaching, expression and empowerment. The serenity of its turquoise-blue colour discharges negative energies and allows truth to surface and be heard. A peaceful stone, it encourages compassion and strengthening of character as well. Chrysocolla is a copper stone, appearing in shades of colours, right from deep blue to light green, and is usually found in association with Malachite and Azurite. It is considered the stone of prosperity and helps stimulate the mind and relax emotions at the same time.

Colours & Nature For November 2019

1. Painted Lichen Moth
   What you are looking at is a moth known as the Painted Lichen Moth. The first thing you notice when your eyes fall upon the moth is its wing pattern and colours. The wing is striking with an interesting colour combination of grey and yellow. There are some additional pops of colour, ranging from pink to red.

   According to the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin, the moth can do “faecal flicking,” which means it can fire its poop up to 30 body lengths away from itself. Now, isn’t that amusing? Researchers also think that this skill helps the moth avoid predatory parasites and wasps that rely on tracking down their prey by the scent of faeces.

2. Curl-crested Aracari
   This is the Curl-crested Aracari, a bird with head feathers that resemble shiny black pieces of plastic. In fact, the bird gets its name from its curled, glossy feathers. It has red back, yellow underparts with a single red breast. The bird has a long tail and an ornately-patterned huge maroon-coloured bill. The bare skin around its eyes is light blue. It moves in small groups, foraging in fruiting trees. It nests in trees with appropriate hollows, most of which are previously made by woodpeckers.

Decor

Effective Solutions To Solve Waterproofing Hassles In Your Home

Don’t let water damage take away the beauty of your home walls.

We all want our surroundings to look and feel good. We end up spending so much time and money in ensuring our home décor is the best it can be. We browse endless hours on Pinterest looking for home inspiration. We spend thousands on creating a space that we can truly call ours. And after completing your dream home, experiencing leaks and cracks on your home walls can truly set you back. Moreover, it can potentially ruin your home décor elements. Though repainting might help in hiding the wall dampness and leaks, it is not a long term solution. It is important to fix the walls by waterproofing them with effective solutions.

Berger Home Shield Waterproofing experts use moisture meter to investigate all rooms of the house and locate the areas that need waterproofing- including interior and exterior walls and roof waterproofing and treatments. Since the extent of water damage can differ even on one same wall- they require tailored and customised solutions.

Managing mild wall leaks and dampness

The home walls can be affected by mild dampness for different reasons, including weak construction and heavy rainfall. If you are experiencing this problem in your home, do not worry. It can be easily dealt with proper waterproofing. If the moisture meter reading shows 0-5, it means your walls require only a regular treatment. Use surface preparation and painting process. If the moisture meter reading shows 6-10, your walls have a mild dampness problem which can easily be fixed by our waterproofing experts using Waterproof putty and Seal-O-Prime.

Fixing severe wall leaks and dampness

Severe wall leaks can be caused by rainwater draining down inside the walls, over a period of time or from a cracked and leaky foundation. If ignored, they can cause structural damage to the walls of your home and lead to serious mould and mildew damage. Since each wall leakage problem is different, there is no one size fits all solution. And fixing the leakage and dampness requires tailored waterproofing solutions. If the moisture meter reading shows 26-30, your walls have a severe dampness problem and it is recommended to use Dampstop, Waterproof putty and Seal-O-Prime. If the moisture meter reading shows more than 30, your walls require urgent waterproofing. Your walls will need the most effective, robust and strong waterproofing and it is recommended to use Injection Sealer, Dampstop, Waterproofing Putty and Seal-O-Prime.

Paint Colours That Can Boost Your Homes Value

Follow these tips that will help you sell your home faster and for more money.

If you are planning to put your home on the market or looking for new tenants, one of the simplest and easiest ways to increase the value of the home is to give the walls a coat of fresh paint- both interiors and exteriors.

Selling your home can be stressful. Follow these tips that will help you sell your home faster and for more money.

Stick to neutral colours for interior wall painting

For painting ideas for interior walls, neutral colours are a safe choice since it goes well with pretty much any type of home décor. This makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house, blending it with their unique style, décor and furniture pieces. Moreover, you would want to create a good first impression for the buyers, no one wants their future home to look worn out and in a poor condition.

Fix all leakages and waterproof the house

Peeling walls, leaky roofs, mossy and musty exteriors- this spells disaster and it is a big red flag for any home buyer. Leakages and flaky walls can drastically reduce the price of your home and it is important to fix it before putting it up on the market. Berger Home Shield Waterproofing experts effectively tackle all wall and roof leakage woes. They use tools like Moisture Meter to determine if waterproofing is required on home walls and offer customised and effective solutions to combat wall leakages.

Choose no more than three colours for exteriors

The exterior of the house is the first thing that potential buyers will see. To create a good first impression, it is important to make sure the exteriors of the house look good and durable. If you are thinking of giving exterior walls a fresh coat of paint, follow the 60-30-10 percentage rule: 60 percent is the main body of the home, 30 percent is the doors, windows and balconies and 10 percent is the front door and shutters. Do not use too many colours on the exteriors since a variety of shades can be distracting.

Know which rooms to prioritise for painting

If you are planning to paint the entire home before putting it on the market, you need to plan the home painting in a manner that it is less stressful. Prioritise painting the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and foyer. Observe how natural and artificial light plays on the colour of your choice and the walls of the home to help you decide the best paint colours.

Want to find out how to prioritise rooms for painting?

Different Colour Schemes For Painting Rooms

How to create monochromatic, complementary and neutral colour schemes.

Choosing the perfect colour for your home walls can be tricky. And to get it to match your existing décor elements can be overwhelming. Colour combinations can make or break a space. So, choosing the right colour combinations is important to boost the aesthetic appearance of the room.

Let’s look at three major types of colour schemes for room colour combination ideas:

How to create a monochromatic colour scheme

Monochromatic colour schemes are elegant and relaxing in nature and a popular trend in interior design, for a good reason. Layering colours with a common hue creates a stunning look and it is also relatively easy to achieve. To create a monochromatic scheme, you need to start with choosing one base primary hue to use throughout the room, from the floor to the furniture, wall paint colour and artwork. You are not limited to whites, beige and neutrals with a monochromatic palette, contrary to popular idea. Bolder colours such as greens, blues, yellows and violets can be layered in a space using shades of the same hue.

How to create a neutral colour scheme

Neutral colour scheme might seem boring and drab but by using variations of neutral tone (light, medium and dark), you can create a space that is visually transfixing. Using textures can also add contrast and style to a neutral colour scheme. To start with, choose a neutral hue for the walls as a primary colour. Think whites, greys, beiges and even black. Next, pick two other shades similar to your primary colour. Decide which colour will go on the walls depending on the mood you wish to create. Bright décor with neutral walls will look calming and yet cheerful. Soft colours with neutral walls can be comforting and homely.

How to create a complementary colour scheme

Using complementary colour pairings is a sure-fire way to inject some style and boldness in any space. Think red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow. To choose a complementary colour scheme, pick two colours that are opposite from each other on the colour wheel. The colour wheel was first used by Sir Isaac Newton, using his prism experiment where he found out that there was a wide spectrum of colours in pure white light and they reflect different colours. Since then, the spectrum has been used widely as a colour wheel for the categorisation of colours and décor. For a complementary colour scheme, the base colour should be the dominant and primary one whereas the complementary colour can be used in form of an accent.

Berger Paints brings colour combination inspiration on Colour Catalogue. 

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For November 2019

Did you know that using principles of Feng Shui, you could create a nurturing and supportive room for your baby? Read on to know a few things to focus on to make your little one’s room a Feng Shui compliant one.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Baby’s Room

Colours

Create a harmony of soft Feng Shui colours in the room. Go beyond the usual pink and blue and pick colours that you really like that will comfort your tiny tot as well. You could opt for colours like green and blue or white and beige. Don’t go for overly bright colours that are more suited towards playrooms. Also, try to avoid contrasting shades like black and white.

Images that depict nature are suitable for a baby's room. Berger Paints India has an interesting range of wall stencils that you can choose from.

Lighting

Lighting is key when it comes to living spaces, be it any room. It is no different for your baby’s room. Create an ambience that has a balanced Feng Shui energy with several sources of light in the room. It is a good idea to hang natural-fabric curtains to filter out the harsh direct sunlight while also letting in the glow. You can install dreamy fairy lights in the room for a magical touch.

Crib Placement

It is wise to keep your baby's crib away from the door and minimise the electromagnetic field levels by limiting the number of electrical appliances near the crib. It is advised that you place the crib against a solid wall so that the bed’s length is perpendicular to the wall. Do not place the crib in the middle of the room with no support.

Natural Materials

Use as many natural materials as possible for the baby’s room. Choose wood over plastic. Other good choices for natural materials include linen, cotton, silk and bamboo.

When it comes to a good Feng Shui room, it is also equally important to be guided by your senses. Think of the room as a special retreat for relaxation and bonding with your little one, delighting all your five senses. Hope you find this home interior décor ideas helpful to set up your little one’s room.

Reiki For November 2019

Suffering from chronic pain? Read on to know how you can manage the pain with the help of Reiki.

Reiki and Chronic Pain

According to the International Association of Reiki Professionals, “chronic pain” is defined as pain that lasts longer than three to six months. It can stem from physical as well as mental disturbances. Individuals suffering from chronic pain are prescribed pain medications to provide temporary relief from the pain. However, this rarely alleviates the source, and can often interact with other daily prescriptions. This is where Reiki can step in.

Reiki is a form of energy that is believed to improve the free flow of life-force energy. Although there is limited scientific research examining the advantages of Reiki, many people say that Reiki has helped them manage chronic pain, right from arthritis to migraine. It is also believed to reduce anxiety and depression.

According to a study published in "The International Journal of Behavioral Medicine”, it has been found that Reiki demonstrates “strong evidence” for relieving pain among those suffering from chronic pain.

In general, after receiving Reiki, the study participants have reported activation of their energy, stating that it caused relief from their pain, while promoting body relaxation and decreasing anxiety. In conclusion, after five sessions of Reiki, a marked improvement in complaints of chronic pain was perceived through the reports of the subjects. It also contributed to a balance in the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs of the individuals.

How does one perform Reiki at the home? Reiki is performed with the patient seated or lying down, and begins with the healer gradually scanning his or her body, head to toe.

The life force energy flows to the area most in need of healing. The Reiki practitioner then applies light pressure to those zones that need therapeutic treatment, one by one—often the head, torso, knees, feet and back—to expedite the recovery of the individual.

Hope you found this article helpful. If you or someone you know is suffering from chronic pain, you can approach a Reiki practitioner to help with recovery.

Vaastu For November 2019

Believe it or not, Vaastu Shastra can help to bring some positive changes to your living space. We have a couple of easy ideas to energise your home using Vaastu.

Create a Vaastu-compliant home!

Furniture

When picking furniture, pick rectangular pieces instead of circular ones. A modular sofa unit works quite well too. For your coffee tables and side tables, pick rectangular or square shapes. You can opt for recliners as well as they promote relaxation.

Curtains

Hang sheer curtains if your living room windows face north or east from where the sunlight comes in. Use heavy drapes for windows in the south or west. You can also have a single type of curtain or use a combination of light and thick curtains.

Plants

It is recommended that you keep the north-east corner of your living room clean as it is believed to attract good fortune. Adorn the area with plants but ensure that they are maintained and nurtured well.

Chandelier

A chandelier adds sophistication and beauty to any living space. However, ensure that it is not placed in the centre of the room. Hang it in the south or west of the room.

Wall colour

Some colours are known to infuse positive energy to any living space. As per Vaastu, light green, white, light yellow and blue are the best choices for the living area as they lend tranquillity and create a soothing ambiance. You can use just one of these colours or a combination of two colours to maximize positive energy. However, make sure to avoid red and black for the living room walls.

Paintings and art

The north-east wall is the best place for wall paintings. Make sure to display gorgeous images and avoid pictures that depict pain, anger, frustration, hunger or any kind of negativity. Avoid images of a waterfall, fountain, rain, ocean or aquarium in the bedroom as it can lead to financial issues and emotional and mental problems. The reason behind this is believed to be water, which is an unstable element creates an unsettled environment at home.

Create a positive sanctuary by following these home décor ideas according to Vaastu.