The Northern Lights are actually caused due to collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere. The colour varies due to the type of gas particles that collide. The most common auroral colour, a dull yellowish-green, is produced by oxygen molecules, 60 miles above the earth. The rare, all-red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen up to 200 miles. Nitrogen produces blue or purplish-red aurora.

Fallow is one of the oldest colour names to ever exist in the English language. Though not a considered by most to be a lovely colour, the pale brown is named after the fallow fields as well as the soil, which is often sandy. The word 'fallow', to express the colour, was recorded in 1000 first. Interestingly, it is known in South African and Indian cultures as 'Ravi brown.'

Did you know that the Greeks and Romans didn't have a word for the colour blue? Interestingly, for the legendary author Homer, the sea was 'wine-red'! Blue was also completely omitted from descriptions of the rainbow in Ancient Greece and Rome. However, the colour existed even if it was not named and was in fact one of the several colours used for clothing in those times.

While painting glass panelled doors, it is recommended to use a paint shield, an angled cutting-in brush or masking tape to keep the paint off the glass. No matter what you use, see that the paint goes on to about 2mm of the glass to seal where the glass and frames meet. Paint the rest of the door with a broader brush of about 75mm wide. To avoid the paint dripping off, do not overload the brush with paint. If gloss paint does get on the glass, it is best to take it off with a rag damped with white spirit before it dries off. If paint dries on the glass, you can scrape it off with a glass scraping tool.

If you have any kind of metal pipes on the exterior of your home, you probably know that they will rust when exposed to the different seasons. Painting them is a wonderful way to protect them while also blending them with the outside of your home.

Here is a useful guide to painting those unsightly metal pipes. Ensure that the copper and steel pipes are clean and free from corrosion. Use fine wire wool to clean them. Apply gloss paint directly with a brush measuring 25mm or 50mm. There is no need for a primer unless the pipe is made from lead. Start by brushing up and down, then smooth the paint along the length of the pipe. Remember not to paint over stop taps or controls or they will not work.

As with most painting jobs, preparation is the key to succeed. To prepare ceramic tiles for painting, there are two important components to remember—prepare the surface properly and use the right type of paint. You can make old ceramic tiles look brand new by just changing its colour. It has to be prepped properly by repairing the chips and by removing other imperfections on the surface of the tiles. Next, rub sandpaper to the glossy surface after repairs are finished until the finish is stripped away. Following these steps will ensure you have a durable surface that looks much more visually appealing than the out-dated look you may have at present.