Oranges are said to be a great source of Vitamin C. But did you know that this fruit has a unique way of tricking us with its colour? You cannot guess the ripeness of oranges by its colour, unlike most fruits. It can be green or orange but that doesn’t go on to show if the fruit is ripe or not. If an orange is left unpicked and stays on the tree until next seasons, its colour is likely to go from green to orange and green again. And that is not the most surprising part. The quality and flavour of the fruit will remain unchanged. Surprised?

Impossible or forbidden colours are the ones your eyes cannot see. In colour theory, the reason you cannot see or perceive certain colours is because of the opponent process. To explain this, the human eye has three types of cone cells that register colour and work in an antagonistic fashion, viz. blue versus yellow, red versus green, light versus dark. There is an overlap between the wavelengths of light covered by the cone cells, so you see more than just yellow, blue, green and red. Because of the opponent process, your eyes can’t see both blue and yellow at the same time or red and green at the same time. The combinations of these colours is called impossible or forbidden colours.

The origins of everyday colour names go back to centuries ago. Words like “black” and “white” did not originate as colour terms originally. “Black” comes from a word that means “burnt” and “white” comes from a word meaning “shining”. The word “green” is associated with the Old English vern “growan”, which literally means “to grow”. “Orange” colour name is derived from the Sanskrit word for the fruit naranga. “Brown”, is a recent addition to our language and is derived from the Old Germanic for a dark colour and shining darkness. It is striking how many different sources the English colour names have.

For interior paint ideas for the living room, it is a good idea to begin by deciding the colours that are most likely to give you a good night’s sleep. In the science of colour theory, blue, dusty rose, lavender or grey are great colour choices to create a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom. If you are yearning for a luxurious look, try matching these colours with a metallic accent wall. If you are most comfortable in nature, try the colours of the forest in your bedroom. This way, you can incorporate an expression of you in your bedroom.

One of the easiest ways to choose the perfect paint colours for your home is, to begin with the colours you love. Next, for home colour ideas look for inspiration in magazines and catalogues to incorporate your favourite colour in your décor. Social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram can also offer colour inspiration that is real-time and trendy. Once you have an idea of how you want to incorporate your favourite colour, use colour theory and learn the basics so you can create the perfect colour palette for your home interiors. You can also use Berger Colour Catalogue or online tools to generate colour schemes quickly for paint ideas.

The type of paint you choose for your home paint is just as important as the colour since it has a major impact on the kind of look you want to create. Most of the paints available in the market today are water-based since it has low VOCs, is quick drying and long lasting and can be used on almost all surfaces. Oil-based paints are preferred by some people for their high durability and rich finish. However, it emits strong fumes and the paint cannot be washed by water. For finishes, you can choose from matte, satin, semi-gloss and gloss paints, depending on the look you want to create for the home walls. You can also mix different finishes to create a striking, textured look.