They say you shouldn’t wear grey to work as it feels passive, plain and lacks enthusiasm. However, if you like grey, pair it with a brighter colour to balance the effect. Picking colours for your office, your clothes or your desktop should not be taken lightly as colours can directly impact moods and productivity. Nevertheless, colours are not the only factor that affects us - one can still be efficient in a grey suit or workout well in a black outfit. But, when you have a choice, always remember to pick a colour that works in your favour.

Silver, the metallic colour, has cool properties like grey but is playful and fun. Some of the images that come to mind when you speak of silver are industrial, sleek, high-tech, and modern, as well as ornate, glamorous, graceful, sophisticated, and elegant. It also exudes feminine energy related to the moon; it is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious. Soothing and purifying, silver is preferred as a neutral colour to pair up with bright colours like orange or red.

Some gemstones have unusual names as they are derived from unexpected places or have an unusual origin. "Ant hill garnets" are one such type of novelty gems. They are aptly named after their place of origin, which are margins of ant hills. The ants encounter the garnets while excavating and pull these stones to the surface and abandon them. The rain further rinses the garnets clean and moves them down the rim of the ant hill, where they settle. Their brilliant lustre and red colour contrasts strongly with the surrounding soil and looks mesmerizing.

Cat’s Eye Actinolite is a rare translucent gemstone variety of chatoyant actinolite. The name 'actinolite' was derived from the Greek word for 'ray' or 'beam', which refers to its fibrous nature. These fine fibres are responsible for actinolite’s rare 'cat’s eye effect'. When aligned, fibrous inclusions occur and allow a concentrated line of light to appear across the surface of domed stones when properly cut, similar to a cat’s eye.

Monsoons are here, splashing up a lot of green in our lives. However, with the sun rarely making an appearance for days together, city life tends to get gloomy and grey. This is where you can really play with colours and make life happy and bright. It’s a general trend; most people opt for darker colours like blue, black and shades of grey for practical reasons but try something different this time. Go bright and choose happy colours like neons, pinks, yellows and other such vibrant shades. If you don’t wish to experiment with clothes, have your accessories, like umbrellas, raincoat and shoes, in these colours!

Monsoon is the season of revival. Nature shows off its brilliant colours, from oranges, yellows and dusty pale browns to brilliant vibrant greens, rich muddy browns, deep reds and the bright yellows of flowers and trees. Imbibe these colours in your décor schemes; for example, pair a single shade of green with grey or brown. Welcome home sparkling colours like deep burgundy, gold, garnet, coral greens, olive green, indigo blue, purple red and orange. Some of the best fabrics to suit the season are pure cottons, silks, damask, velvet and leather. Use lots of fresh flowers and bright coloured paintings to increase the enthusiasm in your home.