Summer heat brings need for cool interiors to improve mood

Experts say that that yellow is the best colour for this year's summer, as it creates an atmosphere of comfort and imagination throughout the home.

"Yellow is the perfect colour for homes in the Middle East. It signifies respect for the past and optimism for the future. It represents the balance of mind, body and spirit," said Amna Saquib, colour consultant for Al Gurg Leigh's Paints.

The paint market is worth nearly Dhs750m across the Middle East each year, and Al Gurg Leigh's Paints is expanding its range into 50 new Dulux Decorator Centres in the next 12 months across the UAE to cope with the increased demand.

"Colour plays an increasingly important role in our lives. People often forget how much it can affect your mood and the feeling towards the space where you live. Decorating is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of improving your home," added Saquib.

Changing the colour of a room can quickly change the mood of those living in the space. So, if the summer heat is getting too much, blues, greens, and violets are considered cool colours because of their references to landscapes and ocean vistas.

Colours in the red and orange family are referred to as "warm" colors since they evoke images associated with heat, like fire or sunshine. As a result they make us feel warm.