Colour yourself smart with orange

No doubt about it, orange is a powerful colour. Orange is the preferred colour for most religions in Asia, from Buddhist monks draped in orange to Hindu deities with their orange tilaks. For India especially, orange is a colour of pivotal significance, with saffron embellishing the country’s tricolor flag.

According to experts, the colour orange stimulates mental activity. It’s also thought to encourage sociability, by energising people and lessening their inhibitions.

If bold orange walls aren’t your thing, subtle shades of the colour are just as successful in creating a stimulating, sociable environment. You could try soft, earthy hues like nectarine, coral, orange rose, sunset and saffron. Work them into a study and you might just get the mental stimulation you longed for.