Monday, May 17, 2010

Green Is In!

It is a known fact that green is one of the most restful colours to the eye, making it the perfect colour if you want a dash of life but don’t know where to start.

The essence of green
Green is the colour of the forest and the ocean. Hence, green has close associations with nature and the ideas of growth, fertility and rebirth. It’s a colour that evokes hope and new beginnings as well as good health.

Its association with nature has also made green the colour code for ecological consciousness. Brands for eco-friendly products are inevitably coloured green as are logos for environmental activist groups. The word ‘green’ itself has been used as a verb or adjective to describe a state of eco-friendliness i.e. ‘greening’, ‘greenie’ or ‘green-up’. In the same vein, ‘greenwashing’ is a term used when commercial companies falsely advertise an environmentally-conscious stand.

In Malaysia, green is probably best known as the traditional colour of Islam where Paradise is said to be full of lush foliage. Mosques commonly use the colour green and Hari Raya is full of green packets, green baju kurung and ketupats.

Above all these, green is calming. In the production industry, artists are placed in ‘green rooms’ before and after a performance or appearance to help them relax. As such, green is great for living rooms or rooms where people gather to unwind.