Journal Article

The Impact of Islamic Culture on the Use of Color in Arabic Domestic Interiors

Al-Zamil, Fawzi A

2017

Overview

This study provides an analytical exploration of how Islamic culture influences the use of color in Arabic domestic interiors, arguing that color in Islamic spaces is not merely decorative but a bearer of spiritual, social, and cultural meanings. Dr. Fawzi A. Al-Zamil examines the philosophical and aesthetic foundations of color in Islamic thought, drawing upon Qur'anic symbolism and religious concepts that associate light, harmony, and beauty as essential principles of Islamic aesthetics. The paper demonstrates that color selection in traditional Arab houses reflects a holistic cultural system, combining religious values, social customs, and environmental adaptation. In this context, color served not only as a visual and climatic regulator but also as an expression of balance and moderation, embodying the spiritual harmony central to Islamic worldview. Through case studies from the Gulf region, North Africa, and Andalusia, the author illustrates how symbolic color schemes-such as blue for spiritual protection, green for fertility and paradise, and white for purity and unity-manifested Islamic identity in interior design. The study further critiques modern design trends that have abandoned symbolic depth in favor of globalized consumer aesthetics, calling for the reintegration of cultural values into contemporary design to restore a meaningful visual identity rooted in Islamic heritage. The paper concludes that color in Islamic culture serves as a bridge between beauty and the sacred, and its revival in modern interiors is essential to reestablishing the spiritual dimension of Arab domestic spaces. Abstract Written by Dar AlMandumh, 2025, Using AI.

• Publisher: جامعة الكويت - مجلس النشر العلمي
• Subject: الألوان / التصميم الداخلي / الثقافة الإسلامية