Creating a Simulating Environment
- An attractive and comfortable classroom environment gives the student a sense of security and well being which will help students increase their learning and motivation in the classroom.
- The largest distribution of color comes from the walls
~Students generate their feelings towards an environment based on what the wall color portrays
The Effect of Paint: White
- White was seen as hygienic and structured in demeanor
- Perceived as “institutional-like”
- Proven to cause detrimental psychological effects
~Disruptive behaviors
~Lack of focus
~Depressive moods to students and educators that spend time in that space
The Effect of Paint: Colors
- Sensory variety Is provided by color hues on walls in the classroom
- Increases focus and positive behavior which ultimately enhances learning
- Increases student achievement, accuracy, instructor/staff effectiveness
- Provides a “feel good” atmosphere that can stimulate positive emotion
- Specific colors and patterns directly influence:
~Morale
~Emotions
~Behavior
~Performance of learners
Color Preference and Learner Age
Elementary School
Young children attracted by warm, bright colors.
Middle School
As a child matures their color preference changes from tints and pastels to bright medium cool colors (ex: greens, blues, green-blues)
High School
As a child gets older their color preferences change again. This time preferring darker colors (ex: burgundy, gray, navy, dark green, deep turquoise and violet
Similarly, as children mature into adolescence, there is less preference for large areas of primary color, which they tend to associate with immaturity. By high school, the most preferred colors are green (nature, trees, comfort) and light yellow (lively, energetic, happiness, summer). These colors were followed by blue (relaxation, calmness), red (love, romance), purple (relaxation, calmness, laughing), blue-green, red-purple, yellow-red, and purple-blue.
Young children attracted by warm, bright colors.
Middle School
As a child matures their color preference changes from tints and pastels to bright medium cool colors (ex: greens, blues, green-blues)
High School
As a child gets older their color preferences change again. This time preferring darker colors (ex: burgundy, gray, navy, dark green, deep turquoise and violet
Similarly, as children mature into adolescence, there is less preference for large areas of primary color, which they tend to associate with immaturity. By high school, the most preferred colors are green (nature, trees, comfort) and light yellow (lively, energetic, happiness, summer). These colors were followed by blue (relaxation, calmness), red (love, romance), purple (relaxation, calmness, laughing), blue-green, red-purple, yellow-red, and purple-blue.
Color recommendations for different rooms of a school.
For more information on using color to create a stimulating environment, please see the following sources or take a look at the research page!
- Banning, Carolyn and James (1990). “The Physical Environment of the College Classroom and Its Affects on Students,” Campus Ecologist, Ohio State University.
- Department of General Services (2005), “The Color of Learning,” Excellence in Public Education Facilities, State of California.
- Englebrecht, Kathie (2003). The Impact of Color on Learning, NeoCon, 2003.
- Kaya, Naz (2004). “Relationship Between Color and Emotion: A Study of College Students,” College Student Journal.