Classroom Wall Colors

Avoid using plain bright white paint everywhere.

There are many different aspects to consider when selecting the best colors to paint walls inside of a classroom. Colors help us express and define our surroundings. They affect receptivity and emotional response as well as levels of productivity and focus. Color choice and selection in the classroom settings is important for educators to create the ideal learning and teaching environment for staff members and pupils alike.

Age Groups

Toddlers prefer warm bright colors, whereas younger children in elementary school like tinted shades and pastel colors. Children in grades four and five like bright blue and green hues and middle school students prefer blended colors like teal. High school students prefer darker colors like burgundy, green, violet, gray, and navy blue. These colors are comforting, relaxing, and soothing. Older students benefit from having a combination of bright and cool colors on the walls to aid in keeping concentration and building focus. Color schemes for younger children should include some brighter colors that designate the different areas of the classroom, and draw attention to desired areas like the chalkboard.

Stimulation

Ideal colors for walls in classrooms should enhance students' visual processing, while simultaneously promoting calm in an open, safe atmosphere. Use of color should additionally promote brain development with encouraging visual stimuli, using age-appropriate combinations and patterns. Visual stimulation strengthens mental associations in the brain, evolving into visual thinking and bolstering creativity. Mixed colors in a room help maintain interest, attention, and classroom participation. Choose less than six classroom wall colors based on the age of students, the subjects being taught, and the level of desired activity. Calming pale colors like peach or light green should be used in classrooms where mixed age groups are taught. Classes for handicapped children should utilize regular geometric patterns with complementary colors to maintain calm and encourage pattern seeking and concentration. Colors stimulate both sides of the brain. We define, characterize, and associate colors in the left side of the brain, then develop and patterns based on the relationships between the colors. Combinations include complementary colors, dull colors mixed with brighter colors, and darker colors with lighter colors. These combinations help us develop association skills and an understanding of symbolism. The cool colors blue, green, and purple soothe and calm. Warmer colors like red and orange promote activity.

Association

We associate colors based on life experiences and education, culture and familial conditioning. We also incorporate our personal opinions and beliefs in associating colors. There are different ways to approach painting your walls with appropriate colors; using association is the most difficult because each student has different associations with different colors. It is easier to choose colors that affect overall stimulation in different age groups for this reason. If you intend to choose colors based on associations, use colors that encourage a positive mood. Use bright blues and greens with oranges and yellows as opposed to black, monochromatic browns and reds.

Results

Color affects you psychologically and physiologically. This is accepted by professionals in many different fields who have utilized color schemes in work environments to obtain certain results. The color blue is known to have a sedating effect and the color pink is known to instill calm and reduce energy. Bridges are painted blue to discourage potential suicides and prison interiors are often painted pink to keep inmates calm. Hospitals often use blue to keep heart rates low; whereas red is often worn by athletes to help increase heart rate. Certain colors or combinations should be avoided or used minimally to prevent students from becoming bored or distracted. Reds and bold colors should be used carefully because they grab attention and over-use will over-stimulate. Use blue and purple colors to promote relaxation and greens to encourage creativity.

References

• School Planning and Management: Color Your World
• "The Effect of School Interior Environment on Students' Attitudes toward School: Suggestions for Philadelphia Public Schools;" Diana Vining; 2006
• "Color in an Optimum Learning Environment;" Dr. Willard R. Daggett, Jeffrey E. Cobble, Steven J. Gertel;2008
• California Department of General Services: The Color of Learning