The use of color is always considered in architectural design, especially when designing primary schools. This is because color has a strong impact on human brains, therefore the use of specific colors can enhance educational spaces. Likewise, an incorrect color choice can have adverse effects on students’ success. Unconscious cognitive responses to color inform emotions, thus color in a classroom has a direct correlation with student moods and behaviors. A color choice made by an architect is often more critical to the users than we choose to believe.
Age is also a factor that must be considered in the selection of color. For instance Kindergarten classrooms possess different requirements than would a fifth grade class. As the brain develops, its ideal learning environment will often differ. When it comes to upper grades the use of cool colors are prescribed. The suggested use of cool colors is derived from the more calm nature of these classes and the need or focus in more challenging courses. Although an agreeable goal is stimulation, designers must be aware of the risk of overstimulating. While younger grades are supposed to foster creativity and help develop social skills, too many different colors can seem confusing. Noise and activity levels contribute to the feeling of the space as well: if a classroom is often loud, a vast amount bright colors can enhance the feeling of business and cause a lack of focus in the students. On the other hand, too many muted colors in a quiet space can possibly put a whole class to sleep.
A surprising point in the article “Colors in the Classroom Learning Environment,” is how extensive color choices can become. After thinking about simply painting the walls, choosing the color of the furniture and each individual space can make a huge difference. Because classrooms, libraries, and common areas all have different forms and functions architecturally, each must be emphasized with color. A well-developed color scheme implemented across the major elements of a learning environment can suggest the desired behavior. For example brighter walls with complimentary yet muted furniture can keep the students’ focus upwards, towards the instructor and white board. Some of the most successful colors to be used in a classroom are green, which relays feelings of happiness and relaxation, and yellow, which causes more lively and energetic moods. Vice versa the use of too much gray gives feelings of depression and boredom.
Beyond emotional responses, studies have shown how color effects scientific functions. In “The Impact of Color on Learning” by Kathie Engelbrecht, eye fatigue, productivity, and wayfinding are critical factors in learning environments. Engelbrecht explains that “color elicits a total response from human beings because the energy produced by the light that carries color effects our body functions and influences our mind and emotion,”(Perkins and Will, 2). Because our neurological and sociological processes are so closely connected, the response to color is often a mixed and complex one, however we interpret such responses into complete behavior and mood alterations.
Looking into a future in architecture, being aware of the use of color in any type of program is entirely beneficial to the everyday user. Often times color is the very last priority when working on a project because so much effort is spent making every other decision. After reading about the role of color in learning environments, the idea of being able to work on a classroom color scheme is excitable.
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