Psychology of Color
What adjectives does a room with white walls, floors, and ceilings bring to mind? Do the words sterile, boring, empty, or uninspiring pop up? Either classrooms are so empty the energy is sucked out of the students immediately after they cross the threshold, or there is so much going on that the attention of the students are not on the lecture, activity, or their work. Why are classrooms either one extreme or another? Why not try for a happy middle? One way to attain this happy middle is by painting the walls in the classroom. The use of color in the classroom can be an easy way to help with inspiring, empowering, motivating, and energizing students in the classroom, without being too much.
To use colors successfully in the classroom you first have to understand the psychology behind colors. Below is a chart explaining some of the psychology of color gotten from the eLearningBrothers. If you are interested in the psychology behind the use of color, there are many studies available online.
What adjectives does a room with white walls, floors, and ceilings bring to mind? Do the words sterile, boring, empty, or uninspiring pop up? Either classrooms are so empty the energy is sucked out of the students immediately after they cross the threshold, or there is so much going on that the attention of the students are not on the lecture, activity, or their work. Why are classrooms either one extreme or another? Why not try for a happy middle? One way to attain this happy middle is by painting the walls in the classroom. The use of color in the classroom can be an easy way to help with inspiring, empowering, motivating, and energizing students in the classroom, without being too much.
To use colors successfully in the classroom you first have to understand the psychology behind colors. Below is a chart explaining some of the psychology of color gotten from the eLearningBrothers. If you are interested in the psychology behind the use of color, there are many studies available online.
Using Color in the Classroom
Being able to use the right color in the classroom requires two things: knowledge of the students, and goals for classroom atmosphere. For example, brighter colors may work well in a grade-school classroom to help inspire creativity, but could be very distracting in a high-school classroom. Choosing a color to work best in your classroom also requires you to decide what is most important for your classroom environment. Do you want to inspire creativity, a calming environment, excitement, or hard work? All of these play into what color will work best in the classroom
If you would like students to focus on the lesson, Deborah O'Banion suggests painting a bright color on the wall where instruction is given. The bright wall may help to keep the attention on the lesson, and not on other stimulants. The pictures below are some examples of painted classrooms.
Being able to use the right color in the classroom requires two things: knowledge of the students, and goals for classroom atmosphere. For example, brighter colors may work well in a grade-school classroom to help inspire creativity, but could be very distracting in a high-school classroom. Choosing a color to work best in your classroom also requires you to decide what is most important for your classroom environment. Do you want to inspire creativity, a calming environment, excitement, or hard work? All of these play into what color will work best in the classroom
If you would like students to focus on the lesson, Deborah O'Banion suggests painting a bright color on the wall where instruction is given. The bright wall may help to keep the attention on the lesson, and not on other stimulants. The pictures below are some examples of painted classrooms.
This classroom clearly is decorated to inspire creativity. The mural states that writing requires inspiration and creativity and the classroom is decorated to inspire both. You would not get much creativity out of a white classroom. Image from Delux-trade | This classroom is a very bright and colorful classroom. Looking around it is clear that this classroom is a grade-school classroom where students are very active. These colors work well for younger students, but would be very distracting to older students This classroom is decorated in soft greens and yellows. This classroom shows a great use of color to direct the students to where homework or projects can be written, where notes can be posted, or any other important classroom information. It is colorful with a purpose. |
As you can see the classrooms were all decorated with a different audience, environment, and goal. What would work well in one classroom, could be boring, or too much in others.
Incorporating the Theme of the Classroom
One last thing you may want to think about when decorating your classroom is the 'theme' with which you would like to decorate your classroom. For instance, if you are an English teacher, you would most likely decorate it with books, novels, manuscripts etc. Bright colors like neon green and hot pink, would clash with what is being used to decorate the classroom with, not to mention the content taught in the classroom. You want your room to promote whatever environment you choose, so make sure that everything in the classroom works in harmony to create that environment.
Summary
Make sure when deciding on the colors to use in your classroom think about:
1. the Psychology behind the color
2. the audience in the classroom
3. the environment you wish to promote
-- And, if applicable--
4. the decorative theme you wish to employ in your classroom.
Incorporating the Theme of the Classroom
One last thing you may want to think about when decorating your classroom is the 'theme' with which you would like to decorate your classroom. For instance, if you are an English teacher, you would most likely decorate it with books, novels, manuscripts etc. Bright colors like neon green and hot pink, would clash with what is being used to decorate the classroom with, not to mention the content taught in the classroom. You want your room to promote whatever environment you choose, so make sure that everything in the classroom works in harmony to create that environment.
Summary
Make sure when deciding on the colors to use in your classroom think about:
1. the Psychology behind the color
2. the audience in the classroom
3. the environment you wish to promote
-- And, if applicable--
4. the decorative theme you wish to employ in your classroom.