Colour theory in educational spaces

Blue corresponds to enhanced creativity and cognitive performance in reflection of its calming associations with purity, water, and the sky. By evoking a sense of peace, blues encourage mental clarity and thus create space for exploration and innovation, which in turn increases productivity. Blues are best used in classrooms where challenging subjects are studied, or in spaces where students experience elevated stress.

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of blue include art, music, mathematics, and science classrooms as well as exam halls.

Yellow reminds us of the rising sun, bringing a refreshed sense of positivity and warmth between students. A balanced approach is necessary when incorporating yellow as too much of this shade can induce eye fatigue, it is therefore best used for styling accents.

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of yellow include study centres and common areas.

Shades of red are related to feelings of power, strength, and confidence which increase heart rates and encourage conversation. Strong colours can result in over-stimulation or over-excitement in younger students and should therefore be reserved for accents, such as flooring, artwork, and furnishings, to subtly influence the mood. Red is also thought to enhance people’s attention to detail, therefore when placed in a student’s periphery red can also boost concentration and creativity.

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of red include performing arts and physical education facilities.

A visually soothing colour which encourages prolonged concentration and reading ability, green is the most popular colour for educational spaces and works especially well when balanced with warmer tones. Promoting relaxation, mental clarity, logical thinking, and strategizing, the colour green inspires a spiritual connection to the environment. 

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of green include libraries, psychology, and social studies classrooms.

Warm shades of orange speak to innovation, communication, enthusiasm, and our decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Orange can also enhance mood and foster endurance in learning spaces as effective discourse and collaboration within group environments is proven to be enhanced when surrounded by warm colours. 

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of orange include language and history classrooms as well as common areas.

Purples support spiritual awareness, creativity, wisdom, and knowledge. Muted forms such as lavender can bolster peace and tranquility, however, they can also enhance feelings of loneliness and depression if used in excess.

Educational spaces enhanced by shades of purple include those dedicated to independent study, health, and human development. 

Soft furnishings offer movement and pattern in a wide variety of textures and are the ideal medium to diffuse a colour scheme throughout a space.

Our FibreGuard ranges ensure peace of mind for teachers and students working in high-traffic educational spaces. These textiles boast superior high-performance technology including a moisture barrier to protect students from harboring germs and bacteria, cleanability, fire retardancy, Oeko-Tex100 certifications, and exceptional durable durability. Produced in a variety of contemporary designs, patterns, and decorative colours, our FibreGuard fabrics complement a wide variety of educational interiors. 

Learn more about our FibreGuard fabrics here.

Developed and tested in independent, certified laboratories on a regular basis to ensure their quality is upheld, the self-extinguishing properties of our fire-retardant drapery defuse the development and spread of flames. These sophisticated draperies retain a natural look and handle and are available in an extensive range of designs and colours, making them the optimum choice for high traffic interiors and learning environments. 

Explore our range of fire-retardant textiles here.

Evidence supports the relationship between colours and emotional responses. Incorporating the findings of colour theory into the design of educational spaces is an economical way to tailor the learning experience to encourage calm, focus, socialisation, and collaboration between students.