A picture of beauty

A picture of beauty

The effective use of colour in colleges, universities and other educational settings can have a powerful impact on the way students engage with their environment, as Lisa Pilley, Colour Consultant at Dulux Trade, explains.

The design of an education space can impact on the performance of students. Colleges and universities should be stimulating and inspiring to encourage learning and creativity, and this should be reflected by the interior décor. When used effectively, colour can transform an education space into somewhere beautiful, inviting and engaging for students, but in order to have the desired impact it requires careful consideration.

Be bold
Colour preference is subjective. All too often, through fear of getting it wrong, specifiers will steer clear of bold colours and stick to safe decorative schemes consisting of neutral shades, such as white and magnolia. However, in an environment that is supposed to encourage participation and idea generation, a lack of colour can have the opposite effect. There is a danger that a muted interior decorative scheme can be detrimental to the creation of a positive learning environment and can make a space seem uninviting and uncared for. A carefully considered, vibrant colour scheme, on the other hand, which has been created especially for that room, can demonstrate to students that the area has been nurtured and invested in.

Design inspiration

There is a vast array of colour palettes available, which means specifiers have a wide range of shades to choose from when transforming educational spaces. While this means there is a colour combination to suit every purpose, it can make it challenging for specifiers to know where to start.

Sources of inspiration can usually be found from the surroundings of the college or university. For example, for a campus in a woodland setting, the scheme may incorporate shades that reflect its rural surroundings, whereas a design for a city centre based institution might take inspiration from the urban skyline. Existing flooring and furniture, if they are not being replaced as part of the project, should also be considered to avoid clashes and ensure the new scheme is complementary.

The purpose of the space is vital in shaping an effective decorative scheme. For example, tutor rooms are arguably the most important places within a university or college and space is often limited, which can make the room feel crowded and hectic. It is important, therefore, for their colour schemes to create a sense of light. Students and teachers need to feel motivated and stimulated, but equally, it’s vital that specifiers are careful that the shades used don’t cause distraction.

Many tutor room colour schemes are built around the wall featuring the whiteboard, as this is where students will be facing the majority of the time. Using bright shades to establish this surface as a feature wall can help to bring focus to the area. This can then be complemented by neutral shades in the rest of the room.

Dulux Trade has a number of tools to help specifiers select the most appropriate colours for their education space. For example, with its Visualiser app, specifiers can try out potential decorative schemes on their i-Pads or computers before applying paint to the walls. The manufacturer’s colour palette is also available as a CAD plug-in to allow easy integration into specifiers’ existing modelling software, simplifying the product selection process. 

Tailoring to the audience
Creating the perfect colour scheme is largely dependent on the age and educational level of the audience. In further and higher education the interior décor should be modern and engaging, creating a space where students are at ease and happy to learn. In addition, selecting a single theme colour can link different zones and create flow throughout a building. Brighter accent colours work well for this purpose on feature walls and doors, complemented by neutral shades for main walls.

For further inspiration, and to help gain a more detailed understanding of the needs of the audience group, involving the college or university community in the colour selection process can be a useful exercise. Whether it’s holding a focus group with students and faculty to establish their views on tutor room design, or conducting a survey to gauge their priorities, any feedback received will help to create an effective design. Engaging students in the design process can enable them to feel more comfortable in their learning environment, helping to improve performance.

Getting it right

Although specifying colour for educational settings can be a challenge, a carefully considered scheme can have a big impact on a project’s success. Understanding what the end user needs from their educational space and creating an engaging decorative scheme to support this is key.

Paint manufacturers, including Dulux Trade, are on hand to support specifiers. Colour design experts can advise on the most appropriate schemes for various environments and give tips on how to use colour to make the most of the space available. There is also a wealth of literature available, both online and in print, that can help as an informative reference point for specifiers looking for inspiration or quick tips.

As well as apps and toolkits, Dulux Trade has a dedicated YouTube channel to provide support for education specifiers. Offering useful guidance and interesting case studies, the videos on the channel can help specifiers create inspiring colour schemes that improve learning outcomes for students, while also advising on how paint can meet other needs, such as improved durability to maximise maintenance cycles.

More information on the use of colour can also be found on the Dulux Trade website: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/education

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