Color Can Be Clutter

Aug 8

This month's blog post written by Tammy Musiowsky-Borneman and Naomi Church, is cross-posted with Plan Z Professional Learning Services.

photo of bright, cluttered classroom — 📸 credit: Monica Sedra on Unsplash

Imagine walking into a classroom where each bulletin board or wall was a different color. Not just any color, but bright yellow or red? Have you been in this room, or even set your room up in this way? Have you been in a classroom where it looks like the teacher store exploded? We taught with experienced teachers who seemed to keep decor from all of their previous years of teaching and felt the need to display it all. We have also seen classrooms with all the cute, laminated posters that students never seem to use effectively. We are not advocating for boring and uninspired classroom spaces! We are suggesting that, as educators, we are responsible for creating environments in which our learners are able to find success. We must design without barriers to learning. Creating access to an environment in which all learners feel safe and ready to learn is imperative…and it doesn’t happen by accident. Using principles from Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can support teachers in creating a space that is conducive to learning. UDL Checkpoint 7.3 speaks to minimizing threats and distractions. Oftentimes this is thought of in terms of classroom culture and risk level, but it can absolutely apply to visual distractions as well.

Three Considerations When Adding Color to Your Classroom

Too much color can literally create a barrier to learning. This barrier can create a distracting and over stimulating environment for learners. This can also apply to the level of sensory stimulation - including colors and decor within a classroom.
Colors can evoke moods and emotions within learning spaces. Purposeful use of color and decor can help put learners in the right headspace for acquiring and processing new information. Interestingly, the visceral reaction that learners have to colors is not necessarily conscious. Research has found that learner achievement can be impacted by exposure to specific colors even if the learner was not aware of the exposure.
Be content with white space. Color doesn’t need to be a space-filler.

Guide to Purposeful Use of Color

Lighter shades are “friendlier” while darker shades are more somber. Choose colors based on the mood you are trying to set within the space. Bright colors can be overwhelming or distracting especially when many different colors are in the same space.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Colors

Do I need to change the way I think about how I use color in the learning environment?
How will my learners feel when they enter the space?
How can I be strategic with color to enhance learner attention and focus?

Do…use lighter shades of green, blue and orange

Green enhances efficiency and focus
Orange enhances mood for learners and promotes comfort and neural functioning
Blue promotes productivity

Don’t..use red or competing bright colors

Red reduces academic achievement and increases an anxiety response

Creating a conducive learning environment through purposeful use of color is crucial for learners. While vibrant colors can be visually appealing, excessive and/or conflicting colors may hinder learning by overwhelming learners. Thoughtful use of color to evoke appropriate moods and emotions can enhance focus and productivity. Recognizing UDL principles supports the idea that less is more. By considering the impact of colors, or the absence of it, on learners' emotions and attention, teachers can strategically design classrooms that optimize the learning journey and help students thrive.