So far, it has been a generally accepted rule that baby nursery colors should be soft and pastel colors. Trends dictated that muted colors have calming effects on young children, and people seemed to accept this without considering sharper baby room colors. However, the tendency to use sharper colors to create a strong and stimulating environment did not go past kindergartens.
Choosing the right baby room color can be a daunting task. Is the color palette too bold? Will the child feel overwhelmed by these vivid colors? Finally, how will the color scheme of the baby room match the decor of our other facilities? The success of those who have experimented and achieved admirable results shows us that color psychology can have the answer to our questions.
Image source: The Virginia house
Color psychology is a branch of science that studies the various effects of color on our looks and minds. It is highly recommended not to undermine the importance of its recommendations any more, especially when studying the effect of a particular color in early childhood. We all want our babies to behave properly and develop appropriately for their ages. What if you choose a suitable baby room color scheme to achieve this?
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Let’s learn about the effect of color on our children:
Warm colours
In the artistic world, warm colors are used to express positive emotions and achieve calming effects. They are associated with the most pleasant feelings such as coziness, joy or happiness and help us to easily adapt to unfamiliar environments.
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Psychologists believe that warm hues (yellow, red, or orange) can stimulate the functioning of our brains and give us the energy and motivation to grow and improve ourselves, but should be avoided at night because of their “energizing effects”.
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As a result, warm colors have limited use and are usually combined with cooler hues. They are only partially installed (by adding matching accessories or attaching them to a specific wall) and in combination with their cool counterparts. The end result is an obvious balance that inspires calm and commodity.
orange
Color psychology describes orange as the “connecting color” and the “pioneer of social interaction”. Orange is very warm, cozy and intimate and can make a person feel safe. However, orange is also a very strong color that can lead to over-stimulation.
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An absolutely orange room can appear packed and narrower than it actually is. However, if this is your favorite color and you are determined to use it, make sure there is plenty of light in this room.
red
Red is an energizing color that can awaken your mind and increase your heart rate. Still, choosing red as the festive color for a room is not the best choice. Being completely surrounded by this color can lead to overexcitation, aggression and blurring. It is even more important to avoid this in children’s rooms, as it can motivate their already restless behavior.
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Blue – relaxing, challenging
It’s real blue has a nice, calming effect. To apply it correctly, you have to be aware of the different effects of its shades. Dark blues (especially gray-blue) can create feelings of melancholy and sadness.
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Blue calms the mind and is not the right choice for increasing children’s productivity. You may have already noticed this while feeding your child – if the child refuses to eat, blue utensils won’t help!
When it comes to children’s room colors, blue should only be used when it is lighter and warmer. In fact, it would be a win-win for a child who feels warm all the time.
The feminine pink
All doubts aside, pink is a girlish color! Whether this is a general truth or a clever marketing strategy, pink is a beautiful color that is associated with delicacy, style, and calm. What science says is that pink should be used in boys’ rooms too.
Image source: Eduarda Correa Arquitetura & Interiores
Behavioral researchers from the San Bernardino County Parole Department, California examined children of detention and concluded that they were behaving less violently in an ordinary pink room that was 4 by 8 feet. You should consider this information for your son’s kindergarten too!
As in the other cases, you should avoid painting the entire baby room in a single color. Because of its empathic properties, absolute pink can have a negative impact and cause your child emotional disruption and nervousness.
yellow
The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions yellow is sun and brightness. It could be a nice choice for a room with limited light access and bring happiness and joy. However, when applying yellow in a child’s room, avoid harsh and strong hues.
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These stimulate mental and physical activity and do not provide your baby with the rest that it needs.
So use soft yellows to update your kindergarten color scheme, but try not to overdo it.
Aqua
Aqua is the perfect choice for people with fatigue, insomnia or high blood pressure. Its association is purity, space and light and it is a real luxury for stressed and busy people. This is precisely why too much aqua is not good for children and could reverse the growth and development process.
Cold colors
In contrast to warm tones, cool colors have serenity effects on our mind and body. Because of this, many people choose to use these colors in their decorating schemes to ensure a sense of spaciousness and peace. However, they should be used carefully because the stronger they are, the colder and more reserved a person will feel. The best way to mitigate such an effect is to combine it with pastel shades, off-white fabrics and accessories.
brown
Brown is the earthiest, warmest, and most natural choice for your child’s room. It’s the favorite color for nursery that could teach your child to love and empathize with nature.
If you decide to go for a brown nursery, choose between darker tones or soft beige, as the intermediate tones can be associated with a lot of unpleasant things.
Gray
As mentioned earlier, experimenting with color can produce stunning results. This doesn’t have to mean that the magic of neutral pallets is irreversibly lost! Neutral colors are fair and encourage thoughts and emotions. Gray, for example, is perfect for freshening up the bold colors you’ve chosen for your home decor.
green
Green is the ultimate symbol of nature and serenity. It’s the first color that comes to mind when talking about peace, health, and wellbeing. This is because green is a powerful pacifier for the mind and body that helps us calm down and focus.
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Sometimes a green environment increases our essential skills – a famous study concluded that a green layer applied to a page of text increases reading speed and the quality of understanding.
Purple – magnificent, fascinating, extravagant
Purple is the “expensive color” because it always comes with luxury and royalties. People have always associated purple with their social status and wealth (especially jewel tones). The rationale is that purple is quite artificial and can rarely be spotted in nature. That is why real purple (lilac, lavender and rosemary) also evokes serenity and aristocracy.
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No matter how closely science can explain the relationship between color and behavior, the look of your home is always your personal choice. This is especially true of purple walls and accessories that show how popular this color is with all generations. However, if you are planning on applying it in your baby’s room color scheme, there are a few pointers to keep in mind.
Science has repeatedly confirmed that purple is the favorite color of children. Light or dark, purple always manages to grab their attention and keep them focused for an extended period of time. Plus, purple has no visual or behavioral side effects, which means you can use this stylish baby room paint with absolute freedom.
White
White is the master of all combinations. It can be used with any color, tone, or hue as much as you see necessary. No wonder this color is used equally all over the world – it is a symbol of conversion, hope and vitality.
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White is highly recommended as a baby room color as it increases self-assessment capacity and strengthens the boundaries between children.
black
Black isn’t really a common baby nursery color. The reason for this is because people feel negative and try to avoid it as much as possible. Black is meant to be more of a moderation tool than a color and should only be used in spacious rooms with large windows and lots of outside light.
Summary
Image source: Lori Gentile interior design
These generalizations may come in handy, but what matters at the end of the day are personal psychological responses. A certain color that is believed to create a certain feeling may do just the opposite in your case. This is because we are all different and come from places with different cultures and social preferences.
Social expectations are very high when we create our baby room color schemes. This is why we tend to expose our children to colors they don’t like. If your little girl prefers blue, don’t worry about the negative side. Our brains are able to identify our needs and they will always guide us in the right direction. Basically, your daughter wants what she needs and that is the right way to keep her brain happy.