Using Vibrant Colour in a Learning Environment

We are mostly drawn to natural colours in our set ups – peaceful wood textures with soft pastels and whites – but often there’s a need to experience full, vibrant colour. The question we always ask, is how to add vibrant colour to a learning environment without turning it into a cluttered, sensory overload.

This rainbow set up is a wonderful example of using colour in a way that feels harmonious, without losing vibrancy. Resource designers such as Grimms use this system beautifully in a lot of their products.

Grouping objects by colour in the format of a rainbow draws children’s attention and appeals to their sense of aesthetics. This set up is a perfect starting point for children to explore colour combinations, textures and shapes to create endless possibilities and use their creativity. Arranging colours in a rainbow gradient also helps children to discover colours’ relationships to each other – red and orange are similar, but red and green are not.

The power of colour in learning

A study by Nielson and Taylor in 2007 mentions that when colour passes through the retinal cells in the eyes, the receptor cells absorb the hues and send signals to the brain, where the colours are deciphered. These brain impulses also fall on the hormone regulating endocrine glands which then evoke emotional and psychological responses. 

When there’s an opportunity for this sort of open ended play, children can also explore different emotions through these colours and engage with each other in regard to the outcome of their creations and combinations.

Red is the colour of passion and energy. It can also encourage courage and conversation amongst young children.

Orange is a fun and fresh colour, but can also enhance critical thinking and memory to match and combine complimentary colours within this set up.

Yellow is the colour of happiness and sunshine for children. Yellow can also stimulate intelligence and optimism for children to encourage and inspire each other during this play session.

Green is the colour of abundance and relaxation which will help children feel a sense of calmness when trying out various creations.

Blue stimulates a cool and relaxing emotion that will stimulate children when they engage in this provocation.

Purple is an attention-grabbing colour for young children and will encourage them to be more creative with their combinations and creations.

Many of our products feature a wide range of colour options, to make this set up possible.

Here’s what we used to create it

• Rainbow Habutae Fabric Pack
• Sensory Stacking Blocks
• Plastic Lacing Beads
• Coloured Stacking Boxes

We hope these colourful ideas inspire you to add life into your learning environment for children to thrive.

If you'd like more ideas for set ups like this, follow us on Pinterest where we share some creative ideas for playtime and endless imaginations.