How to create a calm environment for improved learning, wellbeing, and behaviour.

There has been much discussion and debate over the years about the effect of brightly coloured environments on children (and adults) – and how ill-considered use of colour may have quite the impact on our feelings and mood, and children’s learning and behaviour.

For years, we were used to seeing incredibly bright, loud, busy and colourful spaces in our early years settings – and watched children almost burst with excitement on entry, to quickly deflate after a short amount of time in that space. Similar to the sugar rush we all experience when eating that much-needed biscuit at break-time, the pick-me-up effect doesn’t last long... and in fact, can leave us feeling worse once the sugar has worn off. This is similar to the sensory-overload children may experience when coming into an environment that is simply ‘too much’ – where they are swamped with more colour, noise, sensations and experiences than they can handle. Hyperactivity and poor behaviours may then result, rather than the focussed, sustained and engaged play you would hope for.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that young children’s learning ability was negatively impacted in settings where the walls were bright and highly decorated; they were more distracted by the visual environment, spent more time off task, and demonstrated smaller learning gains. In the worst cases, children were left unsettled and had behavioural issues.

One of the first blogs I read on this back in 2015 was by Alistair Bryce Clegg, and his points are still relevant today. He says: “When it comes to display there is just one question you need to ask yourself… ‘what is it for?’. Its sole purpose is not to make your space look pretty... It is there to provoke self-esteem and wellbeing, so a child can look at their work and be proud (‘I did that’), or it is there to provoke learning. Something that will teach or remind, but most of all engage. So what the science tells us is that our backgrounds should be neutral and that our borders should define a space or complement it, without fighting with it. It is children’s work and creativity that should take centre stage, standing out loud and proud”.

If you feel like your environment could do with an overhaul, there are some simple things to think about and do that could help to make a big difference.

1. Consider what colours you would like to use in your setting, and for what purpose.

Colour doesn’t just come from the walls - remember to consider the floor, ceiling and furniture, along with accessories – everything from pencil pot holders to lunch plates, and even to what you wear! In her book Start Smart: Building Brain Power in the Early Years (Revised Edition), Pam Schiller, PhD, includes the following chart for using colour to enhance learning and influence mood:

Colour	Impact
Red	Creates alertness and excitement
	Encourages creativity
	Increases appetite
	May be disturbing to anxious individuals
Blue	Creates a sense of well-being
	Sky blue in tranquillizing
	Can lower temperature
	Inhibits appetite
Yellow	Creates a positive feeling
	Optimum colour for maintaining attention
	Encourages creativity
Orange	Increases alertness
Green	Creates calmness
Purple	Creates calmness
Brown	Promotes a sense of security and relaxation
	Reduces fatigue
Off-white	Creates positive feelings
	Helps maintain attention

The consensus from settings we have visited is to keep backgrounds light, neutral and calm. Steiner Waldorf settings actually decorate their rooms in soft tones of pink, which they say helps to create a gentle, secure feeling to their indoor environments, helping children to feel safe, happy and loved.

 

2. Ensure neutral doesn’t equate to dull

Neutral most definitely doesn’t have to mean dull or bland – here’s how to introduce your ‘colour’:

• Display children’s work and art – it will stand out beautifully on natural backgrounds

 

• Create seasonal displays with items from nature – pebbles, twigs and real plants are great all year round but you could also consider adding fresh flowers like daffodils and tulips in spring; conkers and leaves in autumn, pinecones in winter, etc.

• Frame artwork and pictures with sticks and twigs

• Find alternatives to plastic tubs to store items - interesting baskets with different materials, weaves and textures; maybe old suitcases – take a trip to a car boot sale for inspiration!

• Use natural materials where possible to enhance your environment – many of these can be done on a budget! We’ve seen some incredible nursery transformations using pallets, cable reels, pieces of trellis etc. And some settings have faked the natural look on some walls with wallpapers that look like wood panelling or bricks, to great effect.

 

3. Maximise natural light

If you’ve ever spent too long in a dark room during the daytime, you will know the effect it can have! Tired, lethargic and possibly unmotivated to do anything, natural daylight provides the best antidote.

• Consider how you can make the most of natural daylight in your setting. If you don’t have large windows or an abundance of light, don’t block out more with heavy curtains or blinds.

 

• Be aware of how the light changes during the day in your setting, and what opportunities this may provide, such as

• highlighting certain areas at different times of day, eg:

• the shimmery effect on the water in the water tray, or on the wall if this is allowed to reflect somehow

• the shadows created as the sun moves around the room

• Use mirrors to reflect light into darker areas

 

4. Remember to think about how the space feels from a child’s perspective

As we’ve discovered, the visual impact of your setting is incredibly important – however, that isn’t the only sense that may be overloaded! Consider too the other senses – the experiences you are offering children in terms of what they can touch, smell and hear. Here are some more tips that may help you to make the best use of the space available to you in a way that doesn’t over-stimulate:

• Only have essential furniture – keep your space as clutter-free as possible (it’s better for the children to have room to play and to engage in group activities, and easier for you to keep clean and tidy too!)

 

• Add in multi-sensory experiences for the children to enjoy and discover – whether that’s adding interesting textures with wall hangings or objects such as a fluffy rug or ribbed cushions, or introducing new smells with scented play-dough, potpourri or fresh flowers.

• Consider adding sounds from nature, or calming music – these may help to soften other noises in the environment that may be out of your control.

• Ideally be resourced with open-ended toys that children will like to look at, and feel encouraged to touch and explore.

 

Some children will sadly not come from happy home environments. What you can do with your setting may well provide the settling, consistent, cosy home feeling – filled with a calm sense of peace and wellbeing – that some will desperately need.