Using Color in Room Design: How it affects actions, learning, and retention.

08/31/21 • 17 min

This is the second episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

Color has its own magnetic frequency. It has an energy that influences the neurological pathways in the brain.

Color also influences our moods, emotions, and actions. It is very impactful, so why not choose colors to help kiddos learn? Color also helps us stay regulated, feel better, reduce stress, and improve performance.

Lauren talks about using colors conducive to learning, retention, participation, and cooperation. She discusses a variety of ways to incorporate the following colors:

Red – Energy booster. Think the Energizer Bunny!
Orange – Mood lifter.
Yellow – Attention grabber.
Green – Concentration catcher.
Blue – Productivity driver.

Remember, color is a significant part of our lives and perceptions. Don’t shy away from trying different color combinations to see what works best for you.

Mentioned in this episode:
BDNF -Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.
We won’t go into the science of it, but what you do need to know is that it is activated by exercise and is a fertilizer for your brain. So, more exercise = clearer thinking.

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Classroom Design with Color in Mind

Our Online Courses:

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: When a child has challenging behaviors, how do you support parents in trying to understand it more from the child's perspective?

Try-at-home tip: Go outside immediately upon waking!

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
Returning to Us Podcast - part of the Top 15 Health & Wellbeing Podcasts!

This is the second episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

Color has its own magnetic frequency. It has an energy that influences the neurological pathways in the brain.

Lauren talks about using colors conducive to learning, retention, participation, and cooperation. She discusses a variety of ways to incorporate the following colors:

Red – Energy booster. Think the Energizer Bunny!
Orange – Mood lifter.
Yellow – Attention grabber.
Green – Concentration catcher.
Blue – Productivity driver.

Remember, color is a significant part of our lives and perceptions. Don’t shy away from trying different color combinations to see what works best for you.

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Classroom Design with Color in Mind

Our Online Courses:

Try-at-home tip: Go outside immediately upon waking!

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog

Previous Episode

Consider Sound in Room Design: How it affects focus and learning.

This is the first episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

A study by Cornell University found that chronic noise caused stress in children. The study also found they did not learn as well as those in a quiet neighborhood.

The body and the brain are in tune to things nearby, including sound. The brain expends energy processing those sounds, which takes away from focus and attention for learning . This is true for adults, as well. A noisy workspace also reduces productivity in office workers.

Lauren discusses the biological connection to sounds that we didn’t hear in our hunter-gatherer days. These new sounds trigger internal stress responses. Our Barking Dog (limbic system) quietly barks constantly, preventing the brain from fully focusing on the task at hand.

The types of noise to consider include:

Reverberation
Airborne
Impact

While we can’t stop all the excess noise, we can prevent some of it. Our brain has only so much mental capacity per day. If that capacity is spent on categorizing sounds, it’s not able to keep and store information.

Lauren gives several examples of noise reduction options for the classroom. Many of these same options can be used at home, too. More information is listed below.

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Design a Classroom with Sound in Mind

Our Online Courses:

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do you deal with kids who have a burst of aggression?

Try-at-home tip: Meditation – Try using Insight Timer!

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog

Next Episode

Aroma & Room Design: How it affects energy level, mood, and emotions.

This is the third episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior.

Have you ever been out for a walk and smelled something that triggered a memory? Our sense of smell can trigger memories and strong emotions, both good and bad.

The olfactory nerve taps into the memory system of the brain. That’s why strong smells have a connection with memory recall, emotions, and behaviors.

Let’s travel back in time a bit to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians practiced aromatherapy for both their physical and psychological wellness. Since that time, essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes to attain mind and body well-being.

Some aromas wake you up, calm you down, or stimulate brain activity. Get creative! Have fun! Be aware of allergies!

Lauren discusses various ways to incorporate scents, such as a diffuser, a spray bottle, scented candles, and plants. She also explains the effect of certain scents, including:

Lavender and Jasmine – have a calming effect.
Lemon / Citrus – enhances mental & physical performance and brightens the mood.
Rosemary – helps improve thinking, memory, and processing.
Cinnamon – stimulates brain activity and attention.
Peppermint - improves alertness & memory.

If you’ve been looking for ways to promote productivity or relaxation at home or in the classroom, introducing different scents might be what you need. Have fun exploring and experimenting!

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post – Classroom Design with Aroma in Mind

Our Online Courses:

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode:
Do you have helpful strategies for dealing with students who have ODD-type behaviors in a school setting?

Try-at-home tip: Co-Regulation