interiors - case studies

Applied colour psychology in action: some of the colour for interiors projects we have been involved in.

Applewood, Tadworth

Applewood is a respite care facility built in the community for children and young people with disabilities aged 5-18 years built by Surrey County Council in Tadworth Surrey that will be opening its doors to guests from late spring 2010.

The brief from Pat Williams manager of Applewood was to create a bright, lively, fun and ‘funky’ living accommodation that would inspire the young guests whom will be able to stay at the facility for between 2 and 6 nights.

To convey the qualities and feel that Applewood wanted to create colours that had warm, clear and bright characteristics were specified. The ‘personality’ of this family of fresh colours captures perfectly the qualities of youth, vitality, energy, creativity, activity, motivation and fun. It also identifies particularly well with professions, institutions or businesses linked with children and ‘youth’. The individual colours selected contribute to an upbeat and engaging environment.

      

 

The Hermitage School, Woking

Brand new classrooms were being built for this school and head teacher Mrs Maria Rimmer wished to involve the use of colour in the environment to support learning. We wanted to encourage through colour a sense of confidence and self esteem for the children and staff as well as select the colours intended to help them to focus on their learning. Here is what the children and staff had to say about their new environment.

   

The impact of colour to the school:

“Recently, our new classrooms were finished and they both look marvellous. One reason for this was the bright colours. Three of the walls are a lovely cream colour; the other is a calm blue. These colours enhance our learning because the cream compliments the blue. The cream is especially good at making us calm and relaxed. The board is on the blue wall, so it attracts our attention to the front allowing us to focus without difficulty. The carpet is a coarse purple which is nice to walk on because it is quite light underfoot. We have one small section of the classroom which is a wet area. In this section the flooring is linoleum. The colour of this is a light lilac so it is not as dark as the main carpet, but it is still a pure colour. When you walk into our new classrooms it is a beautiful sight”.

Phoebe Evans and Emily Sumpter (year 6 children)

“I’m really enjoying teaching in one of the new classrooms. The colours are fresh, bright and inviting. The colours of the walls and carpet compliment each other, and as a result, the classroom has a calm and peaceful feeling. The children have been very enthusiastic about their new classroom and enjoy working in here. The blue wall attracts their attention, and along with the other colours, gives them an orderly and serene learning environment that motivates them”.

 Laura Shepherd (class teacher)

 

National Autistic Society

This project formed part of the research by the National Autistic Society into the effects of colour on human behaviour. Applying colour psychology to the interior of a boarding school for autistic children, the brief was to create a calm and unified atmosphere, promoting stability and order. We specified colour schemes that considered the activities in each area of the home, including the bedrooms, to encourage specific behaviour.

The impact of in:colour to the organisation:

“The effect was astounding. Staff reported that the children seemed to have responded well to the changes in the colour scheme to the extent that behaviour in the dining room became a lot less disruptive and the children were encouraged to eat.

 

The blue and green colour palettes chosen for some bedrooms of children that would not otherwise settle easily seemed to have enhanced their ability to sleep in these rooms reasonably well. Equally as important for me was the improved morale of the staff of this home for we improved the colours used in staff and common areas too”.

Bernay Laity

 

The Rainbow Trust

This charity has two care homes for terminally-ill children and their families. The brief was to design new fresh looks for the family rooms in the Surrey home and to project manage the redecoration. The emphasis was on creating an upbeat but supportive environment and colour was key to achieving this.

The impact of in:colour to the organisation:

“I felt it was important to maintain a ‘home from home’ feel to these rooms at what is a very difficult time in these families lives. We focused on creating a look that was both fresh and interesting, whilst being comfortable and supportive for the families staying at the house”.

Bernay Laity

 

“Both rooms had become tired, they are now full of life, with colours that create a calm and relaxing atmosphere.  Staff and families are all delighted with the result.”

Pat Keown, house manager at Rainbow House

 

St Peter’s School, Farnham

The headmistress of this school engaged in:colour for advice on a new colour scheme, feeling that the grey walls were having a draining effect on morale and wanting the environment to be more child-oriented. in:colour recommended specific colours for different areas to help improve learning and activity, such as light yellow in the corridors to welcome the children in, promoting feelings of self-esteem and confidence as they entered the learning environment.

The impact of in:colour to the organisation:

“The exisiting grey and strong overpowering green colours seemed to dominate this school making the environment lacking in balance and appeal. We sought to create a more harmonious scheme with emphasis being on the use of colour to aid and support the staff, children and visitors to the school”.

Bernay Laity

 

Surrey Probation Service

Commissioned by the Chief Probation Officer for Surrey, this project involved auditing the decoration and condition of four probation centres and offices, then reporting on recommendations to improve interior decoration and general light and furnishing conditions for staff. in:colour also acted as interior design consultancy for a new probation office and centre in Woking. The emphasis was on using colour to support staff in this sensitive environment and creating a calm atmosphere promoting positive communication in the public areas.

The impact of in:colour to the organisation:

“The application of colour psychology to the interior decorating specifications of these environments was considered integral.

 

The Probation Service wished to enhance the conditions for staff of supportiveness, clear thought, calm and communication and the effect for ‘clients’ being respect, calm and trust”.

Bernay Laity