FEATURE FOCUS: INTELLIGENT CLASSROOM DESIGN


Using colour to improve wellbeing and learning


is critical, to ensure that students are comfortable and able to learn and develop without risk of sensory overload.


Classroom design


Colour is a useful tool within classrooms as it can be used to keep students focused. Using a more saturated shade on the teaching wall will help to draw the eye and keep students’ attention on the teacher. For maximum impact, it is recommended that neutral, softer shades are used on the other walls. This will create a neutral and non-distracting backdrop. However, avoid bright whites as they can cause glare and become distracting – or result in eye fatigue.


Aiding wayfinding T


he importance of colour and design goes much further than just beautifying spaces – it can also help to improve wellbeing and learning. In our second look at intelligent classroom design this month, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade, explores the use of colour in schools to support special educational needs and disability (SEND) students.


Colour has been shown to improve behaviour and encourage creativity within education environments. However, its success comes down to understanding the impact of colour, and designing spaces that meet pupils’ individual needs.


All students will respond to colour and design differently. However, SEND learners can be particularly sensitive to light and colour. This means that getting designs right in SEND schools


To help pupils navigate throughout the school as easily as possible, it is important to carefully think about the colours used on critical surfaces (walls, doors, floors and ceilings). Each one should be painted in different tones to make them easily distinguishable. For example, painting the walls in a different colour to the doors and door frames will make the entrance (and exit) to classrooms easier to see. This approach can also be applied to features like light switches and handrails, as it will make them more visible.


It is also recommended to decorate different building levels or subject buildings in contrasting colours, as this will help to make them recognisable. This can also be applied to spaces like sports halls and dining areas.


Choosing the right paint


Education settings are busy, and walls can often take knocks and scuffs. To protect surfaces and


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help to maintain the professional finish applied for longer, it is important to use a durable paint that has been designed to withstand daily wear and tear. It is also recommended to select a solution that is cleanable, so that any marks can be easily wiped away. Doing this will reduce the need for regular redecoration work, which helps to cut costs and improve sustainability over a building’s lifetime.


To further support sustainability objectives, look to specify water-based products that contain low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. There are solutions like Dulux Trade Diamond Matt that are 99.9% VOC free (based on in-can VOC content and measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013) and compliant with BREEAM and LEED certifications. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt also delivers the high durability and cleanability needed for the school environment; it is stain repellent, achieves Class 1 ISO 11998 and Type C BS 7719 scrub ratings and has been tested up to 10,000 scrubs, so walls can be easily cleaned and maintained for longer.


Putting it into practice


A prime example of these design principles in practice is Dulux Trade’s work at Firwood High School, Woodbridge Academy in Bolton - a severe learning disabilities (SLD) school for children aged 11-19. The school’s core focus is on providing young people with varying needs the chance to learn in a welcoming and supportive environment. Having worked with Firwood High School for several years, the team at Dulux Trade recognised an opportunity to create colour palettes for two multi-sensory classrooms (that are designed to help engage students using more


February 2024


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