Couple things I'd think about:

 What are the school colors and is there way to take that palette and liberate it into a separate - yet intrinsically related - color scheme appropriate for typical classroom tasks and activity.

 Just one color everywhere or are you allowed to use color to code the classroom? What I mean by coding is identifying zones like the science corner, or use color to help underscore the mood & behavior expected like for the reading circle or teachers desk.

 Would want to stay away from the arm-chair color psychology advice that tags a specific hue as "the" color that facilitates learning, studying, gettin' smart in general. Because colors that will make you smart do not exist - it's purely urban legend of color.

 Color psychology would, however, be important to incorporate. For example, painting the doorway hall red would be a poor choice. Because that's where kids are asked to line up, get quiet and organized to leave the classroom in an orderly fashion. Leaving the classroom is charged enough - lunch, recess, gym. Adding red into that equation would be an insane choice.

 Visual ergonomics would be key. Bright, cheery, light and airy might sound good but I'd be concerned about how it worked. Hi contrast and 'bright' colors gives the muscles in your eyeballs a workout. Adapting, adjusting, focusing at the high rate those kinds of colors cause equates to eye fatigue. Kids might be attracted to those bright lime greens, for example, but it should not be used as the color to demarcate the computer corner, for example.

 You're probably limited to using SW paint, but that doesn't mean you are limited to the SW palette. SW can *match* other brand's palettes.

As an occupational therapist working in the school system, I would take into consideration sensory processing issues in children, regardless if they have any problems in this area. Children with sensory issues (PDD, Autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder) react to visual input in different ways. Some children are overstimulated by bright colors, others need the more intense color to keep them engaged. Colors of nature are calming in general. To be safe and I would stay with colors that are soothing. I don't have my swatches in front of me, but perhaps something like SW Quietude (spa blue/green). In areas that you need more stimulation, you could always add color thru posters, etc.

Funcolors, the school colors are black, silver, and white. In the past, I have painted murals. Scanmike, I agree with the overstimulation issues. There is not a lot of light in the room and I was thinking of a cool, subdued blue with white trim. I love Quietude, but was afraid it would come off too "boring". I guess I am used to seeing vibrant colors or something like a buttery yellow in these rooms. Thanks for your advice!

Black, silver and white doesn't give you a lot to work with. Darn.

If you can use more than one color, that can help. Murals are an excellent addition along with a good color palette for the other walls.

I can tell you are aware of a certain balance that has to be struck. You don't want to go too far in one direction and end up with "institutional" yet at the same time you don't want it to look like the Wiggles, Barney, and a herd of Pretty Ponies were your team of interior decorators.

I personally think buttery yellows are a good choice for classroom. Given your low-light situation, I would first test a SW color called Butter Up. It might be too intense -- you'll have to see what it does with the artificial light and quality of natural light. If Butter Up is too much, take a look at Jersey Cream.

The cool subdued blue with white trim isn't doin' much for me. For one thing that kind of palette partnered with the quality of light you've described could end up feeling cold, melancholy, a little depressing especially on in-door recess days. I just don't see that being a good choice. Learning is an activity so a classroom's mood shouldn't be one of repose.

Overstimulation is a concern but equally detrimental is understimulation. Which gets us right back to the idea of an interesting distribution of color and balance.

Be careful with SW Butterup. I just repainted my guest bedroom after living with Butterup for 5 years. It can be way too intense if you get early morning sun. Way too alarming. If the lighting is dim, it's more creamy like Jersey Cream. What grade level do you teach? Is this elementary school, preschool, nursery?
After attending several conferences on Sensory Processing Disorders and Autism and developing a therapeutic environment, we painted our therapy room a cooler blue (we have no windows) with clouds and every time a child enters, they feel more relaxed. Of course the fact that we have swings and tramplines doesn't hurt either. IMO, a child that is relaxed is a child ready to learn.

I would suggest Poetic Blue. It's an old SW color but they can still make it for you no problem at all. I have it in my laundry room (after other disastrous choices) and I LOVE it. It goes nicely with my white cabinets, and mostly white washer and dryer. It also works well with the fluorescent lighting in there. The best thing, however, is how it works with the "fake wood grain" on my appliance control panels!! I assume you have basically the same desktops all schools seem to have--fakey wood pattern with black metal bases. Well, Poetic Blue will look great!

I'll try to get a photo of it tomorrow for you and post it.

What color is the classroom carpet?

Absolutely the cooler blue with clouds then becomes more of a mural affect. The fundamental character of blue is changed by the addition of clouds; the color exists in a different context than a straight blue on the walls.

Conclusive statements that every time a child enters the room, they feel more relaxed is kinda hard for me to get on board with. How exactly can one know what every single child is feeling in response to contextual use of color? Same with a assuming that all children need to be in a relaxed state in order to learn. Quantify relaxed.

Each person, even a child, will have a unique tolerance and relationship with color(s). Painting with broad strokes and leaving balance behind in the name of assumptions that every child must be relaxed to learn is a slippery slope.

A room with a specific function of "therapy" would require different support from color than a regular classroom. Each room has a different function and serves different subsets of needs in children and therefore would be deserving of unique color strategies.

One could take it further and argue that the classroom as a whole should be dissected down into zones and a cohesive multi-colored palette should be implemented in order to support the function of each zone within the multi-tasking classroom.

Funcolors, not sure where you live but in NYC schools many classrooms are no larger than a 12 x 16 room. I kid you not. There are no "zones to be had". Not ideal, but a reality we have to work with. Yes, our room is a therapy room. It was an awful institutional yellow and a dumping ground for broken desks, chairs etc. After attending a conference where adults with autism spoke about the effects of color on their behavior, we chose blue and painted clouds on one wall since we have no window in our room. We also have lighting that isn't flourescent but natural light to avoid the flicker that is distractible to many children. In a school where the walls are pukey green and pee yellow, the blue is definitely a welcome change to everyone who sees it(parents, children, staff). It's like a breath of fresh air. And yes, my education and post educ. from professionals in my field has taught me that children do need to be in a ready state to learn. It has to do with arrousal state and neurology. I am not saying that blue is the optimum color, but the colors of nature are good choices. Relaxation in children with sensory processing disorders and austism spectrum d/o's is measured through observable behaviors ie: flapping, flicking fingers, auditory outbursts, rocking etc. Obviously the color blue isn't entirely responsible for the change, but it does help.

I have no doubt that you found the right balance - or equation if you will - of color for the function of the room and its users. The size of space you have to work with, the quality of light which is 100% artificial.... blue is working for you so I would agree with you that the blue on the walls with a mix of clouds is the optimum color solution -- in that specific case.

Blue has been documented to cause a release of hormones in the brain that are associated with relaxation. Those affects are not long-lasting. However, that is how "tranquil shades" of blue go about taking the initiative with regard to the experience of built environs and proceeds to set the tone and mood of a space -- and then continues to support it.

Similarly red has been scientifically documented (in numerous case studies) to cause a physio reaction of raised blood pressures. That too has proven to be short-term but nonetheless takes initiative and begins to define how a human being will likely interpret that space and experience it.

Finding the right balance on a case by case basis truly is the most difficult part when working with public spaces that have to serve a diversity of people - or students. A designated therapy room is  arguably  a lot more straightforward than a classroom that needs to support 20-30 children. A group of students that may have some things in common but not necessarily all things in common.

Success stories are always helpful. Never know when someone will read a post and see their own color challenges align with someone else's.

A "tranquil" blue with a dimension of clouds is an excellent option for 12 x 16 sized room and a specific category of teaching environs but it doesn't, it can't, apply to all of them. Not all classrooms are no-light 12 x 16 and not all of them need to support disorders.

Gmnolan,

Sorry to cause a bit of discussion re: color and effects upon behaviors.
You asked for some ideas and I just wanted to give you some information that I learned through the years from my profession.
You never said where you are or what age range you work with unless I missed that somewhere.
Just also keep in mind that if your classroom is hot (which many are in our school..radiators that overheat) colors will just add to the overal feel of the environment. Blue will make it feel coolor. We don't have air conditioning. If our room were yellow, I think I would feel even more warm in the summer months. But visa versa. If your room is cooler or you live in a cold climate, yellow may be good for you. I just wanted to give you the heads up that while your children may be typical in terms of development, you never know if they do indeed have issues and using a calming color, may serve the general population better than a bright yellow, red or orange. You could pick a few colors you like, paint a few very large poster boards and have your children vote secretly on their favorite color. It would be interesting to see which they prefer. If they are old enough, you could ask them to tell you why. If I had to repaint, I might choose a soothing green this time around or Ellen Kenwood's Oasis. Just some more info...yellow writing paper is visually better for kids to write on. They see the lines easies. Studies have shown that purple writing on computer screens with green backgrounds are better for learning disabled children. And keep the amount of things you hang up to a minimum. Children with ADHD, or ADD can't filter out extraneous info, so they focus on everything. It's not that some children can't attend, they attend to too much, so less is better. Let us know what color you choose.

May I ask what color the furniture and floor are? I would most likely use a soft blue or green. If you are like most teachers you will be hanging art and different things on the wall letting the painted walls play the usual backdrop role.

Here is the Poetic Blue I was talking about last night:

Another very close color is Hinting Blue, which might be just a smidge cooler, but is very nice. I used to teach school and know the "creamy" color you are used to seeing. I think I'd prefer the blue considering how much light your room gets, the various kids who will surely be in/out of it all day long, the wood grain, and most likely a large white-board.

I LOVE Celestial blue.

I agree with Scanmike. I taught kindergarten for many years and overstimulation is something you do not want. The activities you do, the social interaction and the materials in the room should be providing the stimulation for the children. Those are things you can control depending on the time of the day and what your expectations are for the children, plus every class is different.

Here in Florida, the State Fire Marshall also came down with a policy that only 20% of the wall space could be covered with flammable materials. That really put a damper on those of us who used to have our walls covered with children's work, center activities and such. Now, its basically what the district tells you you have to have up for teaching. No fluff! We used to hang art stuff etc from the light fixtures and that's a no no now. The rooms look less inviting for sure.

School furniture is now brightly colored many times and the non flammable rugs that most have can be, too. Since you probably won't paint for another few years, I'd go with something cool, like a baby blue or blue/green. How about Rain? Isn't that a SW color?

The floor is a white/gray laminate tile and the ceiling is a dropped ceiling with the white panels with grey. Once before, in another room, I painted one section of wall blue with clouds and painted hot air balloons. Then I stenciled "dream" and "believe" on it. The kids loved it. I purchased the blue from a big box store for cheap because it was a returned paint.

My classroom gets a bit of morning sun midmorning. It is just a basic BM off white with a touch of yellow. It looks much more yellow in the room, and people are drawn to the room. I use quality artwork on the walls, and the room is quite calm. (Montessori School)
In contrast, the room next door is a BM color called "Silver Cloud."
It is an of white with a tinge of blue. That color is so depressing. Ice Cold.
No matter how talented and dedicated the teacher is, I have never seen one that can overcome the dreariness of Silver Cloud. So, be careful with the blues in a classroom.

Perfect example of what I was trying to get across, but not sure I was successful.

Overstimulation vs. understimulation can not be defined by hue alone.

Each situation is unique. It's necessary to be inclusive of all children when choosing colors for general education environments.

Whether a color is performing as overstimulating or understimulating is entirely dependent on its saturation, not the hue. Just because a color's parent hue is yellow does not mean that it will be overstimulating.

Any color - even blue - can be used in such a way that one could classify it as overstimulating. A pale yellow, a buttery yellow is not any more overstimulating than an equally pale and muted blue-green.

As so often is the case with wall color it is a matter of partnering the right pitch of nuance with inherent light sources  with function always at the forefront.

So the criteria for which color is the best choice has to be reduced down into more detailed steps. i.e. what is the light source like and which paint color partners better while meeting a range of other defined criteria.

I 100% agree with the overstimulation issue. Some children NEED more sensory input than others (whether they are in a mainstream classroom or not) but this would better be addressed through activities and objects in the room vs. the color on the wall.

Now, this is not something I think your school would do (I'm impressed that they are even painting, let alone allowing you to choose the color) but for inspiration, see the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lazure

OMG, anele. :~D

It's really challenging to get folks to a point where they are on board with basic color psychology and that color can aid with visual ergonomics, worker/student attitudes, etc.

Taking it up a notch to the tenants that a school like Waldorf would be open to might garner some very interesting input. They (schools like Waldorf) definitely subscribe to how color and vibration is deeply supportive to humans from a nurturing and metaphysical, spiritual point of view.

That might be more than most folks can get their arms around. :~D I imagine a more traditional or mainstream school board would have a really, really hard time investing time or money into the power of color. It's sad, but I think in many situations the color on the wall is considered insignificant and not worthy of consideration, time, money, effort.

I too am impressed that gmnolen is even allowed to paint!