Kid's Rooms and the Psychology of Color

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Dec 14th 2008 1:00PM

Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Kid Decor & Style, Sleep

When we first moved into our new home a few months ago, I began repainting every single room in it, starting with my 8-year-old's bedroom. I let her choose the color (lavender) and help with the work. It turned out beautifully and I think it is one of the prettiest rooms in the house. She hates it. Within days of completing the job, she began experiencing color remorse. "Should have gone with pink," she says.

Months of begging have finally worn me down and I have agreed to repaint her room over winter break. In looking for the perfect shade of pink, I have been researching the psychology of color. The current lavender shade is perfect not just because it matches all her stuff, but also because this soft bluish purple is supposed to promote feelings of calm and relaxation.

The color she wants now, however, is a somewhat electric shade of pink. This color is said to stimulate energy, increase blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate. In other words, the absolute worst color for the bedroom of a kid who has trouble winding down at the end of the day as it is. We will likely compromise with a softer shade of pink with some hot pink accents.

What color are your kid's bedrooms? Did you give any consideration to the psychology of color when choosing that shade?

The Psychology of Color(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Comments (49)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Karen 12-14-2008 @ 1:10PM

Well, my kids wind down and go to sleep with the lights OFF, so the color of their room doesn't matter much! LOL

I say let her have whatever color she wants. Right now my daughter's room is a hot pink, with some purple and zebra stripes. Not a calm room at all.

I think it is more important to give them a sense of control and ownership over their space, especially as they approach adolescence.

Paint is such a simple thing. I say let her have what she wants, although I would tell her that this time she is living with her choice for (set predetermined time).

One Who Knows 12-29-2008 @ 2:51PM

Well shit! Who cares about paint! I paneled her room with dark oak panelling. If she don't like it, she can move the hell OUT! After all, she's 16!

Joy 12-14-2008 @ 2:15PM

I feel colors do promote feelings of calmness or "hyper-ness." Years ago my son was very "active" and I saw many specialists who suggested a light colored bedroom as well as softer music when nap-time or bedtime was approaching. If you think about it, doctors office's and places that warrant calmness have soft colored walls and aquariums and "soft" things. Kid themed places have loud colors. As do most bars and places they want you to feel "pumped up." I do feel color sets the mood.

There are so many other things kids do in their bedrooms other than sleep. Homework, reading or just playing with lego's. There is so much overstimulation in the world that I feel lighter bedrooms are a nice soft place for the kids to have.

For Ellie, I'd go with the lighter walls and the bright things she wants for the accessories just like you said above. I also agree with Karen that once it's painted, it has to stay for a certain period of time.

joy 12-18-2008 @ 11:27AM

I totally agree,. Let her choose her color. You're only a teenager once and it is important for all teenagers to "love" their own space. I also feel as you said, lights will go out and she will not see the colors. LOL She will be a much happier individual with the color of her choice and will be content. I doubt very seriously the hot pink color will keep her awake.
Just remind her that it cannot be repainted and give her a time- also, don't sweat the small stuff. One day when she is grown and gone you will wish she was back in that very room, WITH THE PAINT SHE CHOSE. Enjoy your daughter and her individuality. Support her choices. Let her be herself. I'm 56 years old, I know what I'm talking about.

Calrissa 12-14-2008 @ 6:42PM

My daughter used to have a lavender room. She also hated it with a grand passion. Her room is now a very pale shade of blue, called ice blue. She loves it.

A child should be able to pick what colors they want in their room but should also have the parents guidance to go with it. If my daughter had her way her walls would be navy blue. I put my foot down and told her it MUST be a lighter shade.

So let her pick the color but also guide her to the shade that would best suit. You can always make the colors pop with things that are a brighter shade.

And definitely set a time limit that the room must stay the color it's painted. Otherwise she will think that every few months she will be allowed to change the color because she is bored with it or doesn't like it. And that could get very expensive and time consuming!

ninainindia 12-14-2008 @ 7:57PM

Can't believe you agreed to repaint! I would definitely make clear this time that there won't be any changing for .. amount of time.

For the colour I think one bright wall should be enough, than keep the rest of the walls calmer.

Kirstie 12-15-2008 @ 9:07AM

Geez, you're forgiving .. my room got painted pink in the second grade when we moved into my house, and by the fourth grade I LOATHED looking it, especially because it was accompanied by pink carpet and a pink bedspread. I didn't get to repaint or or anything until my junior year of high school - and I went out and bought the paint myself! I also ripped up my carpeting myself .. but my parents did get me a new bed. =] I still have that pink bedspread, though .. it's been a permanent fixture since I was three, I guess I'm stuck with it.=]

My room is a tropical ocean blue .. it's gorgeous, not too vibrant but not too pastel. My whole room is very beachy, and I punch up the color with accents .. I have hot pink-ish magenta-y floor length curtains.

SKL 12-15-2008 @ 3:19PM

Hmm, I never got a choice, and if I give my kids a choice, they will know it's a privilege, not a right.

I definitely prefer soft colors for bedrooms for all ages. Personally I'd prefer pastel blue or green, but I've read that orange is the "happiest" color so I'd consider that if the kids wanted it. I think what I'd do is set a certain "tone" (pastel) and tell my kids that whatever color they choose had to be no darker than that. And my timetable for keeping the room a certain color would be pretty long. As in, at least 5 years, or maybe even forever.

My kids' room is currently off-white with a nursery border / cloth hangings in soft blues and greens. It's a small room with honey-colored furniture (including 2 cribs), so color on the walls would tend to make it look crowded. Also, this room is pretty much used only for sleeping, so there's no reason for anything in it to be stimulating. We'll see what happens as the girls get older - most likely I'll keep them in the same room with a bunk bed, which means they'll have to agree with each other if they want to pick a color.

AMANDA 12-15-2008 @ 4:14PM

My daughter is now 16 but when she was 13 or so she wanted her room painted. It had been done in horses but now the walls alternate between one like a bright aqua blue and one bright lime green. She has hot pink accent pieces such as flowers, dry erase boards on the walls and throw pillows. She still loves it. It's a conversation piece that's for sure!!

Kim 12-18-2008 @ 9:56AM

Amanda,

My daughter absolutely adores horses! We are buying a new house soon and I have promised her she can have her horse room. If I may ask, how did you do your daughter's room in horses? What color did you use? Did you use a border/accents and where did you find them? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

AMANDA 12-15-2008 @ 4:18PM

Oh and we didn't think about the psychology of the colors. She just had her heart set on it and so we did it. It's just paint...you can always paint over it.

I say let her paint it hot pink if she wants.

d 12-17-2008 @ 8:16PM

It is difficult to read the comments on color. There is so much ill informed information being spread around. Painting a room a color, does not imprint only one psychological/physiological reaction to the color. Our reaction to color is dynamic and always changing like anything else. It does not stay one static impression. The fact is when you paint a color, say red, eventually your reaction over a very short period of time will change to the opposite effect, and you will respond as you would to green. A lot more science involved than art.

Sarah 12-17-2008 @ 8:28PM

When we moved into our current home, my daughter was in third grade. Before this, she never had the chance to choose her own color for her room. The color she chose was--get ready for it--"Tiffany Box Blue"! That was not the color on the paint sample, but the color she told me she wanted. We had to take a Tiffany box with us to the store to buy the paint. The clerk was hysterical! Now, four years later, she's tired of it. I'm putting off painting it as long as I can, but maybe this summer I'll splurge and get a couple of cans of purple for her (maybe a lilac color).

Bobbie 12-17-2008 @ 8:38PM

I don't know that I agree with this article either, my daughter is almost 4 and ADHD. We have just recently done her in a Disney Princess Theme with LOTS of very bright pinks and she has plently of quiet play time in there along with her loud times. And when it's time for bed she knows to get in bed and go to sleep. She has no problems winding down. We just turn off the lights, toys, tv and out she goes. I don't know maybe she got too so much stimulation during the day she's just over exhasted and passes out by 8 pm.

Olivia 12-17-2008 @ 8:45PM

Since when should children be in charge of anything? No child has the right to complain about the color or style of their bedroom until they are able to use their money to paint the walls and choose the furnishings in their own home. Their only duty when living at home with their parents is to perform assigned chores in a timely manner and be grateful their parents provide them with food, clothing and a roof over their heads. Kids today have no respect for anything or anybody because their parents pander to their every whim ... and discipline is considered a "4-letter word." SHAMEFUL!

mom of 5 12-28-2008 @ 8:01PM

Wow!! Last time I checked it wasn't 1920. I chose to have my children and with that it is a pleasure to do special things for them. To say children should be grateful to have food and shelter is harsh. YOU chose to have them. YOU should be grateful if any of them come to see your hateful a$$ when you are old and in need. Maybe the tables will be turned and YOU can be grateful they provide you with the bare essentials when you can't provide for yourself. I LOVE the excited expressions on my kids faces when I do something special for them. That is payback enough for the food and shelter I provide!!

Heather Bonelli 12-28-2008 @ 9:51PM

I do tend to think that children have way too much control over their parents in general, thats because their is not enough discipline with this generation and that is evident in the lack of common courtesy toward people in general.....However, to say that a kids only place in the home is to do what you tell them doesn't allow for much individual growth now does it? Sounds like you are more interested in controlling everything than being a good parent. Allow the kids to be individual and if they don't like their color choice, they have to suffer the consequences and live with it, thats also a life lesson. You don't have to sleep in their room so what do you care. Granted some kids need to be controlled and those are usually the ones that aren't but there is a big backlash to controlling everything, including the petty, it's called rebellion and resentment. You decided to have kids, was it because you love children or you needed someone other than a husband to control? Kid's should certainly be grateful for all they are provided, but that is your job as a parent, they should not be pandered to, but allowing them a sense of individuality in the sanctity of their bedroom is a simple gesture of accepting your child for who they are, not who you want them to be! Disrespectful brats are that way because their parents allow it, but it's also a shame when a child can't be who they are artistically and individually because the parents feel it's acceptible to Force their ideals and beliefs on their kids.

Natalia 12-28-2008 @ 10:41PM

Do you control your man the way you control your kids with an iron fist, or has he already left you? You sound like you have SERIOUS control issues!!! Get a life of your own and maybe you won't have to mold your children into the control freak you are, thus saving their children from the likes of you.....

swyatt05 12-17-2008 @ 8:53PM

OH PLEASE!!! Its only paint. Let her have the color she wants. I get bored with color also. I usually change the paint scheme of my home every 2 years. I

Olivia 12-17-2008 @ 9:16PM

Adults usually pay for their own homes; therefore, they have the right to change the color scheme and furnishings whenever they please. CHILDREN should not have the right to demand the same privilege since their tastes change with the fad (nowadays, that's every other day), and they don't fund their desires.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

How To Submit Photos:
If you'd like your children (any age will do!) featured on ParentDish, upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. Be sure to read our main Flickr page for more information.