School design used to be rigid and uniform but priorities are changing. With the realisation that children have unique needs and ways of learning, educators are demanding student-centred design that embraces creativity, exploration and a more holistic approach to education1.

Increasingly, schools and colleges must balance the need to be robust and functional with the need to be inspiring, nurturing spaces that can support students emotionally, and help address complex behavioural needs2. The best modern school design aims to create learning environments where students can thrive, and a conducive colour scheme that encourages mental sustainability is a key ingredient.

Colour can have a profound effect on students’ performance and wellbeing in learning environments. Research suggests that schools or colleges should prioritise design and colour that light up the senses to inspire students and keep them motivated. Bright colours can transform a classroom into a dynamic learning hub3, and there is evidence that spaces stimulating the imagination can significantly improve a child’s ability to explore, learn and grow2.

Strategic use of colour also enhances wayfinding and orientation – a crucial factor in any educational environment and especially key for neurodiverse students.

Associated with healing, wisdom and the natural world, Mauvilac Colour of the Year Soulful Sage™ is a warm green. Academic research suggests that green can enhance creativity and originality; and it’s a colour that’s said to aid concentration2. Used alongside the pinks and ochres of the Lift Colour Story, this versatile, on-trend neutral can optimise the look and feel of multiple school settings, from classrooms and halls to corridors and reception areas. Bringing light and delight to educational environments, these are tones that can help create inspiring learning settings that lift the spirits and motivate students.

1. Design: How Education Architecture Reflects Changing Views on Childhood, Architizer, September 2024
2. Human Centric Design 2.0, AkzoNobel
3. How Schools Should Be: Holistic Classroom Designs that Promote Joy and Confidence, EDSpaces, October 2024

To help students and staff feel comfortable, school or college interiors must be easy to navigate. Colour-coding – or defining different areas with different colours – offers an instant visual key that helps people move around easily. With its distinctive but harmonious tones, the Lift Colour Story provides the opportunity to delineate different areas while retaining a unified, cohesive feel. Here, soft pink brings energy and personality to the lower floor, while Mauvilac Colour of the Year 2027 Soulful Sage™ leads students up the staircase to the next level.

Upbeat without being overwhelming Mauvilac Lift colours can be used effectively in combination to brighten a classroom environment. Here, the desk area is defined by warm ochre while, at eye level, pale grey-green and the ethereal Colour of the Year provide a light and inspiring backdrop for learning. Mauvilac Lift Colour Story

Mixing warm ochres and greens, the Mauvilac Lift Colour Story offers scope for stimulating colour contrasts in larger educational spaces, such as a library. Here, ochres are used for the shelving; pale clay defines the central pillar; while the soft sage Mauvilac Colour of the Year 2027, used on the window surrounds, offers users a tangible connection with the natural world outside.

Comprising sophisticated, on-trend tones of pink, ochre and green, the Lift Colour Story can give any educational facility an approachable, contemporary look while retaining subtlety and elegance. Here, the central section of the building has been brought to life with Mauvilac Colour of the Year 2027, while ochre, pink and soft brown add a human touch to other architectural details.