Dulux has created The Dulux Industry Solutions Education Guide to assist architects, designers, facility managers and project teams when selecting colours for educational environments. This guide talks the reader through colour selection to enhance the learning experience in; classrooms, receptions areas, halls and gyms, communal areas, student accommodation through to playgrounds and car parks.

The Dulux Education Guide also equips the reader with product knowledge, aligning the best product to the task. “Our goal was to create a tool that could be a valuable reference point for a project team tasked with building or refurbishing an education facility. To do so we brought together Dulux colour experts, specifications, property services and commercial professionals to produce a useable guide,” says Simon Blincoe, National Specification Manager.

Read the preview below and download the full Dulux Industry Solutions Education Guide here

An excerpt:

How to Colour Specific Educational Areas

Communal education areas

Classrooms and communal education areas are where our brightest minds are formed. When space is limited, and rooms are busy, select a colour combination that delivers a sense of light and focus and makes the most of the space available. Many classroom colour schemes are built around the use of a feature wall as the key teaching zone. This is the area that the students will be facing most of the time, so using a suitable bright colour brings focus to the space and can actively encourage learning and concentration. Remember to also consider the age of the students and the orientation of the room when making these colour decisions.

Bold spaces and wayfinding

The exterior areas of educational facilities can be required to work just as hard as interior areas, and of course, they have to stand up to the weather as well as students. Wayfinding colours are critical and can not only differentiate buildings and zones but add important design elements.

Zone Highlight: Classrooms

Teaching and learning areas should be both stimulating and motivating. Colours in these zones should reflect the attentive learning environment that you are looking at creating.

Key product considerations

• The need for durability of finish and colour.
• Ability to withstand regular cleaning cycles and allow for simple maintenance and upkeep programs.

Dulux Product Recommendation: Walls

Dulux Wash & Wear Low Sheen is our leader for washability performance. It forms a velvety finish that is hard wearing and easy to keep clean. It gives walls the ultimate protection to stay looking freshly painted for years.

Zone Highlight: Changerooms

Bathrooms and change areas are practical spaces and as such, colours allow students both to wind down from an active session of sport and move quickly towards their next lesson with minimal fuss. Try combinations of soft colours punctuated with strong and bold accents.

Key considerations:

• These areas will likely have high levels of moisture and potential mould growth.
• Ensure durability, washability and ability to withstand cleaning programs.

Dulux Product Recommendation: Walls

Dulux Wash & Wear +PLUS Kitchen & Bathroom offers added protection due to added mould resistance and higher scrub resistance. Available in low sheen and semi-gloss variants.