Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade, answers readers’ questions on the importance of colour in inclusive design.
Office interior employing Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2024: Wild Wonder™
What is the perceived impact of colours on buildings and within architectural spaces?
Ultimately, colour shapes people’s experiences and guides feelings and behaviours within a space. Colour can evoke emotions, set moods, and even alter people’s sense of scale and proportion. For instance, warm colours can create a sense of comfort and intimacy, while cooler tones can bring calm and spaciousness.
Why is colour important in architecture?
Colour is more than just aesthetics; it is a powerful tool that plays a crucial role in functionality and user experience. Thoughtful colour choices can enhance wayfinding, promote inclusivity, and even influence productivity and well-being. For example, in office settings and learning environments, the right colours can foster focus and creativity, while in healthcare settings they can promote independence and calm. Colour can also reflect cultural significance and identity, making spaces more relatable and meaningful to their users.
How should architects approach the use of colour in their projects?
The key to colour specification is understanding the building and its intended use. Working with key stakeholders from the early stages of a project will help architects to identify how people should feel within a space – and the colours that can help to achieve this. As well as meeting the brief, placing occupants at the centre of designs will help to ensure spaces are inclusive and usable for years to come.
When creating colour palettes architects should consider the 60/30/10 rule. This says that 60 per cent of the space (large walls or flooring) should feature a dominant colour, 30 per cent a secondary colour (this is ideal for items like upholstery or curtains) and 10 per cent an accent colour (adding pops of interest through accessories like pillows or artwork). The Dulux Trade Colour Schemer tool can help with selecting these three key colours and give an idea of how it might look in the space.
How can colour be used to promote inclusive design?
Inclusive design is all about crafting spaces that everyone can enjoy and use, now and
in the future. It is important to ensure that designs do not discriminate based on age, ability, or background. Inclusive design goes beyond physical access; it embraces sensory and cognitive inclusivity across all buildings (not just specialised ones). When designing spaces, architects should consider biophilic design, which incorporates natural elements and colours to improve well-being; light reflectance value (LRV), which helps with selecting colours that enhance visibility and safety; and critical surfaces, such as walls and floors, for aiding navigation and user comfort.
In what ways can colour be used to aid wayfinding and building safety?
Using contrasting colours on key surfaces like doors, walls, and ceilings will help to make them more obvious and ensure people can move through a space with ease. Designs should adhere to guidelines like Building Regulations Approved Document M, volume 2, and the British Code of Practice: BS8300-2:2018, which align with the Equality Act 2010. These standards recommend that critical surfaces maintain a minimum visual contrast of 30 LRV points – LRV being a measure of how much visible light is reflected from a surface when illuminated. To help architects find suitable colours, Dulux Trade has named its shades using a notation system that includes the LRV of every colour.
How can colour be used to positively impact neurodivergent students in educational buildings?
For neurodivergent students, colour plays a crucial role in supporting their focus and comfort. While some people might thrive in environments with a lot of colour and energy, others might prefer calmer spaces that promote concentration and reduce anxiety. It is therefore crucial that schools and universities provide students with choice.
What tools are available to help architects with their colour choices?
Dulux Trade offers a number of tools and guides to support architects with colour specifications. The first is the Dulux Trade Colour and Contrast Design Guide, which provides essential insights into how different colours interact, ensuring that choices not only look great but also meet accessibility standards. The second is the Dulux Trade Colour Schemer, a user- friendly tool that allows architects to experiment with various colour palettes and visualise how different colours will work together in a space. It encourages creativity while ensuring that the selected colours harmonise beautifully. By selecting your sector and desired outcome, you can explore curated colour schemes tailored to different market sectors, and the software will display these schemes in your chosen image. Once your design is ready, you can get an A3 mood board printed and delivered to your doorstep, allowing you to share your professional designs with colleagues or building users.
For further information, please visit the Dulux Trade website.
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