With respect to color schemes, it is generally accepted that neutral colors of tan, beige, oyster, sandstone, oatmeal, cream, taupe, frost, smoke, pewter and silver are comfortable, conservative, stable and versatile, providing a safe, secure environment. Warm colors of rose, carnation, melon, coral, buttercup, almond, honey, and yellow are comfortable, cozy, nurturing and embracing, and advance occupants toward creating a friendly atmosphere. Soft yellow, coral and peach will have a diverting effect. Warm colors can also be used to reduce the scale and size of large spaces, making them more intimate. In cold climates, warm earthy tones have been shown to invite students and teachers into an environment for both reflective and collaborative learning and are good choices for gathering spots.

While brightness and warmth pull attention outward, softness and coolness of color have a reverse effect. Cool colors of pale green, mint, sea foam, robin's egg, aqua, sky, denim and soft blue are cool, refreshing, calming, relaxing, soothing and expansive; they recede away, which provides a spacious feeling. Softer surroundings created by subtle and/or cooler hues have centripetal action which enhances the ability to concentrate. Hence, cool colors become appropriate for upper and secondary grades as well as for study rooms and the school library.

Depending on the unique circumstances of a particular classroom, any of the above categories could be selected for three walls of a room, with an LRV of approximately 60–70 percent, with the fourth or feature wall incorporating a complementary or monochromatic color with an LRV of approximately 20 to 50 percent.

Other generally accepted guidelines for classroom design include:

• Light yellow-orange, almond, pale or light green or blue-green are good choices for three of four wall surfaces.

• The best practice is to use a tint like oyster white, sandtone, or beige for side and back walls and to have the front wall in medium colors, such as terra cotta, old gold, avocado, emerald green, turquoise and sapphire blue.

• Large areas of deep tones and saturated colors that are harsh and depressing, such as dark reds, browns and heavy blues are especially problematic and should be avoided.

• For consistent appearance and optimum light reflection specify white ceilings.

Classroom designers should also be aware that there is a design direction towards creating schools where classrooms are each individual and unique to each other. The basic concept is that children need to be constantly inspired, challenged and presented with new materials and environments. This concept is both liberating and challenging. It allows designers and teachers to explore constant design possibilities; yet, it increases the pressure to create this uniqueness which speaks to children in different ways throughout their school encounters in each area.

Science Laboratories

Depending on whether the lab is devoted to biology or chemistry, different color choices should be made. If diagnosis or examination of materials is critical, white, off-white or pearl gray are good choices. Because biology refers to nature, a biology lab would be best with earth tones such as neutral and/or beige, brown, green, teal or blue. Neutral or green and blue are the best choices for a chemistry lab consistent with chemistry's more logical focus.