- The most popular nursey colour is yellow with a whopping 52% of parents painting their baby’s room this colour
- Least popular colour is red with 6% of parents painting their baby’s nursey this colour
- Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant, Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS said that green is the best colour for concentration, while purple can create a balance of energy and serenity
- The worst colour for a nursey is red, as Mr Chambers advises it can create aggression and overstimulated children
With baby fever hitting an all-time high over the last 6 months, nesting preparations are looming. After Princess Eugenie’s pregnancy announcement and the arrival of baby Hadid, interior design specialists homedit.com wanted to find out which were the best and worst shades to paint a baby’s nursery.
Homedit.com spoke exclusively to Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS, Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant. He commented that colour can have a significant effect on the psyche, influencing everything from mood to psychical wellbeing.
“When shopping for that nursery colour scheme, we are so often drawn in by the loving details, the delicate patterns, and the neutral colours. In our minds, we are looking to create a place of serenity for our precious bundle of joy.
There is another consideration to think about, and that is how the psychology of colour can impact on feelings and behaviours. The easiest way to partition colours into those that are warmer, and those that are cooler. Research has continued in this field and started to highlight some trends.”
TOP SEVEN BABY NURSEY COLOURS AS VOTED BY THE PUBLIC
Homedit surveyed 3,273 U.K. parents to find out the colours they have painted their nurseries. Coming in first place is the very neutral and calming yellow with 52% of parents. Lee Chambers had this to say:
“The wonderful colour of neutrality. A happy aura comes from a room the colour of the sun, and it can increase focus and motivation. The brighter the yellow, however, the more it stimulates frustration, and in research yellow made babies cry more than any other colour.”
In second place is the playful and romantic, pink with 37% of votes. Following this Mr Chambers added:
“A popular colour for a bedroom, but not so often elsewhere, pink takes some of the benefits of red and takes the edge off the stimulation. It is calming initially, and can increase compassion, but over time it can become irritating, leading to a disruptive child.”
The colour purple comes in third place, with 31% of parents using this wealthy colour for their baby’s nurseries. Lee Chambers offered some explanation as to why this would be a good choice for a nursery colour:
“A wise and regal colour, purple can be a great choice for something different. Combining the fire of the red, with the relaxed nature of blue, it can create a nice balance, or can be tailored towards more energy or more serenity by changing the shade. It does have an element of grown up about it, which may take the childish edge off.”
The loyal blue comes in fourth place with 29% of votes. Lee Chambers had this to say:
“A popular colour, blue creates a calming atmosphere that reduces stimulation and helps children to settle. It also invokes a sense of the body cooling, which helps when children fall asleep. It’s worth being mindful of the tone, too dark can become almost gloomy and uninspiring, but too pale reduces some of the benefits.”
The harmonious and fresh colour green comes in fifth place with 23% of parents using this colour for a baby’s nursery. Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS advised on why green may be a suitable colour for your new bundle of joy:
“The symbolic colour of nature, and the colour we can see the most shades of. With its connotations to growth and the outdoors, it takes some of the happiness from yellow and some of the calming of blue. It promotes concentration and soothes the mind, but it doesn’t motivate or inspire energy or communication.”
Coming in sixth is the fruity orange colour, with 17% of parents painting their baby’s nursery this colour. Whilst this colour is full of joyful and vibrant connotations, Mr Chambers advised that this colour may not be the best colour to use in your baby’s nursery:
“Another joyous colour not often used but very welcoming. It is the colour for inspiring communication if you want to promote chatter, but again is a colour that generates underlying anxiety that decreases children’s attention.”
Coming in last place is the colour most associated with anger and passion, red, with 6% of parents using this colour for nurseries. Lee Chambers provided an explanation as to why this may not be the best choice:
“The highly emotive colour of energy and anger. Likely to lead to an excitable, confident child willing to push the limits. However, it is also likely to increase aggression, decrease concentration and overstimulate children.”
Things to Consider
After evaluating the top seven colours for your baby’s nursey Lee Chambers also had this to add:
“The psychological response we have to colours are quite personal, shaped by experience and culture. The psychology of colour is still studying the small changes that it can make on humans, but it is a small part of creating a loving environment for your children. Trust your intuition and you won’t go far wrong.
You can bring out the value of colours by pairing darker colours with more vibrant neutral colours. With bold colours, consider utilising them through accessories and balance them with cooler colours.”