A healthy space: Controlling colour, clutter and art
From colour to clutter to art, how a child’s room looks can have an impact on behaviour
A 2011 study in the Journal of Neuroscience found that a child’s ability to focus was affected by the number of objects in their field of vision. So if your child’s bedroom looks like a tornado hit it, their ability to do homework or settle down to sleep could suffer.
CLUTTER
If your child likes to display their artwork, put a limit on how much, recommends Ottawa interior designer Ulya Jensen. Whenever they bring home a new piece of art, “one
Colour has a huge effect on how we feel, and teens almost always choose a dark colour.
goes up and one goes in a drawer — or a specific envelope. Having a routine with things coming in is the best way to keep control.”
Jensen cautions against open desk storage where you see everything.
“Your desktop proper should be the only space we see things out,” like pencils and paper.
It’s possible to be both tidy and creative with room storage, says interior designer Penny Southam.
“Kids’ rooms require a lot of creative storage ideas,” particularly ones that hide the mess, she says. Her suggestions include a window seat bench with drawers and lots of built-in storage, like storage in each step leading up to a top bunk or built into a bed frame.
COLOUR
Many people believe colour can have a psychological impact on emotion and mood, although the hard science is inconclusive.
The reasoning goes that colour may provoke physiological and psychological reactions, affecting everything from our metabolism and heart rate to blood pressure. This philosophy has long influenced everything from marketing and advertising, to art and interior design.
In general, cold colours such as blue and green are thought to be calming ( but when overused are thought to reinforce negative emotions, like sadness), while warm colours such as red, yellow and orange are said to be energizing ( but in large doses may invoke feelings of aggression and anxiety).
In the end, moderation is key, Jensen says. Does your child have a favourite colour? Opt for a pastel or subdued shade, or limit the colour’s placement in a room.
“When people talk about children’s rooms, they want fun, energy — some of the colours we wouldn’t necessarily want in the rest of the house,” Jensen says. “(Our daughter) loves reds and pinks and greens. Those colours are all great for kids, and we do want fun colours in children’s rooms. But … have those very vibrant, almost primary colours in the accents.
“Colour that is not halting or arresting is always better,” she adds. “A very bold colour on the wall is too overwhelming for the child.”
ART
Similar to wall colour, use moderation when it comes to wallpaper design, murals and other art. Limit flashy decor to certain areas, like on closet doors or on a false headboard.
“Kids are busy,” Jensen says. “We don’t need to add a lot of business to (the) hard elements in the room, like the wall.”
COMFORT
Place comforting images in a child’s sightline, easy to see from bed.
A family photo or favourite, non-threatening cartoon character poster can be a comfort when a child is falling asleep or waking up, according to feng shui expert Robyn Bentle, author of Creating a Haven.