Skip to main content
Log in

Young Children’s Color Preferences in the Interior Environment

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focuses on children’s color preferences in the interior environment. Previous studies highlight young children’s preferences for the colors red and blue. The methods of this study used a rank ordering technique and a semi-structured interview process with 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. Findings reveal that children prefer the color red in the interior environment. The color purple was preferred by girls. Cool colors were favored over warm colors. Recommendations are made for application of color in the child development environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beke, L., Kutas, G., Kwak, Y., Young Sung, G., Park, D. S., & Bodrogi, P. (2008). Color preferences of aged observers compared to young observers. Color Research & Application, 33(5), 381–394. doi:10.1002/col.20434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, C. J., & Varghese, R. (1994). Children’s emotional associations with colors. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 155(1), 77–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkitt, E., Barrett, M., & Davis, A. (2003). Children’s color choices for completing drawings of affectively characterized topics. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(3), 445–455. doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark A., McQuail S., Moss P. (2003). Exploring the field of listening to and consulting with young children. Department of Education and Skills, Nottingham, England, UK. Research Report No. 445.

  • Cohen, S., & Trostle, S. L. (1988). Choice and stability of young children’s preferences for physical environment setting characteristics. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 66, 187–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, A. (2006). Constraints on children’s color term acquisition. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 94, 322–327. doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2006.02.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, X. P., Xin, J. H., Sato, T., Hansuebsai, A., Scalzo, M., Kajiwara, K., et al. (2007). Analysis of cross-cultural color emotion. Color Research & Application, 32(3), 223–229. doi:10.1002/col.20321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garth, T. R. (1922). Color preferences of 559 full-blood Indians. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 5(3), 392–418. doi:10.1037/h0072088.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garth, T. R. (1924). A color preference scale for one thousand white children. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 7(3), 233–241. doi:10.1037/h0071899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garth, T. R., & Collado, I. R. (1929). The color preferences of Filipino children. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 9(6), 397–404. doi:10.1037/h0075071.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gesche, I. (1927). The color preferences of one thousand one hundred and fifty-two Mexican children. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 7(4), 297–311. doi:10.1037/h0072520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groat, L., & Wang, D. (2002). Architectural research methods. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, L. E. (2000). A safe and welcoming school: What students, teachers, and parents think. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 17(4), 271–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, L. E., & Chmielewski, E. J. (2008). Environmental personalization and elementary school children’s self-esteem. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28, 143–153. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.10.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meerum Terwogt, M., & Hoeslma, J. B. (1995). Colors and emotions: Preferences and combinations. Journal of General Psychology, 122(1), 5–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer, F. M. (1925). Color preferences of one thousand and six Negroes. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 5(2), 109–146. doi:10.1037/h0072192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne, L. C., & Greenway, P. (1999). Color in children's drawings: The influence of age and gender. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 26(4), 261–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, G. T. (1987). The physical environment and cognitive development in child-care centers. In C. S. Weinstein & T. G. David (Eds.), Spaces for children: The built environment and child development (pp. 41–72). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munsell, A. (1988). The Munsell book of color: Glossy finish collection. Baltimore, MD: Munsell Color.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okamura, H., Kanazawa, S., & Yamaguchi, M. K. (2007). Development of chromatic induction in infancy. Infant and Child Development, 16, 629–648. doi:10.1002/icd.530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitchford, N. J., & Mullen, K. T. (2003). The development of conceptual color categories in pre-school children: Influence of perceptual categorization. Visual Cognition, 10(1), 51–77. doi:10.1080/713756669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitchford, N. J., & Mullen, K. T. (2005). The role of perception, language, and preference in the developmental acquisition of basic color terms. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 90, 275–302. doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2004.12.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumert, J. M., & Nichols-Whitehead, P. (2007). Developmental differences in preferences for using color, size, and location information to disambiguate hiding places. Journal of Cognition and Development, 8(4), 427–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Read, M. A. (2003). Use of color in child care environments: Application of color for wayfinding and space definition in Alabama child care centers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 30(4), 233–239. doi:10.1023/A:1023387607942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., Fairclough, S. J., & Twisk, J. W. R. (2007). Long-term effects of playground markings and physical structures on children’s recess physical activity levels. Preventive Medicine, 44, 393–397. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.01.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanoff, H. (1995). Creating environments for young children. Raleigh, NC: School of Design at North Carolina State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, D. T. (1974). The psychology of color and design. Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdez, P., & Mehrabian, A. (1994). Effects of color on emotion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 123, 394–409. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.123.4.394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, L. M., Toma, R. B., Tuveson, R. V., & Sondhi, L. (1990). Color preference and food choice among children. Journal of Psychology, 124(6), 645–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeisel, J. (2006). Inquiry by design: Environment/behavior/neuroscience in architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning (Revised Edition ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zemach, I. K., & Teller, D. Y. (2007). Infant color vision: Infants’ spontaneous color preferences are well behaved. Vision Research, 47, 1362–1367. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2007.02.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zentner, M. R. (2001). Preferences for colors and color—emotion combinations in early childhood. Developmental Science, 4(4), 389–398. doi:10.1111/1467-7687.00180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marilyn A. Read.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Read, M.A., Upington, D. Young Children’s Color Preferences in the Interior Environment. Early Childhood Educ J 36, 491–496 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-009-0311-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-009-0311-6

Keywords

Navigation