Room colors choices for persons with autism (2024)

Room Colors Choices For Persons With Autism

Room colors choices for persons with autism (1)

Paint Colors For The Autism Spectrum

Most of us take painting a room in our home as a simple weekend project. But for caretakers of autistic persons, painting a room can present a world of challenges. Please take a look at the color suggestions below to get advice and inspiration for your next painting project.

Order A Color Swatch See All Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (2)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Considering Safety And Comfort with Color

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The CDC’s most recent statistics reported that 1 in 59 children will be diagnosed with ASD. Of those, boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
Children with ASD can suffer from developmental regression including loss of language skills and social interests. Nearly half will wander or bolt from safety and 28 percent of eight year-olds with ASD have self-injurious behaviors.
When designing spaces for these children, it is very important to consider not only safety and comfort, but color.

See All PPG Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (3)

Neutral Paint Colors Help Reduce Visual Stimulation For Persons With Autism

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Reducing Stimulation Through Paint Color Choices

Research has found that several components of the eye are changed in Autistic children due to neural deficiencies and/or chemical imbalances. Some research has shown that almost 85% of children with ASD see colors with greater intensity than non-autistic children. Therefore is important to choose not only the right color but to limit the intensity of the shade.
Neutrals reduce visual stimulation, stay away from bright whites and any colors that might remind your child of a visit to the hospital or other facilities that your child might correlate with an unpleasant medical experience.

See All Neutral Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (4)

Reduce Stimulation With Softer Paint Colors

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Creating Calm Through Color

Children’s medical offices can often have an overload of primary colors including red, blue and yellow in their fullest intensity. Full intensity colors should be avoided.
Red should never be used in the home as children with ASD perceive the color as florescent.
Yellows likewise are very stimulating and are best to avoid.
Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals can be very comforting. Keeping the colors muted, these tones can quiet the mind and create calm. PPGhas a special collection of Harmony colors that work wonderfully for this purpose. Here are some good choices broken down into paint color families.

See Relaxing Colors for Bedrooms

Room colors choices for persons with autism (5)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Neutralizing Colors For The Autistic Spectrum

Neutrals: Wheat Sheaf (PPG 14-21); Fishermen’s Net, (PPG 14-25) Armadillo (PPG 14-17) and Summer Wheat (PPG 14-10) are all excellent choices for a Neutral Color palette.

See All Neutral Paint Colors

favorite Wheat Sheaf PPG14-21
favorite Fisherman's Net PPG14-25
favorite Armadillo PPG14-17
favorite Summer Wheat PPG14-10

Visualize these colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (10)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

The Restorative Powers Of Green

Greens: This is a winning color family. The eye does not distort green and it is very soothing. In the Dale, (PPG 11-10), True to You, (PPG 1118-3) Great Joy (PPG 1120-3) More Melon, (PPG 1116-2) and Lettuce Alone (PPG 1222-4) are nice, calm greens that represent a beautiful array of restorative colors thatcan also be fun and create a feeling of joy in children.

See All Green Paint Colors

favorite In The Dale PPG11-10
favorite True To You PPG1118-3
favorite Great Joy PPG1120-3
favorite More Melon PPG1116-2
favorite Lettuce Alone PPG1222-4

Visualize these colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (16)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Blues Leaning Towards Teal

Blues: Blues should lean more towards the green and teal family. Although blue can be calming, too much or too dark can feel depressing. Colors like Simply Elegant (PPG1155-3) Crystal Lake (PPG 1151-4),Magical (PPG 1160-2), andMisty Aqua, (PPG 1147-3) may be more endearing to your child.

See All Blue Paint Colors

favorite Simply Elegant PPG1155-3
favorite Crystal Lake PPG1151-4
favorite Magical PPG1160-2
favorite Misty Aqua PPG1147-3

Visualize these colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (21)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Violets Evoke Safety & Love

Pinks and Violets: These colors are very calming for children and evoke feelings of safety and love. On the violet side, shades like Misty Violet, (PPG 1247-3) and Frosted Lilac (PPG 1173-3) create a sweet and calming aura while soft pinks like Rose Blush (PPG 18-18) and Just Blush (PPG 18-17) are lovely, cleaner pinks. Rose Cloud (PPG1048-3) and Nostalgia (PPG1049-3) bring more mauve to the space.

See All Pink Paint Colors See All Purple Paint Colors

favorite Misty Violet PPG1247-3
favorite Frosted Lilac PPG1173-3
favorite Rose Blush PPG18-18
favorite Just Blush PPG18-17
favorite Rose Cloud PPG1048-3
favorite Nostalgia PPG1049-3

Visualize these colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (28)

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Warm & Welcoming Oranges

Soft Orange and corals: It may seem counterintuitive to call Orange a calming color, but in the right tones, the color family can be very welcoming, warm and comforting. One bonus: using a soft orange or coral in the kitchen may help stimulate appetites and keep mealtime more manageable with picky eaters. Look to shades like Peach Beauty (PPG 18-27) and Beige Llama (PPG 18-13) to lean to the pastel- coral side of things while Peach Darling (PPG 1201-3) and Caramel Ice (PPG 1202-4) will put a nice warm glow in the room.

See All Orange Paint Colors

favorite Peach Beauty PPG18-27
favorite Beige Llama PPG18-13
favorite Peach Darling PPG1201-3
favorite Caramel Ice PPG1202-4

Visualize these colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (33)

Avoid High Contrast With Color Choices

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Minimize Contrast For Comfort

Minimizing the contrast is a key in placing color in these spaces. Paint the ceiling in the rooms a lighter version of that color to reduce the level of contrast between the ceilings and walls. Also, avoid using bright white trim around windows, baseboards and doors. The high contrast can create visual lines on the walls. It is perfectly acceptable to use the same shade of paint color in a different sheen. For example, eggshell on the wall and satin on the trim. You could also go up or down one shade on the color stripe for the trim color. This will create subtle shading and look beautiful.

See All PPG Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (34)

Choose Simple Accessories Without A Lot Of Patterns

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

Avoid The Extremes

It is also best to avoid patterns and high contrast between window treatments and walls. Stripes, prints and other patterns can become busy and distracting, especially in bedrooms. When using fabric blinds, try to make the blind blend with the wall color. Linen, taupe and soft gray are better choices. Keep bedding colors and patterns simple as well.
Color can be your best friend when designing spaces. It is one of the easiest fixes you can make for the smallest amount of investment.

See All PPG Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (35)

Comforting Colors Can Leading To Relaxed Moods

Room Paint Color Choices For Autistic Persons

We're Here To Help

PPG makes it easy to see what your paint color will look like. You can order large 8 by 8 swatches online for free. These swatches allow you to see a larger representation of the paint color in your home before you buy.

Order A Color Swatch See All Paint Colors

Room colors choices for persons with autism (2024)

FAQs

Room colors choices for persons with autism? ›

Opt for hues that promote calm and tranquility, such as navy, soft blue, lavender, sage green, or gray. If you have a play zone in their bedroom, it may not hurt to use a red or yellow that pops, but make sure it's far away enough from the bed where it won't be distracting at night.

What colors are good for autism bedroom? ›

Opt for hues that promote calm and tranquility, such as navy, soft blue, lavender, sage green, or gray. If you have a play zone in their bedroom, it may not hurt to use a red or yellow that pops, but make sure it's far away enough from the bed where it won't be distracting at night.

What colors are used for autism? ›

The Dominant Color: Blue

It is often used to symbolize support for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The choice of blue as the primary color for autism awareness can be traced back to the Autism Speaks organization, which adopted blue as their signature color.

What are the color preferences for autism? ›

Best Color Options for Autism-Friendly Space

Opting for soft, muted tones and duller shades such as a range of pastels is often the preferred approach. These hues are known for their calming properties offering a soothing ambiance, playing a vital role in reducing overstimulation.

What colors are Neurodivergent friendly? ›

When it comes to colours, neurodivergent students tend to prefer muted and pastel hues and neutral tones. Sensory Differences: Online Training Module by J Rogers and J Short asserts that neurodivergent students particularly favour tranquil greens and blues.

What is the best color for a sensory room? ›

White represents cleanliness, peacefulness, and calm. The meaning of white is also associated with peace, protection, and hope. White can be used to lighten your sensory room and encourage quiet. Blue: All shades of blue are soothing.

How can I make my bedroom autistic friendly? ›

While every child is different, there are some basic ways parents can make the bedroom a refuge from the sensory storm.
  1. Calming Colors. ...
  2. Controlled Lighting. ...
  3. Nighttime Pressure. ...
  4. Reduce Clutter. ...
  5. The Takeaway. ...
  6. If you need help looking for services for an individual with an autism spectrum condition, we can help.

What is the new color for autism? ›

The Color Blue

During Autism Awareness Month, particularly on World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd), many landmarks, buildings, and homes are illuminated in blue to promote awareness and support for the autism community.

What are neutral colors for autism? ›

Bright colors should be avoided as they can overstimulate. Dull colors with white and grey undertones are ideal choices because they have a calming effect for children on the spectrum. Additionally, cool blues and greens are great choices due to their ability to create tranquility.

Are autistic people sensitive to colors? ›

Some autistic children often find it impossible to touch some objects; others cannot tolerate certain smells, etc. The most often reported visual sensitivities are sensitivity to bright light, fluorescent light, colours and certain patterns (especially stripes).

Why wear red for autism? ›

Blue is seen as a symbol of sadness- “feeling blue”. Red represents the passion and heart of those on the autism spectrum.

What colors are good for sensory processing disorder? ›

Cool colors include blue, purple, and green. These colors calm children, soothing those with sensory disorders. Pale pink is a pleasing color for those with autism. Likewise, pale yellow provides a touch of energy without being too invasive.

What is the color scheme for autism awareness? ›

Red and Yellow. While blue is the most commonly associated color with autism, red and yellow are also utilized to represent this condition. Red is often used to symbolize the passion, strength, and determination of individuals on the autism spectrum. It represents their resilience and the drive to overcome challenges.

What are the colors for autism bedrooms? ›

Red should never be used in the home as children with ASD perceive the color as florescent. Yellows likewise are very stimulating and are best to avoid. Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals can be very comforting. Keeping the colors muted, these tones can quiet the mind and create calm.

What colors are calm for autism? ›

When it comes to calming colours for autism, muted tones of greens and blues are a great choice. They have much shorter wavelengths than brighter colours, meaning much less stimulation in the brain occurs.

What font is best for autism? ›

While everyone has individual preferences, generally the best fonts to use are sans-serif fonts such as Helvetica, Verdana or comic sans. If you use a serif font many people with autism say they prefer Garamond.

What are the best bedroom colors for mental health? ›

Best Paint Colours for Your Home to Improve Mental Health

Cool colours such as blue and green can create a calming environment as they evoke feelings of serenity. Additionally, warm colours like orange and yellow are linked to happiness and optimism.

What color bedroom for kids with ADHD? ›

Orange encourages creativity and may chase away the blues. To reduce anxiety, go with warm earth tones. Blue hues are known for slowing down the heart rate, reducing respiratory rhythm, and encouraging calm and focus. In general, stick with muted or pastel shades, and avoid primary colors.

Should you wear red or blue for autism? ›

Blue is a color that was originally chosen by non-autistic people to represent autism. Many people from the Autistic community actually prefer to wear red today, in an effort to support autism ACCEPTANCE, rather than just awareness.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6236

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.