Melanie Thomas, Architect and Design Consultant at Crown Paints, discusses the need for careful consideration when specifying paint for an education setting.

Creating the right environment for learning is key to the modern classroom setting. As a result, the education sector requires a tailored approach when it comes to paint products and colour schemes.

From primary schools to universities, not only does the education sector often encompass a range of architectural styles and operational layouts but it also presents a unique challenge for paint product specification.

In short, the appropriate product must strike the right balance between being robust enough to withstand a daily flow of traffic and multitude of uses, while also taking into consideration the need to inspire and enrich the learning experience of staff and students.

The importance of colour
As so much of a young person’s life is spent in education, it’s important that they feel comfortable in their surroundings. Colour can transform facilities into environments that are not just visually appealing, but that also help to improve productivity and learning.

The impact of colour also varies by age, which is why Crown has developed three carefully considered colour palettes that are aligned to each of the key stages of the UK schooling system: primary, secondary and colleges, alongside higher education.

Each age group comes with unique considerations. For example, for young children at nursery and primary school level, it’s all about creating a vibrant colour palette that provides a fun setting and encourages playfulness and creativity.

School uniforms can also introduce a lot of colour into a classroom and this can often be overlooked when planning a colour scheme for a school. Factoring uniform colour is important for a successful design.

Meanwhile, for secondary schools and colleges, colour should be used to encourage learning and productivity, and secondary or tertiary shades tend to work best.

For universities, colour is used to create a mature learning environment which aids focus, while in student accommodation, colour helps to bring balance for both home study and relaxation.

Depending on the size of the school or education facility, a palette should consist of a few base colours for broad wall areas, trim colours and feature walls colours. A bespoke palette can ensure fluidity throughout the facility, avoid monotony, and achieve a cohesive and well-balanced scheme.

It’s also a known fact that well maintained schools are less likely to be vandalised and sometimes a few basic considerations can make all the difference.

A unique setting for specification
Within any given education setting, it’s not uncommon to find a variety of operational uses and challenges that paint specification needs to meet. For example, in classrooms, where regular usage is high, the likelihood of scuffs and spills is increased. Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable emulsions are formulated to provide a highly durable washable finish, which allows for repetitive cleaning whilst providing excellent stain resistance.

For high-traffic internal and external trim areas, quick drying Crown Trade Fastflow Satin and Gloss products are an ideal solution to minimise disruption due to their low solvent formulation.

Meanwhile, corridors and stairwells will often require additional fire safety measures, so products such as the Crown Trade Timonox range, which is flame retardant, offers protection in the event of a fire by slowing down the spread, allowing occupants to leave the building safely.

Hygiene is also particularly important in kitchens and food-service areas such as canteens. Crown Trade’s Clean Extreme Scrubbable Anti-Bacterial offers a dual-purpose solution that is stain resistant and defends against bacteria. This range has been specifically formulated and utilises the natural power of silver to limit the growth of bacteria such as MRSA, Salmonella and E.Coli.

Sports halls and gymnasiums are another high usage area within educational facilities that are typically multi-functional, with high levels of footfall – and typically have wooden floors. Repetitive cleaning causes major abrasion, so a high-performance varnish such as Crown’s Sadolin PV67 that offers hard wearing, anti-slip and scratch resistant finish, is vital.
Considering the multitude of environments and various use cases within a learning facility is key when specifying for the education sector.

It’s not just paint, it’s personal
Crown Paints brings years of experience when it comes to specifying for the education sector. They’ve used their experience to develop several specialised products that meet the unique demands of educational use.

Both their specification and architect & design teams work closely with educational institutions to devise bespoke paint packages and colour schemes. This helps management of maintenance cycles and ensures that colour is used thoughtfully, to enhance wayfinding, provide zoning, and foster an atmosphere that boosts productivity and aids concentration.

To find out more, visit the education portal on The Crown Paints Professional website here.