Colour theory in a library space

The power of colour in design is sometimes underestimated in interior and exterior layout, often overlooked in its affect on the mood of the space and its users.

Colours are associated with emotions and can expand or shrink a space. When designing a library space it should be taken into account that the colour palate of the building will reflect it’s mood. Colours set a tone, this is where it is important to note what mood a library needs to be; often a calming, warm, safe and generally quiet space.

A study has shown that “Black: 51% of respondents associated black with sadness White: 43% of people associated white with relief, Red: 68% associated red with love, Blue: 35% linked blue to feelings of relief, Green: 39% linked green to contentment, Yellow: 52% felt that yellow means joy, Purple: 25% reported they associated purple with pleasure, Brown: 36% linked brown to disgust, Orange: 44% associated orange with joy, Pink: 50% linked pink with love (https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824)

Colours and associated emotions are taught from a young age, and are an effective tool not just for children but also for adults. From signs to ads colours are used as guidance and provoke emotions, even pills are colour coded by it’s purpose.

Now taking that into account, to provoke the feeling of relaxation and warmth we would most likely use blue and a variety of warm colours (yellow, orange, red and warm green). It is important to use a variety of colours because if we just use blue while it does calm the mind the space will feel very monochromatic and repetitive. Yellow and orange would work best not only because they are warm colours but also that they are blues complementary colour, making the room harmonic.

It is also important to note that the colours are not as bright as they can be, as “watered down” or duller colours do give a calmer more relaxed feeling, opposed to a bright and exiting hue.

In design there is something called the 60-30-10, where the primary colour takes up 60% of the piece, a secondary takes 30% and 10% is taken up by an accent colour. An example of that being 60% white, 30% black and 10% red (accent usually is in contrast with the others).

Now back to our library, using the complementary colour rule and the 60-30-10 rule the new colour scheme for a library space could be; 60% blue, 30% yellow/orange and 10% accent, which in a libraries case could be the books, posters, furniture and even windows which range in colour but mostly relate to the use of white. The order could also be flipped, with yellow/orange taking up most of the space for a more warm space.

Ultimately making the library accessible and collaborative is one thing but making the library visually appealing and emotionally calming is another; not only through furniture, décor and posters but through the use of colours and theory.