Ways that the home can be adjusted to support autistic children and adults with hyper-sensitivity to colour.
28 January 2025
BY NEUROKIND DESIGN
The application of colour in our physical environments can have profound impacts on our emotions, moods and perception of space. If you’re hyper-sensitive to visual stimuli, you may find that you’re more sensitive to colour in your physical environments. Everyone processes colour differently, based on a number of factors, such as our individual psychology, culture and preferences. However, those of us who are hyper-sensitive to colour may often find bright, bold or contrasting colour particularly difficult or overwhelming. We often don’t realise just how much colour, alongside other visual stimuli, might be contributing to our state of dysregulation.
Here we discuss some of the research surrounding colour and autism, and suggest simple design strategies that you can implement in your home to create a more regulating environment.
Colour Terminology
When talking about colour, there is often a lot of different terminology used. We thought we’d include some useful definitions for terms related to colour:
Hue: The name of a colour family as found on a colour wheel (e.g. red, blue, purple, etc.).
Value: Describes the lightness or darkness of a colour - or in other words - how much light a colour absorbs. Dark colours absorb more light and therefore have more depth than lighter colours.
Saturation: Describes the intensity or purity of a colour. Highly saturated colours are bright and intense, whereas low saturation colours are softer and more subdued in intensity.
vs
Low saturation
High saturation
Temperature: Refers to whether a hue is warm, neutral or cool. Each colour family can have its own warm, neutral or cool variations. For example, even though green is generally considered a cool colour, there can be warm greens or cool greens.
vs
Warm green
Cool green
vs
Dark
Light
Tints, tone and shades: Often used incorrectly, these terms refer to variations in colour that can be made when either white (tint), grey (tone) or black (shade) is added to them [i].
The Research
Evidence-based research into how colour affects those with autism in the context of an interior environment is developing, however, some research studies have investigated the colour preferences of those with autism.
A 2016 study comparing the colour preferences of autistic and neurotypical children revealed that autistic children differed in their colour preferences, favouring greens and browns. Their least preferred colours were yellows and pinks [ii].
Autism design specialists GA Architects conducted a research study into the colour preferences of autistic children which resulted in a recommended palette of subdued colours favouring cool green and blue hues. 20 participants between the ages of 15 and 19 years were presented with a palette of 20 colours and through a process of elimination, a palette of 8 colours was chosen, illustrated below. [iii]
Based on this understanding of the colour preferences of autistic children, it could be supposed that using the preferred colours in an interior design context could be beneficial for those who are hypersensitive to colour and visual stimuli.
Credit: GA Architects
A variety of qualitative studies suggest that subdued, cool and colours found in nature are most ideal for creating calming environments for those with autism. It is suggested that warm colours such as reds, oranges and yellows, as well as pure whites can be overstimulating. Bright and fluorescent colours are also often found to be dysregulating and distracting [iv].
With this knowledge in mind, how can we apply this to our interior environments? Below, we suggest simple ways that you can adapt your home environment to support hyper-sensitivity to colour, and provide some examples [1]
1. Choose de-saturated colours.
If you are hypersensitive to colour, we recommend opting for colours and finishes that are soft, subdued and de-saturated in colour. This could look like pale colours such as pastels, off-whites and neutrals, or dark muted colours. Aim to eliminate or minimise any bright, high-saturation colours as these can become overwhelming and dysregulating.
2. Choose colours found in nature.
When choosing colours for finishes and furnishings in your home, favour colours often found in nature, like browns, beiges, greys, greens or blues. Avoid bold, warm colours such as reds, oranges or yellows, as these can be overstimulating.
An easy and broad way to incorporate colour into your home is with paint colours, particularly on your walls, ceilings and doors. Before committing to a colour, you might like to paint a large sample and observe how you respond to it over a few days. We’ve curated some of our favourite de-saturated and nature-inspired paint colours from Bauwerk and Dulux below:
DULUX White Duck
DULUX Oyster Linen
DULUX Walhalla
BAUWERK Intention
BAUWERK Still
BAUWERK Nurture
3. Use colour to define elements of a space.
Consider how you could use your sensitivity to colour to your advantage to differentiate certain elements of a space. One way that you could do this is by painting different rooms in different colours to define their use and create different levels of stimuli. For example, you might use a soft, light colour in your bedroom to create a restful atmosphere, and a bold, dark colour in your home-office to support alertness and productivity.
You could also use colour to define physical elements through contrast. For example, you might paint your doors and door frames a different colour to the walls to help define their location in space and aid in wayfinding [v].
4. Limit the number of colours used to achieve visual simplicity.
We often don't realise just how many colours are present in our homes, but amongst all of our furniture, belongings and everyday objects, visual clutter can build up very quickly. Avoid using too many colours in the one space, as this can contribute to visual clutter and cause overwhelm. To create visual interest but still keep things simple, consider using various tones, tints and shades of the same colour, or maintain a limited palette of neutral colours.
When we think of colour in our homes, we often immediately think of paint colours, but it is also worth considering how the colour of our furniture, finishes, decor and everyday objects contributes to our colour environment. In some cases, it may be difficult to completely avoid colours that we may find triggering. In this case, we recommend starting with a subdued palette as much as possible, especially on surfaces that can’t be easily removed from the space (for example, walls, ceilings, finishes, large furniture pieces, etc.). This will create a neutral baseline for more stimulating colour to be introduced if needed.
An example of a limited, neutral colour palette, using different varieties of the same colour.
Image credit: Photographed by Timothy Kaye | Armadale House by Selzer Design Studio
If you’d like to learn more about how to support colour sensitivities within your home, get in touch with us today. We’d like to hear from you!
Endnote:
[1] We recognise that environments are rarely occupied by one, and some of the strategies we suggest may not address opposing needs. However they are intended to inform, empower and create conversations about how neurodivergence can be supported and celebrated in our physical environments. In the case of differing sensory needs in environments occupied by multiple people, we recommend prioritising adaptability, control and flexibility as much as possible.
References:
[i] Barnhart, Ben. 2023. “Color tone terminology handbook: tint, tone, shade, and more.” Linearity, September 28, 2023. https://www.linearity.io/blog/color-tone-terminology/
[ii] Grandgeorge, Marine and Nobuo Masataka. 2016. “Atypical colour preference in children with autism spectrum disorder.” Frontiers in Psychology, 7 (1976): 1-5. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01976
[iii] Assirelli, Maria. 2010. "Colour and Best Practice in Autism Design." GA Architects. https://issuu.com/gaarchitects4/docs/mla-presentation-november-2010-low-
[iv] Shareef, Sardar, and Guita Farivarsadri. 2019. "The impact of colour and light on children with autism in interior spaces from
an architectural point of view." International Journal of Arts and Technology, 11 (2):153-164. DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2019.098847
[v] Gaines, Kristi, Angela Bourne, Michelle Pearson, and Mesha Kleibrink. 2016. Designing for Autism Spectrum Disorders. 1st ed. New York: Routledge.
Disclaimer:
The product suggestions provided on this blog are intended for general informational purposes only. Neurokind Design Research and Knowledge do not endorse or guarantee the products suggested by us. We do not receive compensation or incentives in exchange for a recommendation.
Neurokind Design Research and Knowledge cannot guarantee that all information is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We encourage readers to conduct their own research and make decisions based on their unique circumstances.
The information, ideas, advice and suggestions presented in this blog are not substitute for professional advice, treatment or assessment. The author shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, injury, disruption or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this blog.