New
New
Year 8

Playing with colour in architecture and interiors

I can create my own design using colour purposefully.

New
New
Year 8

Playing with colour in architecture and interiors

I can create my own design using colour purposefully.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Architects use colour to influence mood, making spaces feel calm, vibrant, or welcoming.
  2. Colour highlights design elements, drawing attention to specific areas or features and enhancing spatial perception.
  3. Colour can be incorporated by using different materials, such as glass, paint or natural materials.
  4. Colour can be used to support health and wellbeing.

Keywords

  • Interior design - the art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building.

  • Wellbeing - feeling healthy, happy and comfortable.

  • Perception - how we experience a space using our senses.

Common misconception

Colour is just used to make a space look good.

Colour in a room can have a big impact on the way a space feels and how we feel in that space.


To help you plan your year 8 art and design lesson on: Playing with colour in architecture and interiors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This is adaptable to your local situation. Use real-world spaces (cafes, hospitals, schools) to spark discussion on how colour affects mood and wellbeing.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Paper, scissors, glue, paint, coloured pencils, old magazines, coloured, patterned and textured papers, mixed fabric scraps, old box (shoebox etc)

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is an example of a structure?

painting
Correct answer: bridge
story book
poem
Song

Q2.
A small model used to test ideas before building is called a {}.

Correct Answer: Maquette, Model, Mini model, Scale model, Small model

Q3.
Match the keyword to its correct meaning:

Correct Answer:Architecture,Art and science of building

Art and science of building

Correct Answer:Form,Shape and structure of a design

Shape and structure of a design

Correct Answer:Scale,Design size compared to real life

Design size compared to real life

Correct Answer:Sustainability,Using resources carefully

Using resources carefully

Q4.
Which of these best describes inspiration in design?

The final product
The colour of a building
A building material
Correct answer: The first creative idea
A measuring tool

Q5.
In design, means the relationship between a drawing’s size and the real thing.

Correct Answer: Scale, proportion, size, scaled drawing, model scale

Q6.
Match each design idea with its focus:

Correct Answer:Colour,Use of hue and tone

Use of hue and tone

Correct Answer:Form,3D shape of a building

3D shape of a building

Correct Answer:Structure,What holds the design up

What holds the design up

Correct Answer:Inspiration,The start of a creative idea

The start of a creative idea

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Why do architects use colour in their designs?

To copy other designs
Correct answer: To change how spaces feel
To save building costs
To cover a bad design
To block out noise

Q2.
Colour in architecture can highlight important of a design.

Correct Answer: features, elements, details, shapes, areas

Q3.
Match the word to its meaning.

Correct Answer:Mood,Feeling or emotional state

Feeling or emotional state

Correct Answer:Materials,Tools used to create a design

Tools used to create a design

Correct Answer:Highlight,To draw attention to something

To draw attention to something

Correct Answer:Wellbeing,A person's health and comfort

A person's health and comfort

Q4.
Which of these materials can bring colour into a building?

glass
paint
W=wood
Correct answer: all of the above

Q5.
Using colour in interiors can support people's and comfort.

Correct Answer: wellbeing, health, relaxation, comfort, happiness

Q6.
Match the colour to its effect:

Correct Answer:Calm tones,Makes people feel relaxed

Makes people feel relaxed

Correct Answer:Bright colours,Adds energy to a space

Adds energy to a space

Correct Answer:Natural materials,Brings nature and warmth inside

Brings nature and warmth inside

Correct Answer:Colour highlights,Draws attention to a feature

Draws attention to a feature

Additional material

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