When thinking about color, it is good to consider various options.  Some considerations are below:

Red

  • has been proven to increase heart rate, respiration, and even aggression
  • can also increase appetite
  • painting the whole room with such a shocking shade can be overwhelming
  • some individuals with autism avoid the color red, it it too intense
  • in bedrooms, red can be too stimulating

Orange

  • an energetic, warm color
  • choice for rooms that need to be playful but sophisticated
  • gender neutral

Yellow

  • can actually strain the eyes 
  • people tend to lose their tempers more in yellow rooms, and babies exposed to lots of yellow cry more 
  • can increase concentration and boost energy
  • pairing it with cooler, more restful colors (like blue, green, or purple) can minimize negative effects and still let you enjoy its warmth

Green

  • cool, restful, and easy on the eyes
  • May help people relax
  • works well with most colors
  • be cautious of brighter hues such as lime green

 Blue

  • a very calming, restful color
  • very cool  
  • increases productivity
  • increases feelings of trust and loyalty
  • dampens the appetite
  • the wrong shade (too dark) can also contribute to feelings of sadness 

Purple

  • promotes rest and productivity
  • a purple room will feel warmer than a blue room will at the same temperature
  • a favorite choice of creative people

Pink

  • exposure to pink initially promotes a calming effect
  • but can eventually increase feelings of stress and anger, according to prison studies
  • say pink makes some people feel happy

Brown

  • brown rooms can have a sedating effect or an energizing one, depending on the accent colors 
  • dark shades can make a room look more intimate and cozy, while soft beige will "open up" a small space
  • popular combinations now are chocolate brown with pink, soft turquoise, or mint green
  • use it in the bedroom to create a cozy, restful space.

White

  • makes a room feel refreshing and pristine
  • white ceilings give the illusion of height
  • too much white, however, can make a room look boring, or worse, cold and sterile
  • Offset this effect by choosing off-white instead of a true, blinding white, and add some color

 Black

  • black rooms tend to appear oppressive 
  • Spending time in an all-black interior creates feelings of fear, desperation, and agitation
  • difficult to paint over
  • best used as an accent color
  • good choice for furniture, accessories, and stenciling 

Gray

  • neutral color
  • deep shades like charcoal can have the same oppressive effects as black 
  • lighter shades are more forgiving. 

Other

  • if you can, try to keep the environment orderly, calm, and monochromatic
  • be wary of high contrast color options and patterns
  • some individuals with autism may see colors with greater intensity than those without autism

The Color Wheel:

 Example 1

 Example 2 

Related Content for Home Design, Home Instruction or Home Skills, or Home Strategies on this site: 


colors of autism

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