Chapter 17 – The Choice of Colors

Does a room decorated in neutral tones and pastels help one relax and fall asleep faster? And do bright and light colors boost mood more than darker ones? For adults, this is usually true—but do these rules also apply to young children? Which colors should be chosen for furniture, furnishings, accessories, toys, and clothing to support their well-being, stimulate them, and positively influence their behavior? Are there colors that are more suitable for girls and others for boys?

To begin with, newborns have little to no ability to perceive colors. It is only around 4–5 months of age that they begin to distinguish the different colors of objects. By 5 months, in particular, they are able to recognize categories of colors—such as red from yellow or green from blue—and even shades within the same color, such as various tones of red.

From an evolutionary standpoint, it is important that this skill is developed around the time the baby begins crawling and moving around, as it helps them orient themselves and identify potential threats.

Experts also refer to evolution when discussing the emotional associations we attach to certain colors (17). Humans spent much of their evolutionary history outdoors, exposed to sunlight, the blues of the sky and water, and the greens of vegetation. It’s reasonable to assume that yellow, blue, and green are naturally associated with positive feelings such as well-being, safety, and calm. On the other hand, black and gray—colors of the night, a time when our ancestors had to hide from predators—are linked to storms and bad weather.

Some studies also suggest that our color perceptions are influenced by seasonal conditions: in winter, we tend to prefer warm colors like red and orange, which evoke a sense of warmth; in summer, we gravitate toward cool colors like blue and green, associated with water and plant shade.

As children grow, their preferences for certain colors and emotional associations with them are shaped more by personal experiences and cultural context. A 5-year-old girl may dislike yellow because someone told her that “yellow clothes don’t suit her,” while a 6-year-old boy may love black because he practices judo and “wants a black belt.” Nonetheless, children continue to prefer bright and light colors, often associating them with positive emotions, energy, and well-being.

There is a clear distinction between relaxing and stimulating colors when it comes to children. Vision development in the early years depends equally on anatomical readiness—meaning the function of the eyes, optic nerve, and visual processing areas of the brain—and on exposure to light and visual stimulation, such as looking at near and far, still and moving objects.

Showing young children brightly colored objects and encouraging them to play with them is an effective way to stimulate vision while sparking their curiosity and interest. That’s why toys, rattles, and mobiles are often vividly colored.

In contrast, it’s better to choose more neutral tones for the nursery walls, bedding, and anything related to sleep, to avoid intense visual stimulation that could disrupt rest. Light green, yellow, and sky blue are ideal because they promote relaxation.

I Very young children can’t yet express preferences and probably don’t have a favorite color, but over time and with repeated exposure, they may develop one—often tied to positive experiences. It’s likely that the color chosen for their room will, over the years, become their favorite.

In our society, it’s common to choose pink for girls and blue for boys. This is a purely cultural convention, with no biological basis. In fact, just a few centuries ago, boys were dressed in pink—a color associated with red, and therefore courage and military skills—while girls were dressed in blue, mirroring the Virgin Mary’s veil in religious depictions.

So, the choice to dress girls in pink and boys in blue falls within the realm of parental preference. It may influence children’s future color tastes, but it will have no effect on their gender identity.