Have you noticed a beige clothes, toys, and decor trend—a stark contrast to the bright, busy primary-colored items typically considered “kid-friendly?” One mom, Hayley DeRoche, made an online parody account, @officialsadbeige, where she calls out what she perceives to be an obsession with neutrals at the cost of joyful color for kids today.
It went viral and raised an interesting point of reflection: What is the role of color in a baby or child’s space at home? Is more color automatically more joyful?
Not necessarily.
From a child development lens, the use of colors can influence a baby’s focus, mood, and ability to sustain their attention. Bright, stimulating colors may capture their attention, while softer, muted tones can be soothing and promote focus. Too many bright colors and patterns together can lead to overstimulation.
Color influences the way we, as adults, feel, too. If you are reaching for neutrals because it helps prevent overstimulation, that can be just as joyful as someone else’s space incorporating more color in a way that similarly makes them feel good.
Our takeaway at Joy: tune in to colors that feel good for you.
As for your baby:
Opt for a mix of colors in their spaces to support their vision development and expose them to the many shades of our world. It shouldn’t feel busy or cluttered, which can lead to overstimulation.
Use neutrals to help create calming spaces that can relax your baby where they sleep and help them better focus in their play spaces. For example, using a neutral shelf can make it easier for your baby to see colorful toys you might have.
Like most things, it is best thought of as a balance. Both bright, energizing colors and grounding neutrals are essential when it comes to inspiring certain activities and helping us connect meaningfully to our surroundings.