Why Beautiful Learning Environments Matter—And How to Create Them

Denis Dutton was a philosopher of art and aesthetics. In his inspiring TED Talk, he uses illustrations that are a perfect fit for the principles of multimedia learning, as you might expect.

In this post, I want to explore two questions:

1. Why does beauty matter so much?

Dutton offers a simple explanation. The beauty we seek in everything—from landscapes to art and decorative objects—served two primary purposes in our evolutionary past:

1. Survival: The low-branched trees of the savanna offered a quick escape from predators, and a clear path signaled a safe route.
   

2. Reproduction: Which is, in itself, another form of survival for our genes.

This is why we still value beauty so deeply today; at our core, we are simply driven to survive.

"Aesthetics" can be an elusive concept, but Dutton explains that our perception of beauty is embedded in our shared DNA. For us, beauty is connected to the deepest feelings of safety and well-being.

And for us as educators, this is crucial.

I want to argue that, following Dutton's logic, a beautifully designed educational institution fulfills fundamental human needs: safety and identity (belonging).

The current educational discourse is filled with calls to appeal to emotion, to foster a shared dialogue, to welcome every individual into the community, and to provide social-emotional support for every one of us and our children. This "inclusion" is fostered by educators through words, smiles, and gazes—but also through the environment itself. An aesthetic environment provides a space and a voice for every individual who belongs to it.

I want to argue that long before a single word is spoken, anyone entering a space can feel whether it's a safe 'place'... or a threatening one. They can sense if it's a 'place' for growth, or one where they might wither. This feeling permeates without words, perceived in the first few seconds.

If you've noticed, my use of the word 'place' to describe the educational environment isn't accidental. In Hebrew, the word for 'place'—Makom—is incredibly meaningful. It encapsulates the essence, the heart, the faith, safety, belonging, and love required for a person to grow, thrive, and develop.

Let's strive to turn our educational institutions into such 'places.'

But... as educators, this can often leave us with a sense of helplessness. We weren't taught the language of shapes, colors, textures, or architectural design. Today, to own something beautiful, we typically go to a store and buy it (happy shopping, by the way). We often lack the fundamental skill of creating something beautiful ourselves—of setting up an aesthetic classroom or designing a school garden with color harmony.

(With a caveat, of course—some of us have a natural eye for aesthetics and are probably complimented on our choice of clothes, a bag, or shoes).

To overcome the challenge of creating a beautiful, harmonious, and supportive learning environment, we often turn to outside experts—like designers or architects—to shape our classrooms and hallways.

The problem is, these professionals often aren't deeply versed in pedagogy. They don't speak our language (pedagogy), and we don't speak theirs (architecture, interior design). In the worst-case scenarios, the result is a design that is completely misaligned with our pedagogical vision. A lot of money and effort can be wasted.

So, what can we do? This brings us to the practical application.

2. How can we use beauty in our physical environment to create safety and foster a sense of identity?

The Solution for Educators:

The solution lies with us. We need to dive in and learn a new language—the language of the visual. This is the language of shapes, colors, composition, and aesthetics.

The goal isn't to become interior designers, but to gain the skills to create and sustain environments that reflect our pedagogical values. Ideally, these should be flexible spaces that our students are empowered to co-create. It's about bringing them into the conversation and making them full partners in the process of building their own learning environments.

This is entirely possible with the right training and professional development.

In the meantime, here are a few practical tips to get you started.

A. Create Color Harmony Across Your Space

Repeating a specific color is a designer's trick for creating a sense of visual comfort and cohesion. You can repeat a color through a piece of furniture, an object, an accent wall, or textiles (like pillows or curtains). It's also effective to use a mix of varied textures and complementary shades.

If you have trouble matching colors, here's a simple solution: find color palettes you love online and replicate them in your space. Borrow ideas from great designers—there are countless inspiring design websites to explore.

The environment shouldn't be too visually "noisy," as this can interfere with learning and concentration. But it also shouldn't be bland or boring; after all, we want to draw our students in and make the space engaging.

The dose of warm colors (like red and orange) shouldn't be overwhelming, as this can create a sense of restlessness. It's well-known that cool colors (like blue and green) promote focus. However, to make them stand out, it helps to add small "pops" of warm colors to create an appealing contrast.

Achieving this harmony isn't always simple. Some say you need to have "an eye for it"—or what we might call visual literacy. A great idea is to consult with others, listen to their opinions, and share the process with your students. Encourage them to react, contribute, and help decide on the color palette that feels right for them. The enjoyment is guaranteed.

B. Organize Items into Meaningful Groups

"Yes," I hear you saying, "a library or a space like that is the work of a top designer... that's not for my school."

But you would be amazed at what the young minds you see every day are capable of creating—if you just empower them to dream and invent.

This principle of grouping related items into a single, organized unit appeals to our brains. It's difficult for us to process and remember many separate items at once. It's far more efficient for the brain to receive information in larger, well-organized "chunks."

The same principle applies to how we perceive a physical space. We prefer an environment that is clearly organized, making it easier to understand and navigate.

• This is the zone for collaboration and group work.

• Here is the display wall where we hang student work for gallery walks and peer discussions.

• This is a "messy" area for hands-on experiments with materials.

• Over here is the information hub and bulletin board.

• And this is the tech and multimedia station.
  

C. Embrace Flexibility, Flow Within Learning Environments, and Student-Led Changes

The more a space allows for change during learning activities, the more relevant it will be. Nothing should be static (except for the structural walls, of course!).

Students need to feel empowered to modify their environment based on the specific task, the learning modality, and their evolving needs. This can be achieved by:

• Using furniture on wheels that is lightweight and modular, allowing for countless configurations.

• Ensuring technology is wireless to support untethered movement.

• Creating a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas with easy and convenient access.
  

D. Foster Community Partnership in Planning and Building Learning Environments

Learning environments should be built with students, not for them.

Therefore, I firmly believe this isn't a task to be outsourced to someone outside the field of education. This is the responsibility of the educational community itself—the educators working in partnership with their students.

While expert consultation is certainly valuable, the flexibility and control over the environment's elements must ultimately rest in the hands of the teachers and the learners, together. The more the environment allows for this, the more effectively it can be tailored to any learning scenario.

Give it a try. The results are powerful.ֿ

E. Playfulness and Surprise

A playful environment reduces learner anxiety.

Performance anxiety is closely linked to lower academic achievement, and a wide body of research supports this. Game-based learning frees the learner from this pressure, allowing their cognitive functions to operate at their full potential. The stress of high-stakes testing places a heavy burden on a student's cognitive load, which not only impacts grades and achievement but, most critically, their sense of self-worth.

Therefore, try to cultivate an atmosphere of playfulness.

Teach with immense trust in your students' abilities. Don't be afraid of failure; instead, teach them to approach learning in a way that is fun and experiential, using rich visuals, positive reinforcement, and a lot of joy.

I invite you to become a member of our site and share your own thoughts in the comments below. If you found this post valuable, please consider sharing it with your professional learning networks (PLNs) and education communities.

Best of luck, 21st-century educators.