After
Color
Your Cafeteria
Beautiful
By Cecily Walters and Patricia L. Fitzgerald
I
n the movie
“The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy’s discontent with life on the farm is punctu-
ated in the counterpoint of the black-and-white Kansas farm scenes against the glorious
Technicolor scenes in the magical Oz. Of course, numerous other movies use monochromatic hues to make a point, often to express melancholy, monotony, repression, gloom…well,
you get the point.
This is not to say that clean, bright whites or
soothing grays don’t have positive places in the
palette. But maybe not in a cafeteria filled with
fluorescent lighting and cinderblock walls. Do
your student customers see an inviting destination
on par with the commercial restaurants they
frequent outside of school? Or do they see a
stereotypical “institution”? It’s time to take a look
at the colors used in your serving and dining areas.
Be honest: Are they drab or fab?
Even if you have a personal affinity for color—
using it with confidence to liven up a room in your
home or to add an extra something special to your
outfit—you may not realize the full extent of how
color can be applied in the cafeteria. It can build
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SchoolNutrıtıon
• august 2010
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William Henry Harrison High School, West Lafayette, Ind.
participation, encourage consumption of various
menu components and promote positive perceptions
by kids, teachers, parents, administrators, legislators, reporters and so on. Ready to learn how color
can help you provide a truly fun and welcoming
environment for your students? A place where kids
can’t wait to hang out? Read on.
Looking to create a brighter, more
vibrant mealtime space? Learn
how some touches of color can
revitalize the eating environment.
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Color Me
Not only do colors help to convey messages about a particular space,
they also can open a window into your personality. Most of our
reactions to color come from our instincts, but some come from past
associations with various colors. Below is a sampling of personality
traits associated with popular favorites. This information isn’t scientific,
of course, but it’s fun to see whether your favorite color and your
personality match!
Red fans have a zest for life and are achievers who are intense,
impulsive, aggressive and passionate.
Blue is the most popular “favorite color.” Those who are love
blue are both trusting and have a need to be trusted. They
tend to be sensitive to others’ needs and can be described as
even-tempered and reliable.
Green lovers tend to be balanced types who are responsible
and get the job done. Other words to describe green admirers
include intelligent, fastidious and kind.
urple aficionados often consider themselves unconventional
P
and different from others. They may be intuitive, imaginative
and creative.
range is a favorite among those who work and play hard,
O
and who tend to have a great sense of humor. Many extroverts
favor orange.
If your favorite isn’t listed here, consult Colors For Your Every Mood by
Leatrice Eiseman for more fun information.
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Harmonious Hues
A space that makes effective use of
color—and applies it in marketing, as
well—simply makes the meal experience
more enjoyable. Color can improve the
level of comfort and how kids feel about
the space, says Jeanna DeSutter, president
of Descon, Inc. (Brownsburg, Ind.), a
consultancy specializing in the design and
manufacture of signage and specialty
décor exclusively for learning environments. DeSutter shared her insights with
attendees at the 2009 SNA Annual
National Conference in Las Vegas. (To
view the entire presentation,“The Power of
Color,” visit the Presentations and Papers
Library at SchoolNutrition.org: http://docs.
schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/
anc2009/presentations.asp.)
More than posters, bulletin boards and
other signage, paint can make the most
dramatic difference in the look of a
cafeteria. But a space painted in orange
and pink is going to create a much different feel than one that makes use of blue
and green. Before you start collecting
paint chips, you may want to refresh your
understanding of the traditional color
wheel (at left).
All colors—every single shade—come
from combinations of the three primary
colors: Red, Yellow and Blue. As in nature,
cooler shades tend to feature blue, while
warmer shades tend to involve red and
yellow. Colors that are close to each other
on the wheel, such as shades of blue and
green, tend to be seen as harmonious
because they share the same undertones.
But you want to take care when using such
analogous combinations, DeSutter points
out, as total harmony sometimes can be too
subtle, depending on the message that you
want to convey! Colors located across from
each other on the color wheel, such as red
and green or yellow and purple, are
considered complementary combinations,
complete opposites that often enhance one
another when used as a pair.
The Right Dye Job
There’s another step to consider before
breaking out the brushes and rollers.
What messages will your color choices
convey? Let’s say you are contemplating
red as a primary color for your cafeteria
walls. It’s bright, it’s
warm—but be warned
that some people reject red
when they are feeling irritated
or exhausted. On the other hand, color
experts suggest that the color red is linked
Color Confusion?
As you expand your options for paint
colors beyond the basic color wheel, keep
in mind that colors can look very different
in print than they do on your computer.
Don’t presume that the blue you see on a
paint chip will be identical to the blue you
view on a computer program that allows
you to design a “virtual” room. It could be
shockingly dissimilar!
This is because the type of system used
to reproduce color for printing (CMYK) is
different than the system used to reproduce color for computer and television
monitors (RGB). As explained on Wikipedia, the CMYK model works by partially
or entirely masking colors on a lighter
(usually white) background; the ink
reduces the light that would otherwise be
reflected, so it is called a “subtractive”
model because inks subtract the brightness from white. The acronym stands for
cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and key
(black).
The RGB model is considered an
“additive” combination; a computer
monitor mixes shades of red, green and
blue to create color pictures. Comparisons
between RGB displays and CMYK prints
can be different, because the color
reproduction technologies have very few
similarities.
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SNA ad-NEW.indd 1
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6/7/2010 5:00:38 PM
After
Before
to a psychological reaction that can
result in increased appetite! And, of
course, it is connected to many healthy
fruits and vegetables—plus popular
kid favorites, like pizza, salsa and
ketchup.
But there is no single “ideal” color
that will affect all customers the same
positive way. And while you don’t
want to get caught up in over-thinking
your options, doing some research into the
psychology and application of color can
help you make decisions that are a bit
more informed than picking a hue
primarily because it’s your grandson’s
favorite.
Fund Raising
Color can build participation, encourage consumption
of various menu components and promote positive
perceptions by kids, teachers, parents and others.
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Following are some examples of other interesting
facts about common colors:
n Sure, pink is associated with romance, sweetness
and tenderness, but did you know that pink also has an
influence on all growing things? Plants grown in a
hothouse with pink-tinted glass grow twice as fast as
those in a facility with blue glass!
n Strongly associated with sunshine, yellow tends to
convey optimism and friendly feelings.
n Not surprisingly, orange is considered the hottest
of all colors, and it tends to add zest and vitality where
used. Like red, orange is known to stimulate the
appetite. It’s considered a perfect choice for fastfood—
and if you look at some of the color schemes of familiar
chain restaurants, you will see that orange is integral in
the design.
n The wholesomeness of brown, the color of the
Earth, has been used to great advantage by the natural
food movement.
n The human eye sees more green than it does any
other color.
n Blue is associated with tranquility and peace.
Discover the
of Cooking
Some color experts recommend painting ceilings blue to
address feelings of claustrophobia.
n Black is the absence of all color, but it can have as
deep an impact as the most vibrant hues.
Of course, many school cafeterias find inspiration—
and acceptance—in using colors taken from school
logos, team colors and mascots. This approach certainly
reduces the agony of the decision!
A Spectrum of Options
Painting your facility is the most dramatic and obvious
way to introduce color into your cafeteria. It’s also one
of the least expensive things that can be done to improve
a space, says DeSutter. But what to paint? It’s amazing
what a difference simply painting trim—moldings,
doors, frames—can make. Painting the walls a bright
color certainly will have an impact—even a single
accent wall. On the other end of the spectrum, some
cafeterias turn heads with complex themes and murals
evoking everything from the ocean to the jungle to outer
space to popular culture.
But DeSutter cautions against going crazy with
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The cafeteria is a place where your students should feel welcome. It is important
that the décor accomplishs more than just a look. It should enhance communication
about menuing, nutrition and value and help to increase participation.
color: “It’s hard to make a cafeteria look good when there is
too much of one color—especially if it is a really bright,
aggressive color like red.” She advises that the majority of the
wall space be light or neutral, with accent colors or artwork to
act as a focal point.
Sometimes, painting the dining area simply isn’t an option,
whether because of budget or because renovation plans aren’t
suitable with the room’s multiple functions or because an
administrator simply refuses. Keep in mind other ways that
you can update your décor through color!
n Consider displays, such as posters, photographs and
other artwork. Images of food, in particular, can stimulate the
appetite while providing added color and making the space
more inviting.
n Be sure to think about color when you are ready to buy
new tables and chairs (see “A Seat at the Table,” page 56, for
more advice on buying such equipment).
n Even the uniforms worn by the school nutrition team
can be a way to add color and give a more professional look to
the operation.
n How do you display and merchandise menu items? A
serving line that also includes a few potted plants, flowers or
even a basket of fruit can offer colorful eye appeal. (And be
sure that the menu itself includes a colorful variety of fruits
and vegetables!)
n Spruce up your signage. This can be as simple as using
colored chalk to highlight key messages on a blackboard.
Countertop signs and ceiling danglers also can add color.
Color can work in these other areas of the cafeteria, but it
needs to be considered and applied with care, warns DeSutter.
She recommends using black, gray or other neutral colors for
tables and seating (especially since specing color can drive up
the price). And these neutral colors can work to varying
advantages; for example, she notes that food looks great when
served on black trays.
As you consider all the options, keep the messages you want
to convey foremost in mind. Do you want to merely step up the
perception of your operation? Do you want to emphasize
certain character values—teamwork, community, kindness,
spirit—in the personality of the cafeteria? Do you want to evoke
a commercial foodservice feel or something wholly unique and
magical? You may want to convene an advisory group of
students to offer ideas and feedback, giving them ownership of
the cafeteria as a place they truly can call their own.
Shades of Success
When it comes to cafeteria renovations, the bottom line is the
bottom line! When design is paramount, participation seems
to follow. An increase in participation was just what resulted
from Descon’s work with William Henry Harrison High
School in West Lafayette, Ind. Though the school did not
repaint or replace any equipment, DeSutter says, the previously off-white space was updated with food art murals,
photography and new menu boards. Messages like “Eat
Smart. Be Smart.” also were incorporated into the redesign.
“The participation rates of those students purchasing
meals increased 28% in the first two weeks [after the redesign]
and has steadily increased since,” DeSutter notes, adding,
“This concept helped the school to dramatically increase its
bottom line, and students are eating much healthier meals.”
Michigan City (Ind.) High School experienced similar
results. Changes included taking advantage of the cafeteria’s
high ceilings with the use of aluminum sheets to create
backdrops. Graphics were placed on the fronts of existing
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After
Before
Ben Davis University High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
Color Resources
Want to learn more about
how color can affect mood,
personality, marketing
messages and more? Check
out the following websites
and books.
equipment to tie food themes together. “Participation jumped to 71%—an increase of 500
meals per day—and the staff takes pride in their new display areas,” reports Kathy Kane,
SNS, foodservice director for Michigan City (Ind.) Area Schools.
Another redesign success story is the cafeteria at Pendleton Heights High School in
Pendleton, Ind. The cafeteria needed a fresh concept, DeSutter explains, so a food court was
created with the use of paint, signs and graphics, along with changes to the menu. One
serving line wall was divided into new colors. Another was decorated with an awning. After
the new look, the school’s lunch participation increased dramatically—by an estimated 250 to
300 more meals per day. Also after the new design, customer satisfaction increased from 64%
to 83%, resulting in a revenue increase of nearly $76,000 in one year, says DeSutter.
The cafeteria is a place where your students should feel welcome. Thus, it is important that
the décor accomplishes more than just a look. It should enhance communication about
menuing, nutrition, value and so on and help to increase participation, details DeSutter. “It
should also encourage healthier lifestyles through fitness and nutrition education” in
approaches that are suited to stimulate the target age group served in that facility. SN
Cecily Walters and Patricia Fitzgerald are, respectively, assistant editor and editor of School Nutrition. Photography on page 36 by Comstock, page 36, 37, 39, 40 and 43 by Getty Images. Illustration on page 38 by Nancy
Nehring/istockphoto.com. Cafeteria photos courtesy of Descon, Inc.
To Your Credit: For CEUs toward SNA certification, complete the “To Your Credit” test on page 46.
Colorstrology
www.colorstrology.com
Descon, Inc.
www.desconinc.com
Pantone® 2010
www.pantonepaint.com
The Voice of Color
www.voiceofcolor.com/en
Cabarga, Leslie. The
Designer’s Guide to Color
Combinations. North Light
Books, 1999.
Eiseman, Leatrice. The Color
Answer Book. Capital Books,
2005.
Eiseman, Leatrice. Colors for
Your Every Mood. Capital
Books, 2000.
Hartman, Ph.D., Taylor. The
Color Code. Scribner, 1999.
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