The Future of Learning: HON Defines Top K-12 Design Trends for Dynamic and Supportive Educational SpacesĀ
How color, sustainability, and flexible design are creating more effective and engaging learning environments for all studentsĀ K-12 classrooms are evolving from static, one-size-fits-all spaces into dynamic ecosystems that cater to diverse learning styles and the well-being of students and educators. The HON Company is leading this transformation by establishing next-generation learning environments with education-focused solutions that combine thoughtful use of color, flexible design, and sustainable materials.
By applying color theory, HON enhances learning, well-being, and school identity, creating a built environment that shapes how students focus, engage, and feel. Its adaptable, mobile furniture supports diverse teaching methods and inclusivity, while the use of sustainable materials contributes to healthier learning spaces.
The Psychology of Color: More Than Just Decoration
Through its āColor in Motionā philosophy, HON is redefining the role color plays in schools, transforming color into a catalyst for student success, adaptability, and community pride. The manufacturer uses color theory to demonstrate to educators how informed color choices can shape and enrich studentsā learning experiences, from cognitive development to cultural pride.
Senior Workplace Advisory Manager at HON, Taylor Morgan, explains, āApplying color theory in furniture and space design is not just decorative ā itās deeply tied to learning outcomes, emotional comfort, and cognitive function. Research shows that age-appropriate color palettes can boost attention span, reduce fatigue, help create a sense of psychological safety, and significantly increase learning āsometimes equivalent to a yearās academic progress.ā
HON has found that different color palettes integrated into seating, storage, and work surfaces can curate learning environments that align with specific learning needs. Cool tones like blues and soft greens can be used in reading zones and libraries to encourage concentration and calm energy, whereas warm colors like yellows and reds can be used in maker spaces and collaboration areas to stimulate activity, collaboration, and creativity. Solutions like HONās Etch Seating with itās extended color palette allow schools to create these different color-defined areas, whether understated and monochromatic or bold and energized. The perforated shell of the Etch Seating adds a modern, visual texture, bringing dimension to these spaces. In distinct zones that seek to bring students together and prioritize teamwork, optimism, and creativity, HON Confetti™ Cushions & Floor Lounges can be used to insert pops of vibrant, playful color into the classroom.
Color theory also serves as a way to ignite school pride and identity. Incorporating school colors across furniture, graphics, and wayfinding tools makes every space feel like an extension of the schoolās values and culture. The varying colorways of HON Etch Seating, Confetti™ Cushions & FlockĀ® foster school spirit, inclusivity, and feelings of belonging within the academic environment.
Designing with Conscience: The Rise of Sustainable Schools
Investing in HON furniture helps schools become more sustainable through long-lasting pieces made from renewable resources. HON is committed to crafting durable products that are built to withstand high-traffic environments like schools while also prioritizing safety, ensuring products are free from harmful PFAS chemicals. The company’s responsible manufacturing serves to create furniture that is not harmful to anyone, but especially students in the formative years of their lives.
Beyond environmental responsibility, HON uses sustainable design strategies as a tool to enhance mental health through the calming effects of biophilia. Expanding the manufacturerās focus on color theory, HON deeply believes in the power of bringing natural elements and colors inside through their biophilic designs.
āSchools that incorporate natural colors into learning environments heal students and teachers alike. Earth tones are proven to reduce stress and improve attention spans,” says Morgan. “The extensive colorways of Etch Seating and our other education-focused furniture that incorporate greens, blues, and earthy tones are made to innovate and improve classrooms.”
The Flexible Classroom: Furniture That Moves with the Curriculum
As schools seek to break away from the one-size-fits-all classroom approach, mobile and adaptable spaces are integral. HON prioritizes creating flexible furniture that accommodates a wide range of activities and learning styles.
“At HON, we believe that our furniture should serve as versatile tools that empower schools to reconfigure learning environments quickly and effectively,” shares Morgan. “By developing furniture that are mobile, versatile, and inclusive, dynamic spaces can be cultivated to enhance engagement, promote deeper learning outcomes, and grant educators the ability to introduce diverse teaching methods.”
HON develops easy-to-move tables, chairs, and storage units allowing for diverse learning activities and quick classroom resets. HON SmartLinkĀ® & Build™ tables and chairs are lightweight, and the tablesā triangular shape makes them reconfigurable in countless ways. Casters on the HON Field Trip™ Tables enable educators to shift seamlessly between individual and group learning. Equipped with wheels, the MotivateĀ® Mobile Whiteboard further enables spontaneous collaboration and expands teachers’ toolkits, allowing teaching to occur in any part of the classroom and for any size of the class ā liberating educators from traditional lecture-style setups.
HON also develops multifunctional furniture to respond to demand for adaptable classrooms. The versatile Field Trip™ Tables double as whiteboards. With their writable tops, every surface can now serve as a space for ideas. Their height adjustability optimizes tiered layouts that enhance visibility and engagement, making the tables inclusive for any activity. The tableās nesting frame makes the classroom adaptable to full-class, mobile exercises, facilitating moments of collaboration, and high-energy learning. Similarly, the stackability of the SmartLinkĀ® & Build™ chairs provide flexible seating that can be repositioned for all-class activities. Anchored in mobility, versatility, and inclusivity, HONās solutions respond to diverse learning preferences, styles, and energy levels. These designs empower educators to deliver engaging and dynamic learning experiences for every student.
The innovations of HON education-focused furniture will be showcased at EDspaces Booth #1137. Attendees can experience firsthand the impact of color theory, the influence of biophilia, and the mobility, versatility, and inclusivity of the brandās furniture solutions.
To learn more visit www.hon.com/industry/education-furniture.
About HON
Since 1944, HON, an HNI Company, has been in the business of making workspaces work better. To HON, even an inch of space can make a huge difference in how you work. Thatās why we go to extremes to build office furniture that helps you work smarter, more comfortably, and on your terms. Whether the pressure is on, or the rest of the office is gone, weāre right there with you. HON has showrooms in three cities across the United States – New York City, Washington DC, and our headquarters in Muscatine, Iowa. For additional information, visit www.hon.com or follow HON on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.