Design Psychology: The Effect our Surroundings have on our Behaviour

INTERIOR DESIGN

Oct 1

Contrary to its portrayal on design TV shows, interior design is about how a space functions for the end user and the feelings evoked in them, not just the aesthetics of a room. We often joke with our clients that in addition to our design degrees we also hold minors in marriage counselling and psychology. Interior designers use similar methods to gain a deeper understanding of your relationship with your home and each other to design a space that enhances your quality of life.

We spend the majority of our lives inside, thus the environment we live in has a significant impact on our psychological health. Environmental psychology is the study of how humans interact with the environments they live in. Lighting, colours, arrangement, scale, proportions, acoustics, and materials all interact with a person's senses to produce a range of emotions and behaviours. As a result, design and creative measures should be considered in accordance with the social and psychological needs of the occupants. Interior Design can have a great deal of influence on how we act or feel, from inducing warmth and safety to defining well-being or creating a positive and efficient working environment.

This dining room features a large live edge table, a piano, a ton of natural light, and is right next to a large two tone kitchen with a huge island.

Our Environmental Design studies included analyzing theoretical and practical issues related to human characteristics, needs, behaviours, and interactions with and within the built interior environment. Design psychology plays a key role in how we design your space, but also in how the final product affects your day-to-day life. Our emotional, behavioural, and cognitive states are largely influenced by the places where we live and work.

Interior design psychology is utilized all around you. Numerous neurological studies have shown the ability of interior design elements to evoke positive or negative emotional responses in people. Take for example how you feel walking into your favourite spa. The purpose of your visit is for relaxation and rejuvenation so entering an environment that is warm, inviting, and soothing will support these feelings and allow you to not only have a restorative experience but associate the space with pleasure. The effectiveness of the spa design also allows the proprietors to reach their goals of ensuring satisfied and repeat clients.

At Bungalow, we aim to transform your home into a place that you love coming home to by employing many of the same psychological techniques. We do this by thoroughly understanding what’s most important to you in your space and what you need to support you in your daily lives. For instance, you may want visitors to bypass the more familial areas of your home in favour of the entertaining areas so we explore wayfinding methods in the layout, or you may want to remove a wall to give the illusion of a bigger space instead of building an addition. As designers we work through these end goals with you to determine how we can alter your home to fit these needs.

Colour theory and psychology for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, brown, black, white.

It’s important to take colour, lighting, ceiling height, natural and other elements into consideration when designing a space as these factors can significantly alter your mood. Colours such as red, orange, and yellow stimulate, while green gives a sense of renewal. Blue is calming, while purple feels rich. The colour tone and shade are also important as a navy blue can be relaxing in a bedroom while an electric blue may be off-putting in a kitchen. You may love red but incorporating it on a large scale in your home may invoke feelings of anxiety or hostility and be overstimulating. Natural light is always best for boosting happiness due to the sun’s vitamin D benefits, however the coziness of warm lamplight in the evening hours cannot be overlooked. A lower ceiling, while cozier, can also feel confining if not implemented well. A higher ceiling often significantly improves mood by stimulating feelings of spaciousness, creativity, and focus but can also feel cavernous if other elements of the space aren’t considered. Likewise, natural elements such as plants, wood tones, and stone evoke feelings of being grounded and may reduce stress.

Interior design psychology has purpose and can be a powerful tool to help you live your best life. Working with an interior designer can shape your home to reflect your values and your design choices will unconsciously show your personality.