The Psychology of Space

The scent of apples makes a room feel open, while a chair that retains heat makes you feel positive towards others. Here’s what your office subconsciously tells people. 

It’s not enough to simply have an office anymore. People need to feel good in the office. Design that appeals to the senses matters.

Research shows our environment affects us psychologically, whether it’s the color, smell, light, shapes or texture in a space, and smart architects and designers are using those tricks to ensure people feel calm, productive and a sense of belonging in the office.

Call it the psychology of space.

And there is more attention being paid to it as employers seek to make the office more inviting to employees. 

“You’re trying to tune the space so that people can perform cognitively to their full potential,” says Sally Augustin, principal at Design with Science, a Chicago consulting firm that works to inform design with applied psychology. 

Today’s latest office design trends embrace a cozy residential appeal—which, intentional or not—trigger us psychologically.  

“When you’re making workplaces seem homier, you’re using more wood which helps people decompress. And you’re using furniture that’s curvier that helps with relaxation and stress reduction,” says Augustin.

It’s important that a space has a moderate level of what Augustin calls “visual complexity,” which refers to the number of colors, patterns, and shapes and their organization in a space.

“It stresses you out when a space has too much or too little going on visually,” says Augustin. That goes for stark or barren environments, which can be equally uncomfortable as cluttered spaces.

Augustin points to Frank Lloyd Wright interior designs. Those, she says, have the right level of visual complexity. She suggests people compare their environment to photos of Wright’s work to determine whether they should prune or add more patterns and colors. 

Take, for instance, shapes. If you’re designing a breakroom in an office, ideally, you’ll want your employees to feel relaxed while eating their lunch and mingling. Research suggests that you use more curvy lines in upholstery or a nice wavy watery wall texture that can bring a sense of calm to the space. Think: large swaths of colors in natural or abstract and wavy shapes.

The Impact of Geometric Designs in Space

On the other hand, sharper textures can make a space seem a little more energetic, and angular shapes and hexagon patterns bring thoughts of action and movement. So geometric patterns on the hallway flooring can assist people in moving through quickly, she says.

It goes beyond visual appeal. Take, for instance, smell. Research has found that lavender can be calming and has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, while citrus scents can be uplifting and energizing. When a scent is used at a workplace, it’s introduced through the HVAC system.

Perhaps most surprising is the scent of green apples. It makes a space feel a little bigger than it actually is. Conversely, the smell of a fire might actually make a place feel cozier, but it’s not necessarily recommended for a public space or workplace, says Augustin. 

Texture and heat retention of furniture can also affect how we feel emotionally, she says. 

Augustin says one study found that the feel of a chair that retains heat— such as the arm of a metal chair or the warmth of a leather seat— leads people to feel more positive feelings towards those who are nearby. 

Colors Affect Mood and Decision-Making

Similarly, lighter colors make a room feel bigger, while darker colors make it feel smaller, pulling in the walls.

A lighter colored ceiling can feel slightly higher, which is great for enhancing performance. But in any space, it’s best to incorporate the lightest shade overhead, the darkest color underfoot, and the intermediate colors on the walls or whatever objects are surrounding people. That particular gradient has been proven to maximize comfort.

Research shows the color red reduces analytical performance, so Augustin recommends minimizing it in any place where people need analytical thinking. Green, on the other hand, has been shown to enhance creative performance.  

“Our emotional response to a color really gets down to its saturation and its brightness,” says Augustin. Lighter, less saturated tones create a sense of calm and comfort, and darker, more saturated colors can trigger energy and creativity.

Personality Matters 

How people respond to color can also depend on the individual and whether you’re an introvert and extrovert, says Robert Van Haaften, an environmental psychologist at BCDM Architects. Extroverts become more engaged in brighter warmer colors, while blues and cooler colors work better for introverts, he says.

Employers are starting to pay more attention to how design and space impacts a diverse employee base, rather than assuming everyone will respond the same to their environment. This has given rise to designing for the neurodiverse, or those who interact, think, process and absorb information differently.  

These designs could include offering a variety of places that people can work, depending on their sensitivity or needs. That could be bright white spaces for more activity to stimulate work. Or, it could be smaller, darker spaces that offer a feeling of safety, and a variety of meeting spaces. Experts recommend avoiding rough textures and high contrast repeating patterns on floors and walls, which can be intense to an autistic individual. 

Personality and activity zones can be helpful inside an office. Higher ceilings and more natural light can feel open and refreshing, while a darker space with lower ceilings can be great for focused time.  

The Power of Nature

Research shows exposure to natural light can improve mood by 15% and enhance productivity by 25%, according to one study by BRE, Building Research Establishment Research, a construction research industry.

“Natural lighting is almost a magical thing to humans,” says Augustin.

It’s also been well documented that biophilic design, or adding plants and greenery and pictures of nature, can improve wellbeing, reduce stress, boost mood, improve creativity, and aid cognitive function.

Even hearing the sounds of nature can reduce mental fatigue and improve concentration. “It’s relaxing to the brain,” says Augustin.

A number of companies are now creating layered soundscapes inside offices to limit distractions, mask office conversations and outside noises and change how people feel in the office. 

Hearing one side of a phone conversation, for instance, can be one of the most distracting kinds of noises, because a person’s brain is hearing the conversation and their brain is also trying to figure out what the other person is saying. 

One company, Moodsonic, designs offices with layered soundscapes, whether it’s lapping waves in the morning to the forest of Australia’s Rottnest Island in the afternoon to the sounds of a Japanese garden amid quieter times. 

Years ago, most companies weren’t aware of environmental psychology, but today, Augustin says more people are paying attention to the way their workplaces can help people do great work. She hopes considering how people experience their office will lead to better, more comfortable and more productive workspaces.