How Rooms Mess With Your Emotions

Have you ever walked into a building and just felt a sense of calm and wondered how? This is due to many architectural factors, which I will explain in more detail shortly. However, if you ever walk into a space and feel anxious, mad, or depleted, now you know, you can blame the architect. Let’s take a look at what exactly it is about buildings that evoke these emotions.

Space and light have the biggest impact on our internal mood. “Natural light is indispensable in regulating our circadian rhythms, the body's internal process regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Spaces blessed with ample natural light can help elevate moods, reduce depression, and regulate sleep patterns, making inhabitants feel more vibrant and alive” (Modular Clay Product Editors, 2024) take a look at figure 2 and think about how you feel. Apart from regulating our circadian rhythm, “exposure to sunlight has been linked to increased production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and promotes feelings of well-being” (JAS Architecture, 2024). This means that designing spaces with large windows that allow natural light to flow in is a key factor in improving mood. Aside from natural light, artificial lighting choices also matter, specifically the hue of the light. Blue-tinged lighting, for example, makes us feel more alert (Bond, 2017).

Space also plays a crucial role in shaping our emotions. A good example is ceiling height. Walking into a building with high ceilings often creates a freeing feeling as seen in figure 2 as well, whereas lower ceilings can make a space feel cramped and even claustrophobic. However, in some cases, low ceilings are more effective than high ones. For example, “In places such as operating rooms, it makes sense from a design perspective to have lower ceilings where things require the utmost attention” (Cannon, 2018). In Jane Lamour’s TED Talk, she explains that whenever she designs offices, she ensures the incorporation of ample space and natural light through windows, open layouts, and green elements to enhance workplace productivity.

Even though many factors influence how a building makes us feel, two more stand out to me: color and façade. The colors chosen for a house or office have a psychological effect, whether we realize it or not. Darker colors make a space feel smaller and can evoke anxiety and panic, while “warm colors like reds and oranges, on the other hand, can evoke energy and excitement” (JAS Architecture, 2024). Take a look at figure 3 and compare how you feel as opposed to when you looked at Figure 2. Facades also have a more significant impact than we might expect. External facades influence people’s happiness; for example, a city with “a complex façade is likely to be appreciated, but something comparatively monotonous can be particularly detrimental to some” (Cannon, 2018).

Architecture is more than just buildings, it shapes our emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. From the way light fills a space to the colors on the walls and the height of the ceilings, every design choice influences how we feel. By understanding these elements, architects can create environments that uplift and inspire, while poor design can have the opposite effect. So next time you walk into a space and feel a certain way, remember, it’s not just the building, but the design behind it that makes all the difference.

Sources:

Bond, M. (2017, June 6). The hidden ways that architecture affects how you feel. BBC Future. 

Cannon, M. (2018, August 3). The Science of Architecture: How Design Affects The Way We Feel. Laboratory Furniture Manufacturer, Supplier and Installer | InterFocus. https://www.mynewlab.com/blog/the-science-of-architecture-how-design-affects-the-way-we-feel/ 

Channon, B. (2018). Happy by design : a guide to architecture and mental wellbeing / Ben Channon. RIBA Publishing.

JAS Architecture. (2024, August 26). The impact of architecture on Mental Health: Designing spaces for well-being. jasboutique.co.uk. https://www.jasboutique.co.uk/blog/the-impact-of-architecture-on-mental-health-designing-spaces-for-wellbeing/?srsltid=AfmBOoq0TfUd-HKWbkmecqHNdGAYKIyyIxu6cAmQswab3N4GEHNWdicK 

Larmour, J. (2020, January 20). The hidden ways architecture makes us feel... and why it matters. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XAUviOvlgo 

Modular Clay Product Editors. (2024, February 28). Learn how to install brick slip cladding like a pro. Modular Clay Products. https://www.modularclayproducts.co.uk/news/emotions-in-architecture/ 

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