The way a space is laid out can have a significant impact on our emotions and actions. Here are some interesting psychological effects of different spatial layouts: 1. Narrow corridors and stairways can cause anxiety and make people more aggressive. 2. Winding paths and roads promote a sense of community among users. 3. The wider the corridor or passageway, the more relaxed we feel. 4. Circular spaces induce feelings of calmness and peacefulness. 5. A long, straight path leading to the front door of a building creates an impression of importance.
The emotional impact of interior planning is huge. Interior planning is not just about designing a beautiful space. It is also about planning the design of a space to impact the way we feel. Circulation is the way you move through a space. If a space is easy to move through, you don’t even notice it. You just move through it and it feels good. But when circulation is blocked, it makes you feel anxious and stressed. Even if you don’t consciously realize why. This knowledge is powerful in designing spaces that flow with how we naturally want to live in our homes.
Few forces can influence the success of a space more than the psychology of prospect and refuge. As humans, we are genetically predisposed to feeling secure in spaces where we can see what is coming toward us (prospect), while also having access to spaces where we can feel protected from behind (refuge). A living room that allows us to gaze out toward the front door, while also providing a hidden reading nook, brings us an innate feeling of comfort. This is a trick used to ease our anxiety. Our brain seeks both safety and security, and spaces that provide us with both give us a feeling of home. As we don’t consciously perceive the cues in these rooms, our minds are sublimely eased.
The way you arrange your furniture helps guide people to act in certain ways. If you want people to talk to one another, use chairs in conversational circles instead of rows. Wide aisles invite people to enter; small aisles and blocking pathways can make people feel cramped or irritated. Use space between important areas so they don’t feel crowded. Little decisions like these create an atmosphere that can affect how people interact, and whether they feel comfortable being themselves.
The relationship between the lighting and the visual rhythm also plays a crucial role here. The kind of gentle transition between spaces through subtle layers of light help to relax the nervous system, while extreme shifts in lighting intensity make the nervous system jump. Having uniform ceiling heights or a repetitive design language throughout spaces contributes to this effect by suggesting to the brain that it is part of a larger, cohesive space rather than separate areas. These effects happen at an unconscious level and influence how we feel as soon as we step foot into a room. Once these design elements harmonize with the flow of people, it is easier to feel calm even when we are no longer noticing them.
The key to fully understanding the psychology of spatial flow is to plan with compassion; to think about how people will feel and move through a space before you start thinking about the finishing touches. By slowly becoming aware of the impact that layout has on spatial behavior, you’ll develop the tools to create spaces that not only look lovely, but also promote relaxation, social interaction, and rejuvenation. The ability to do so will make the planning process feel less like a series of mathematical equations, and more like a way of showing love to the inhabitants of a space; where each step, view, and doorway can be used to improve well-being. With patience and practice, these strategies will enable you to make spaces that feel just like the space you need.
