Design For A Healthy Mind - How Interior Design Affects Mental Health
Designing interiors that promote improved mental health and well being can have numerous benefits for individuals within the work place. It can improve productivity and enhance employee morale, while promoting peace of mind, physical wellness and help create a sense of safety.
When designing commercial interiors that encourage a healthy mindset, several key elements come into play. If you aren't sure how to get started the professional design team at 34F Design can assist with creating a design tailored specifically for the needs of your company.
Design With Negative Space and Symmetry
The concept of negative space is found within all aspects of design and can be utilized to help create a more soothing atmosphere for your employees. By definition 'negative space', the empty space around objects, brings the objects into focus and helps rest the eyes. It also creates a subconscious sense of harmony and visual comfort which can help reduce employee stress and make customers feel calmer when visiting.
The right balance of negative space can also be used to create "zones" within a room or area, which can contribute to a more positive first impression overall. According to Gestalt Psychology, when we enter a new room or area, our brain processes the space as a whole and then categorizes the function of the room inclusive of the contents. Negative space therefore makes it easier for our brains to process the interior details and can help us focus on specific design elements more thoroughly.
Additionally, the proper balance of negative and positive space can create visual symmetry within a room which inherently works to provide a sense of calmness, stability and overall comfort for individuals. The choice and placement of architectural features and furnishings, as well as the reduction of visual clutter are integral attributes when applying the design concept of negative space.
Engaging Colour Theory with Interior Design
Colour Theory involves using certain colours within an interior design to provoke an emotional response. In short, different colours have varying biological and subconscious effects on individuals. For example, the colour red has historically been associated with adventure, anger or danger, while the colour yellow evokes feelings of happiness, joy and interestingly enough, hunger. The colour purple on the other hand is known for its calming effects and promoting creativity.
Understanding the influence that specific colours may have on the well being of individuals is an important step in determining the correct colour palette for your work place. Designing with particular hues such as blue or green can promote your employees feelings of calmness and ability to focus, which directly enhances their productivity and output. Conversely, selecting hues like red or orange can be used to create a sense of energy and excitement within a space which may be just the impact you want for your client facing spaces. In truth the desired function and utility of a space will directly assist with determining the best colour choice for it and the mental wellness for the occupants within.
Natural Light Improves Mental Health
It is widely understood that an abundance of natural daylight flowing into a office space can improve mood, reduce fatigue and increase productivity of employees - all of which are critical for overall work place mental well being and happiness.
Natural day light stimulates biological functions within the body and brain and helps to promote the body's natural wake and sleep cycles. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the central nervous and endocrine system endeavors to reset body homeostasis, which has been found to effectively manage and reduce symptoms of mood disorders, obesity, and even autoimmune diseases.
Access to natural day light is especially important for individuals who spend the majority of their workday in front of a computer screen, as they are directly exposed to a visible light that falls within the "blue" end of the light spectrum. Over exposure to "blue" light can decrease the melatonin production within the body, making it harder for people to have restful sleep which can lead to a decreased want to exercise and increased anxiety and depression. If unfortunately direct access to day light cannot be achieved there are many light fixtures designed specifically to mimic the beneficial effects of natural day light and help reduce the effects "blue" light has on the mind and body.
Understanding Biophilia
'Biophilic Design' is the concept of increasing an individuals connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, space and place condition. In practice, this includes bringing organic and natural elements physically into the space in the form of plants, green walls, natural materials and access to natural light.
The core principle of Biophilic Design is to build a greater connection between humans and nature with the aim of improving mental health and physical well-being. There is relevant evidence that a biophilic approach to a work place design can have a significant impact on the mental health of employees and furthermore encourages creativity, evokes clarity of thought and even expedites healing. Merriam-Webster defines Biophilia as "a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature: a desire or tendency to commune with nature."
Human-centered interior designers use biophilia and a holistic approach to interior design in order to promote health and a sense of safety. Bringing characteristics of the natural world into built spaces, such as wood and stone, or water, natural light, and greenery, allows designers to explore nature and improve the health and well being of the occupants of the space. In addition, there are a number of other benefits, including decreased blood pressure, increased activity in the nervous systems, and reduced pulse and heart rate variability.
Ready To Get Started?
The 34F Design team offers a variety of professional design services to address all of your interior design challenges - both residential and commercial. View our substantial project gallery and call us directly to learn more about how we can guide your interior project into a new, healthy and well balanced environment! Contact us.