When designing a commercial space, many designers make the mistake of ignoring psychology. Yes, even in design, the human psyche is at play and should be considered when making decisions about workspace flow, color, and decor.
Luckily, you don’t have to have a doctorate in Psychology to design your commercial space! Whether you’re interested in designing a commercial space to accommodate the needs of workers or visitors, you can be sure that architectural psychology has an answer.
Although research exists outlining the effect color has on our mood and behavior, there is less research on the effects architectural decisions have on the human psyche. However, it should go without saying that at Acacia Originals, we are committed to providing our clients with the best possible experience – including a holistic approach to our design.
If you’re interested in learning more about the psychology behind designing for a commercial space, keep reading!
How Overall Flow Affects the Psychology of Commercial Spaces
We spend much of our time indoors, and the decisions designers make in the spaces we occupy have profound effects on our mood and behavior overall. As a designer, you understand the flow of a space is critical to the design of a space.
The flow of the space includes everything from ceiling height, location of windows, and furniture placement. Each of these components is necessary to draft the perfect commercial space design and has a tremendous effect on how humans behave in that space.
For example, ceiling height is a critical component of any design. You can create a more intimate atmosphere by including lower ceilings. On the other hand, spaces with higher ceiling height change the mood from intimate to airy and free.
As we mentioned in our previous post, What You Need to Know About Designing Your New Workspace, designing the layout of your new workspace is an important consideration. The layout of your space should be carefully designed according to the functionality you’re hoping to achieve in the commercial space. If you intend to use your space for collaboration on a grand scale, consider the effect smaller-scale seating may have on the behavior of those in the space.
The flow of each aspect of the commercial space design will impact how the visitor reacts emotionally and physically.
Furniture in Commercial Space Design
As experts in the custom furnishings industry, we can’t emphasize enough the importance furniture has on the overall psychology of commercial spaces.
Depending on the overall design, consider the curvature, or lack thereof, of each piece of furniture. If your design leans more modern, you may be considering fewer curves and more angles in the furniture pieces you’re selecting. However, you should consider a recent study showing most subjects view furniture with more straight edges as less inviting.
Psychology of architecture strikes again – before making any vital furniture choices, carefully consider the ultimate function the commercial space will serve and the behavior those visiting the space will exhibit.
You may find that including more approachable furnishings encourages visitors to spend more time in the space or recall the experience of visiting the space more favorably because of the appealing furnishings.
If you struggle with designing a piece of furniture that perfectly encapsulates the feel and mood of the commercial space, contact us. We’ve brought hundreds of designs to life with our expert in-house designers and can do the same for your commercial space design.
Color – The Ultimate Psychological Trigger in Commercial Space Design
The color choices used in commercial design spaces are the most well-known psychological impacts design can have on the human experience. The color used on the walls of commercial spaces impacts mood and can also impact our ability to perform basic tasks.
In one study of this phenomenon, researchers found that the color used on interior walls could affect the attention to detail a subject lends to a particular task. For example, we all know the color red is often associated with anger or warning signs (like traffic lights and stop signs). In psychological studies, the color red may force many people to focus more closely on a particular task.
Conversely, the color blue has a far more calming effect and can increase the ability of humans to tap into imagination and other creative emotions.
Ensuring the design of the commercial space takes into consideration the effect interior wall colors may have on the people visiting or working in that space, is a vital component of assessing every design before implementation.
The impacts a commercial space design can have on the psyche of those who visit its interior are profound and can be lasting. A single design doesn’t last forever, but the real impact a design has on the mood and behavior of humans is powerful.
We encourage you to carefully consider the psychology behind the design of your next commercial space project and reach out with any feedback you discover along the way. Architecture and design have the power to transform environments and human behavior, and we are always interested in learning more.