With Mental Health in crisis, how can Interior Design help?
Whilst poor metal and physical health isn't going to be solved by effective interior design, the space around us is scientifically proven to positively influence and support happiness, productivity and wellbeing. There are clear benefits to a human-centred, full-sensory approach to designing space.
What does this mean in application?
Reducing frictions and frustrations. This could be functional such as an effective layout to create good flow, lighting levels suitable for the activities, or sensorial interventions such as acoustic absorption or separation, scent, temperature. In short, designing for the senses so they are not overwhelmed or receiving mixing messages.
Take for example a hotel room where guests are seeking relaxation and need a soothing and grounding environment. Selecting lighting, textures, colours and scents that feel warm and comforting facilitate this. In The Mount we created a calming bedroom with soft, natural finishes to ground in the senses and surrounding nature.
With quality of sleep strongly linked to wellbeing, effective sound proofing is very important in ensuring a good night sleep. When guests are exposed to unwanted and uncontrollable sensory stimuli in the environment such as the neighbours TV, the frustrations escalate and an otherwise positive experience is tarnished. If you're in a noisy location, this is a worthy investment that can be less effective retrospectively.
Recent years have seen a increase in biophilia (plants, natural forms and finishes) introduced into interiors. Many of the scientific studies in support of biophilic design have focused on workplace, confirming what we already know. Nature has a calming, restorative and energising effect on humans, delivering improved wellbeing, productivity and financial benefits to the triple bottom line of people, planet and performance.
Why should wellbeing be a priority for your interior?
The data speaks for itself. Measuring the effects of plants installed in interiors, research shows:
• Offices with plants see a 15% increase in occupant wellbeing scores and a reduction in absenteeism.
• Every £1 invested in biophilia returns £2.70 in value in office spaces.
• In hotels, guests are willing to pay 23% more for rooms with views of biophilic elements.
• In education a 20-25% improvement on test results, concentration levels and attendance, and reduced impacts of ADHD.
• In retail spaces customers were willing to pay 8-12% more for goods and services.
• Patients given a view of nature spent an average of 7.96 days in the hospital compared to 8.71 for those who did not.
Biophilic and sensory design extends beyond plants, with scope the increase these results. We are convinced that there are kinder, more empathic ways to design places than the status quo, that can have powerful impacts on the way that we feel.
Does everywhere need to be calming?
Not at all, we need experiences that are as diverse as humans are. It's important to hold in focus what the task or outcome is for each space, and that can also be different things for the same space depending on time of day or day of the week. There will be occasions when we all seek out uplifting stimulation, over relaxation or focus. Perhaps to be transported to another sensory world or culture in a restaurant or bar for example, as implemented for Revolution De Cuba. By carefully managing the stimulus this can be achieved in a way which creates a energising experience without conflict and confusion.
Where to start with wellbeing?
Design for human wellbeing focuses on the activities undertaken in the space with an understanding of the space users physical, psychological and emotional needs. It's best to address this at a pre-planning stage when designers are able to influence the spatial layouts, performance and materials selections to appropriately support wellbeing, both for the specific brief, and with a view to how it can be adaptable for future needs of the space.
If you're curious to find out more, contact the studio hello@mavendesignstudio.co.uk