Designing for Emotion: How Architecture and Interiors Shape Well-Being

Written By Natacha Denis

Ocean Home / Julie Hillman Design / Projects

How Our Surroundings Impact Our Emotions: The Intersection of Architecture, Interior Design, and Psychology

Our environments play a large role in shaping our emotions, often in ways we don’t fully recognize. From the architecture of the buildings we inhabit to the smallest design details that fill our homes, the spaces around us deeply influence how we feel—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Architects and interior designers have long understood that our surroundings are more than just backdrops to our lives; they are integral to our well-being. Drawing on insights from books like Design with Nature by Ian McHarg, Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee, Sun, Wind, and Light by Mark DeKay and Stuart P. Kranze, and The Interior Design Handbook by Frida Ramstedt, it’s clear that architecture, interior design, and psychology intersect in profound ways. Together, these disciplines reveal that design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating spaces that nurture emotional resilience, physical health, and a sense of balance.

From how light enters a room to the arrangement of furniture, every design choice has a psychological impact. By examining the interplay of light, color, space, and natural elements, we can see how design can either uplift or drain us. Whether considering the positive effects of natural light, the importance of spatial flow, or the subtle influence of color, our surroundings play a significant role in how we experience our day-to-day lives. These insights offer valuable lessons for architects and interior designers who seek to create spaces that promote well-being and emotional clarity.

Salk Institute for Biological Studies / Louis Kahn / ArchEyes / Thomas Nemeskeri

The Role of Natural Light and Space in Shaping Our Emotions

Natural light is one of the most effective tools architects, and interior designers can use to enhance our emotional and physical health. As Mark DeKay and Stuart P. Kranze highlight in Sun, Wind, and Light, daylighting is essential not just for visual comfort but for regulating our circadian rhythms and boosting serotonin levels—the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness and energy. Properly placed windows, skylights, and open spaces that allow sunlight to pour in help create environments that feel connected to the outdoors, bringing a sense of vitality to the space. The effect is immediate: rooms flooded with light feel expansive, energizing, and soothing, reducing stress and promoting mental clarity.

Frida Ramstedt’s The Interior Design Handbook also emphasizes the importance of daylighting, asserting that it should be a key consideration in any interior design. Spaces designed to maximize natural light help us feel more attuned to the outside world, and the resulting connection to nature is a powerful emotional anchor. When natural light is absent, the consequences can be noticeable—fatigue, irritability, and even depression are common responses to spaces that lack proper daylighting. By ensuring that light flows freely through our interiors, designers can create environments that nourish both our bodies and minds.

The Salk Institute is celebrated for its thoughtful integration of natural light into its design. Kahn strategically positioned windows and courtyards to maximize the use of daylight, creating a connection between the interior spaces and the natural world. The building’s design not only enhances the lighting conditions for its scientific workspaces but also imbues the environment with a sense of calm and inspiration, making it an excellent case study for daylighting in architecture.

Ocean Home / Julie Hillman Design / Projects

Emotional and Psychological Responses to Design: The Power of Color, Spatial Arrangement, and Joyful Design

Beyond light, the use of color, energy flow, and the incorporation of nature into interior design can shape our emotions in surprising and profound ways. The concept of joyful design, introduced by Ingrid Fetell Lee in her book Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, highlights how intentional design choices can cultivate positive emotions. Lee identifies ten aesthetic values—such as roundness, color, and abundance—that contribute to creating a joyful environment. Simple elements like a curved chair, a playful color palette, or the presence of nature-inspired textures can evoke delight, reduce stress, and foster contentment.

A great example of joyful design in practice is Julie Hillman's Ocean Home, a coastal residential project that blends natural beauty with elements of joy and playfulness. Situated on the water’s edge, the home embraces a palette of soft, oceanic tones—blues, greens, and sandy neutrals—that reflect the colors of the surrounding landscape. Hillman’s use of organic materials like wood, stone, and natural fibers connects the interiors to the environment outside, creating a seamless flow between the interior and exterior. The abundance of natural light pouring through large windows, combined with the soft textures and earthy hues, creates a sense of warmth and contentment. The overall effect is a space that feels both uplifting and serene, with a design that encourages relaxation and emotional renewal.

Lee’s work illustrates that joy is not just an abstract feeling but something that can be intentionally cultivated in the spaces we inhabit. By incorporating playful shapes, vibrant colors, and tactile materials, designers can create spaces that feel uplifting and life-affirming. This “joyful design” approach has been shown to positively affect our mental state, increasing happiness and fostering an environment where we feel comfortable and energized. In Ocean Home, Hillman successfully demonstrates how color and natural materials work together to create an environment that elevates mood and enhances well-being. By designing with joy in mind, architects and interior designers can create spaces that uplift and energize, making a measurable impact on our emotional well-being.

The ancient practice of Feng Shui also offers valuable insights into how design can influence our emotions through the flow of energy. Feng Shui, which seeks to balance the flow of chi (energy) within a space, suggests that a harmonious environment fosters health, prosperity, and emotional well-being. By arranging furniture and décor to allow for the free movement of energy, designers create spaces that promote balance and relaxation. Key principles of Feng Shui, such as minimizing clutter and using natural materials, help establish a sense of peace and order in a space. The result is a grounded, centered emotional state, offering mental clarity and emotional resilience. In a home like Ocean Home, where the natural world is brought in through design, the energy flows freely, promoting a sense of calm and connection to the world around us.

By integrating joyful design elements, utilizing principles of Feng Shui, and incorporating natural materials, designers can shape the emotional atmosphere of a space in powerful and healing ways. Whether through the pops of vibrant color layered into the decor of a coastal home like Ocean Home or the balance and tranquility found in Feng Shui, these design principles demonstrate how our surroundings can positively influence our mental and emotional well-being.

Windhover Contemplative Center / Aidlin Darling Design/ Arch Daily / Matthew Millman Photography

Integrating Nature: Biophilic Design and Emotional Health

The idea of bringing the outdoors in is a powerful approach to enhancing emotional well-being through design. In Design with Nature, Ian McHarg argues that human health and well-being are intrinsically linked to the natural environment. By integrating elements of nature into the built environment, architects and interior designers can create spaces that nurture both the mind and body. One prominent design philosophy that has emerged from this connection is biophilic design, which incorporates plants, natural materials, and water features into interiors to improve mood, reduce stress, and boost creativity.

A strong example of this concept in practice is the Windhover Contemplative Center by Aidlin Darling Design. Located in California’s Sonoma Valley, this architectural project exemplifies how biophilic design can create spaces that not only connect individuals to nature but also enhance their emotional and psychological well-being. The center, designed as a place for reflection and spiritual renewal, is set within a vineyard landscape and blends seamlessly with its environment, using local stone, timber, and expansive glazing to open the interior to breathtaking views of the surrounding hills.

As McHarg suggests, aligning our environments with the rhythms of nature enhances emotional grounding and fosters a sense of peace. At the Windhover Center, the integration of natural materials and the intentional positioning of windows allows for an uninterrupted visual connection to the natural world. The use of rammed earth adds warmth and texture, while large, carefully framed openings bring the outdoors in, filling the space with light and the changing colors of the landscape. The design is not just about aesthetics but about creating a deeper connection to the environment, a principle central to biophilic design.

Research has shown that exposure to nature has a direct, positive effect on emotional health. Greenery in the home or office, for instance, can lower stress levels, enhance cognitive function, and improve overall mood. The Windhover Center’s use of biophilic elements creates a space that evokes calm, clarity, and mindfulness. The natural materials and surroundings contribute to emotional stability and promote a sense of vitality—elements that can be integrated even within more urban environments.

Additionally, the space incorporates a water feature, providing both visual and auditory connections to nature, which has been shown to reduce stress and enhance relaxation. By weaving together natural elements—light, wood, earth, and water—the Windhover Center fosters an environment that supports reflection, emotional resilience, and a deeper connection to the natural world. This approach not only aligns with McHarg's vision of integrating nature into our built environments but also exemplifies how biophilic design can be a powerful tool in creating spaces that nurture our emotional and mental health.

Whether bringing in nature through foliage, an earthy and rooted material pallet, lighting, or even water features, incorporating its elements in design creates a deeper connection to the world outside and nurtures our emotional well-being. By aligning interior spaces with the rhythms of nature, we can create environments that help us feel emotionally grounded and at peace—just as the Windhover Contemplative Center achieves with its tranquil, nature-integrated design.

Conclusion: Designing for Emotional Well-Being

The spaces we inhabit influence our emotions in profound ways. From the way natural light fills a room to the layout of furniture and the colors that surround us, architecture and interior design have a direct impact on how we feel—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The integration of light, space, color, and nature into design not only enhances our physical environment but also nourishes our emotional well-being.

Drawing on principles from Design with Nature, Joyful, Sun, Wind, and Light, and The Interior Design Handbook, it’s clear that design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating spaces that promote emotional resilience and support mental health. Architects and interior designers have the power to shape environments that uplift, soothe, and inspire. Whether through maximizing natural light, arranging spaces to encourage flow, or incorporating elements of nature and color, the environments we create directly impact how we feel.

As you approach your next project—whether at home or in a professional setting—consider how these design principles can improve the emotional landscape of the space. Thoughtfully designed environments can not only transform how a space looks but also how it makes us feel, fostering emotional well-being in every corner.

Works Cited

Photography Credits

  • Salk Institute for Biological Studies / Louis Kahn: Photography courtesy of Archeyes, sourced from the referenced article.

  • Windhover Contemplative Center / Aidlin Darling Design: Photography by Joe Fletcher, sourced from the referenced ArchDaily article.

  • Ocean Home / Julie Hillman Design, sourced from the project page on Julie Hillman Design.

Natacha Denis
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