How are you feeling?

What do you feel when you walk into your home?

Do you feel calm and relaxed? Or are you like me and panic a little because of roommates?

What about a classroom?

A hospital room?

What is it that makes us feel certain ways when we step into certain environments? And what can we do about those feelings?

The Control Theory of Interior Design comes into play when we discuss how someone perceives a space as soon as that walk in and how their psychological systems react. It also refers to one’s ability to CHANGE either the environment itself or the way they see it.

Something neat I added to my
apartment door to make it feel more personal. 

For a while whenever I walked into my apartment, I felt disappointed and a little sad because the walls were bare and I had conflicts with roommates. However, because I had control over both that physical environment and the way I perceived it I was able to change the space to become more comforting and relaxing.

An individual sense of control of one’s individual environment is crucial to an individuals, well-being and comfort. Often times a person’s stress levels can be directly linked to their control over their environment. The “Effects of Interior Design on Wellness: Theory and Scientific Evidence” gives the example that a neighbors music may be too loud and can cause someone stress because they can’t control it. However the individual has a different response when they are playing the music themselves because they chose to do so.

A rather bland generic hospital room with no
 exposure to sunlight.

An environment where control theories often become apparent is in healthcare settings. In a study done by Dr. Roger S. Ulrich states that any amount of unnecessary stress can be linked to lower immune system function.

By giving patients even a small amount of control over their environment, it can help reduce stress levels and promote more effective healing.  Dr. Ulrich cites that stroke patients often asked and benefited from being exposed to nature and sunlight, whether that could be provided by the care facility or not.

Feeling like you have control over your environment can be easily done and has numerous benefits to both physical and mental health.  Personal touches may be 
all it takes to make the difference between an ordinary space and a place you 
feel comfortable.

Sketch by me of some comforting personal objects.
A favorite flower and a family portrait. 

By allowing space for personal photos or symbolic objects that mean a lot to the patient or adding sound proofing to hospital rooms may be effective in lowering stress levels and raising health benefits. Design doesn't always have to be architectural, but it does have to have the end user in mind. Small changes in environments have help change entire mindsets and perspectives to positively benefit everyone involved.