Creating environments that enhance mental health and well-being starts with thoughtful and intentional design choices.

27 May, 2024 | By The Room Architecture and Design

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, our marketing team conducted a Q&A session with Monica, our detail-oriented architect-interior designer to have a chat about how design can have a significant impact on mental health and well-being.

How Does Design Influence Mental Well-Being?

While many believe our job is limited to creating "pretty" places, many other factors such as space planning, lighting, functionality, thermal comfort, acoustics, material choices, and natural elements must be carefully considered during the design phases. The combination of these factors can make us more or less productive, stressed, or relaxed, and consequently influence our behavior positively or negatively. While this sounds pretty intuitive, interestingly, many people aren't aware that their mood or discomfort might be due to poor design. This is particularly true for spaces where we spend most of our lives, which makes the design of residential and work environments especially important for our mental well-being.

But aside from obvious considerations about our responsibility, as designers, in shaping people’s way of living, moving and behaving, it’s necessary to highlight the vastity and complexity of this topic, as it crosses geographic, social, economic and cultural aspects. Context is important to understand how design can affect individuals in different ways, although globalization is undoubtedly playing a big role in shaping spaces that are more and more alike, leading in some cases to lose our sense of belonging or on the contrary to feel like home anywhere in the world.

Can you provide some insights about the effect urban planning and design have on mental health and well-being?

We all know that urban planning can indeed positively or negatively affect how people interact, circulate, and behave, indirectly influencing our mental well-being. While research in urban sociology suggests that living in urban areas is associated with increased risks for mental disorders such as anxiety or depression, we all react differently to our environments, making it impossible to say definitively what’s right or wrong. I might find happiness in the hustle and bustle of a big city center, while I would likely experience loneliness or depression in the suburbs or countryside. Another person might feel the opposite. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and it's crucial that urban planning accommodates various ways of living and considers the complexity of social and cultural aspects. 

Can you share specific design principles or techniques you use to promote mental health and well-being in your projects?

Designing with a human-centric approach is key, tailoring each space around the specificity of our clients' habits and culture. While each individual reacts differently to their environments, there are some basic principles that we consider for every project to be beneficial, both physically and mentally, to the users. These include considerations such as lighting, functionality, practicality, thermal comfort, acoustics, incorporation of greenery, and achieving a good balance between indoor and outdoor spaces.

How can we convince clients to take into account mental health and well-being when deciding on moving, renovating or expanding their space?

This can depend on the type of client. It's easier to convince clients who will be the final users of the space about the importance of considering mental well-being, as they will be directly affected by it. It’s more challenging to persuade clients whose primary goal is profit, such as those selling or renting units, since economic factors take precedence.

In these cases, emphasizing mental well-being alone won’t be enough. What can really capture the client's attention is explaining that improved quality and thoughtful design, which directly affect users' mental well-being, can also significantly increase property value, attract wealthier clientele, and enhance overall satisfaction. For instance, integrating greenery on facades not only creates a healthy connection between users and nature but can also reduce overall energy costs and raise property value.

How does user feedback and research inform your design decisions, particularly regarding mental health considerations?

It’s always interesting to revisit the spaces we design and observe how users actually utilize them. There's always something you didn't consider during the design phases. It's valuable to go back months or even years after completion and see how the space has changed, mutated, and adapted to the users’ needs. This provides valuable insights for future projects.

For example, we recently completed an office space where it turned out many employees like to work barefoot. While this might not be something you consider initially, it could be an interesting factor for future projects, influencing flooring selection or furniture design, such as incorporating a dedicated shoe rack.

These observations and adjustments add significant value to our designs, ensuring they meet users' needs effectively. By continuously incorporating user feedback, we refine our spaces to better support mental health and overall satisfaction.

Are there any design trends you believe can positively impact mental health outcomes?

I think COVID-19 has led us to perceive the spaces we live in differently. We were suddenly forced inside and came to realize how much our surroundings can affect us, both physically and mentally.

From a social point of view, it's interesting to see the rise of co-living projects in the post-COVID era. After months of isolation, many people suffered from loneliness, now recognized as a specific mental condition. Co-living projects address this need for social interaction and community.

From a design perspective, we've realized the importance of being connected with nature to feel good. If this trend existed before COVID, spending so much time within four walls made it more obvious. More people now feel the need to live in bright spaces, surrounded by plants, earthy colors, and natural materials.

What advice would you give to architects or designers looking to prioritize mental health and well-being in their projects?

My advice would be to put our egos as architects and designers aside and think about the impact our design could generate from a social, physical, environmental, and mental perspective. It's crucial to shape spaces around the people who will live in them and to guide and educate the client throughout this process.

Our conversation underscores the profound impact of design on mental health and well-being. By integrating natural elements, prioritizing functionality, and adapting to unique space needs, we craft environments that enhance emotional wellness. As we innovate and heed user feedback, our designs evolve to meet urban living challenges, ultimately fostering a higher quality of life.