Designing for the Future: Relaxing Psycology

Rafts have been created for survival of a water disaster; as much as they isolate the survivor from the water, they cause great discomfort and panic .

The passengers discomfort comes from:-

The exposure to the sun, wind and water
Claustrophobic from very crowded rafts
Reduced view of the horizon
Strong rubber interior smell.
Clutter (where all the survival gear is)
Exposure to water (Constantly being wet)
Instability of the raft causing sea sickness
Energy drained
The floors instability
Boredom
Depression
Scared

Forms of relaxation:-

Using less furniture to create a spacious atmosphere
Using comfortable furniture
Using relaxing colors to the eyes
Limiting sunlight and using dim lights
Adding ornaments, photographs or small decorations
Playing soft and relaxing music
Keeping the space reasonably warm
Keeping the space fairly clean

1- Using colour

Colour is a huge factor in setting the mood and tone for a space. Designers and psychologists agree greens and blues have the most calming effect, but soft tones of lilac, coral and even shades of white can also set the stage for a relaxing environment. While trends may come and go, a soothing colour scheme will stand the tests of time

Bright and vibrant colors we create an illusion of space (yellow and eggshell)

Cool colors form a relaxing atmosphere (blue, green, lavender)

The darker the shade of color used the more apparent the effect

Add brown for a natural look whether in paint of furniture it will amplify the appearance

Pink provides the influence of meditation and relaxation

Blue evokes the sense of smoothness and calmness; it also slows down the body metabolism

Avoid white, although it adds space but it isn’t as effective as tinted colours

Avoid red it is associated with tension, irritability and hunger

Avoid black as it gives the illusion of space tightness

2- Using Scent

One of the greatest senses in the human body is smell. Smell is similar to touching or tasting something from a distance. It’s a subtle thing that can have a huge impact on the emotions and moods.

Vanilla-

Is considered to be the most alluring scent to people regardless of different background or age. It provides a calming effect and reduces the startle reflex.

Peppermint-

Allows a person to be invigorated, as it increases brain activity that leads to alertness.

Jasmine-

Is usually associated with sleep and relaxation as it leads to restfulness, tranquility and freshness.

Lemon-

Can make people feel more fair and generous

3- Using Sounds

Sound is used in psychology and therapy because it has a very power effect on emotions. It help a person reach the peak of relaxation, it does so by using the energy frequencies that our bodies contain

These are a couple of example

-Rhythmic drumming-

helps by inducing sleep

-Vibraphones-

causes calmness and reduction to stress

-Rain and Thunder-

extracts the concentration of any other machine like sound

-Ocean waves-

provide the sensation of relaxation and calmness

-Bird sounds-

cause comfort and a stress free atmosphere

-Orchestra-

provides alertness

4- Using lights

All spaces need a variety of lighting however using light can either make a room feel lively or gloomy, that why its essential to choose the correct ones. lighting is used in many ways; sometimes used to :

create moods or an overall feeling of serenity or playfulness
communicate eg. (Exit Signs)
keep people alert eg. (office lighting)
for decoration (highlight a certain shape, texture or important keynote)

Types of lighting:

Ambient or general lighting

provides an overall illumination for the space. It’s the keystone of lighting a room. It usually consists of ceiling, wall or recessed lights.

Task lighting

Is used for an active working space like cooking, reading, putting on makeup or doing homework.

Accent lighting

Provides drama and depth to a room by illuminating key features like artwork, books, or architectural features.

Using existing natural light:

The best kind of light is natural light. however the quality of the natural light depends on the aspect of the space.

East facing rooms are sunny in the mornings.

West facing rooms suffer afternoon glare.

North facing rooms will need to be toned down.

South facing rooms will need to be amped up.

By hanging mirrors facing the windows, using sheer window coverings, applying reflective surfaces and adding lighter colour palettes light can be maximised.

Lighting tricks

up-lights or washes make small spaces feel bigger
Vertical lights make a space feel taller
Table lamps reduce the light going towards the ceiling, which makes the room feel cosier

References:

Designing for the Future

Thursday 31 October 2013

Relaxing Psycology

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