Bright paint makes interior-space surfaces appear farther away

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Visual perception
• Architectural psychology

Background:

• Previous research indicates ceiling brightness affects perceived room height.
• This effect is independent of other colorimetric properties and surface luminances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of surface luminance on perceived room width and depth.
• To expand on previous findings regarding ceiling height perception.

Main Methods:

• Stereoscopic, full-scale room simulations were presented using a head-mounted display.
• Luminance of side walls, rear wall, and ceiling were independently manipulated.
• Participants provided judgments on the perceived width and depth of the simulated rooms.

Main Results:

• Perceived spatial layout is significantly influenced by the luminance of directly bounding surfaces.
• Side wall luminance strongly affected perceived width, and rear wall luminance affected perceived depth.
• Luminance of non-direct surfaces had a lesser impact on spatial judgments.

Conclusions:

• Surface luminance, particularly of direct bounding surfaces, is a critical factor in perceived interior spatial layout.
• Findings offer insights into visual perception principles relevant to interior design.
• Results can inform guidelines for optimizing perceived room dimensions through surface treatment.