Interior design supported by neurological research

Like the subject itself, Isabelle Sjövall's knowledge, of neuro- design has gone from being based primarily on intuition to having a solid basis in a growing field of research. – I realised early on that I was influenced by my surroundings and started experimenting with furnishings and colour choices long before I knew what it was really all about, she says.

Today, Isabelle is one of the world’s leading specialists in the field of neurodesign, with a passion for science-based design and architecture that can offer health benefits. She is the author of two books on the subject and trains architects and property owners in how our environments can promote health, human sustainability and well-being.

Research provides support

Neurodesign is about the environments we encounter and how, through awareness and intelligent choices, they can be adapted to meet our needs for community, physical activity, recovery, creativity and focus – both at home and at work, and especially in healthcare settings.

Although this knowledge exists to some extent, Isabelle’s experience is that both the patient and employee perspective are easily lost when care environments are being planned. So it’s particularly important to consolidate this knowledge through research, as has happened in recent years. This gives these arguments more weight and makes it more acceptable to include neurodesign in decisions.

– After all, commercial environments are designed to attract people and encourage them to stay and return. There’s a direct link between business and design, and it’s easy to see how interior design and architecture can make a difference in a restaurant, for example. The same link exists in a healthcare setting, but you need to take a longer-term approach to see results. We now know that the right environment can cut care times, improve recovery, reduce sick leave among personnel and contribute to fewer mistakes being made.

In addition to a fairly strict regulatory framework, there is a culture and history of clinical environments being white and sterile. That’s why, says Isabelle, it’s important to measure and compare in order to see what the intelligent, conscious choices really are. This approach doesn’t have to be more expensive and, in the long run, money can be saved and quality of life can be improved.

Biophilic design

One area of neuroscience where positive effects have been proven through research studies is biophilia. This involves our fundamental biological love of nature and the positive effects we can achieve by incorporating nature into interior design and architecture as an element that offers health benefits.

– Plants, natural colours, shapes and tactile materials have beneficial effects on our well-being, explains Isabelle. Plants purify the air, but organic materials, natural patterns and rounded shapes can also provide positive stimulation for the brain and actually promote recovery.

She refers to Roger Ulrich, an American researcher and one of the first to conduct studies on hospitals and views of green spaces in the 1980s, with exciting and groundbreaking results linked to patient recovery. The studies were initially considered controversial, but we now know that biophilic design has a real impact.

– Specifically, this may involve bringing in plants, but may also be about the choice of interior patterns and materials. Instead of a zigzag pattern that can negatively activate the sympathetic nervous system, we can choose organic patterns and natural elements that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system with a positive, calming effect.

Positive behavioural changes

Isabelle emphasises that the design of care environments can make a difference for patients in a number of ways. General well- being can be improved and recovery accelerated through the reinforcement of positive behaviours, or ‘nudging’. Isabelle gives several specific examples.

– Studies clearly show that a welcoming, pleasant environment can make us less stressed and better at interacting with each other. Interior design can foster a sense of community, which increases well-being. A link has even been demonstrated between comfortable furnishings and longer visits by relatives to nursing homes. More and longer visits with loved ones in turn promote the well-being of patients and can make a big difference over time.

– Another type of nudging is built-in care in the form of furniture and environments that encourage movement, adds Isabelle. We know that daily exercise is incredibly important for our health, and with interior design providing a nudge in the right direction, mobility can be increased. This might involve a sofa or easy chair with a seat height and angle that make it easy for an older person to get up. Or interior design elements that encourage curiosity to move towards them and explore.

The opportunities for design and architecture to make a real difference are huge. At Swedese, we look forward to combining Isabelle Sjövall’s expertise in neurodesign with our love of craftsmanship and natural materials to convey care for people and environments.v

Further reading by Isabelle Sjövall:
Designfulness: How Brain Research is Revolutionising the Way We Live and Work
Neurodesign: Interior Design for Health, Performance and Well-being