title: The effect of furnishing on perceived spatial dimensions and spaciousness of interior space.
abstract: Despite the ubiquity of interior space design, there is virtually no scientific research on the influence of furnishing on the perception of interior space. We conducted two experiments in which observers were asked to estimate the spatial dimensions (size of the room dimensions in meters and centimeters) and to judge subjective spaciousness of various rooms. Experiment 1 used true-to-scale model rooms with a square surface area. Furnishing affected both the perceived height and the spaciousness judgments. The furnished room was perceived as higher but less spacious. In Experiment 2, rooms with different square surface areas and constant physical height were presented in virtual reality. Furnishing affected neither the perceived spatial dimensions nor the perceived spaciousness. Possible reasons for this discrepancy, such as the influence of the presentation medium, are discussed. Moreover, our results suggest a compression of perceived height and depth with decreasing surface area of the room.
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Castell
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oberfeld
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004215:Distance Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012858:Size Perception; D055815:Young Adult