Light & Engineering 33 (4) 2025

Volume 33
Date of publication 08/15/2025
Pages 15–26

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Living Room Atmospheres: Exploring How Luminance Contrast and Colour Influence Domestic Space L&E, Vol.33, No.4, 2025

Articles authors:

Ipek Yalcin, Nilgun Olgunturk

Ipek Yalcin, M. A. in Lighting Design. She graduated from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, with a B. A. (Hons.) in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design. She earned an M. A. in Lighting Design from Edinburgh Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland, because of her studies in exhibition design and lighting. She is currently interested in studying vision and perception in relation to contemporary aesthetics like atmosphere and design quality. Additionally investigating potential avenues for future research based on novel methods for image analysis

Nilgun Olgunturk, Associate Professor in the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department, Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. She has studied in the US and Italy, and worked on research projects in the UK. She has 25 years of research and experience on colour perception, colour preference, and colour use in architecture and interior architecture. Dr. Olgunturk is an active member in the CIE, the AIC, the ISCC, the Colour Group Great Britain, and the UIA, Chamber of Architects of Turkey

Abstract:

Living rooms are shaped by functional, aesthetic, and socio-economic choices and formed by visual factors such as luminance contrast and colour schemes that create distinct atmospheres. Using a single living room image with digitally manipulated luminance contrast levels and colour schemes (warm, cool, and grey), 35 Turkish participants evaluated the emotional and cognitive effects of these variations. Results indicate that luminance contrast significantly shapes the perception of atmosphere, with higher contrast contributing to more vibrant and lively spaces, while low-contrast grey schemes led to more subdued, negative associations. Gender differences emerged in the perception of certain adjectives, such as ‘depressing’ and ‘uncomfortable’. By examining how visual elements create distinct atmospheres in domestic spaces, this study offers insights relevant to interior design and domestic architecture, contributing to a deeper understanding of how material and sensory elements influence the experience of home environments.

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Keywords

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33383/2024-094

Article in RUS:
Svetotekhnika # 3, 2025, pp. 70–79

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