Evaluations of an Architectural Space as a Function of Variations in Furniture Arrangement, Furniture Density, and Windows

Abstract

Slides of interior spaces were rated on 30 seven-point unipolar scales. One slide, showing a water-color drawing of a living room, varied as to the presence or absence of a window, the furniture arrangement, and the furniture density. Factor analysis of responses to all slides extracted Social-Aesthetic, Physical Organization, Mood, and Size dimensions, accounting for 62.9% of the total variance. A MANOVA of the 18 scales loading highly on these factors indicated significant effects of window and furniture density, whereas furniture arrangement and the sex of the subjects were not significant. Univariate analyses indicated that the window variable significantly affected the Social-Aesthetic, Mood, and Size factors, whereas furniture density affected the Physical Organization and Size ratings.