Holistic Interior Design is an interior design approach that integrates the functional needs of the built environment and the body, mind, and spirit of its occupants (Dossey, et al., 1998). The goal is to improve the quality of the built environment and the overall well-being of occupants (Montgomery, 2005; Schlacht, 2010; Trevelyan, 1998). As an integrative method, Holistic Interior Design requires a new understanding of the end users and their physical, psychological, and sociological needs (Hertzfeld, 2011). The goal of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the empirical studies of evidence-based design on color, light, integration of nature, and noise and the practices of Holistic Interior Designers. This study explored relevant literature on the impact feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management in relation to Holistic Interior Design. Information gathered from practicing Holistic Interior Designers explored Holistic Interior Design methodology and perceptions of methods to enhance well-being, that were linked to evidence-based design studies. For the purposes of this study, Holistic Interior Design was defined as interior design practices rooted in physiology, sociology, and psychology, that appeal to occupants' body, mind, and spirit to enhance well-being. In this study, the history behind and leading up to Holistic Interior Design, holistic healing, Holistic Architecture, Holistic Interior Design education, and Holistic Interior Design practice was explored. A word count was conducted of ten practicing Holistic Interior Designers' philosophy statements and descriptions of methods, revealing the common practices of feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management. Investigations were made into Holistic Interior Design's use of feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management, and what current scholarly literature had to say about these issues. The information gathered from the literature was used to provide insight into the aspects of the built environment that were reported as impactful to physiological, sociological, and psychological states. The word count of Holistic Interior Design methods led to the development of a questionnaire in which respondents assessed of images of typical waiting spaces. The results described the levels to which the participants' felt the waiting spaces rated in holistically applied color, light, integration of nature, and sound management, in relation to aspects of well-being, specifically, eliciting positive emotions, reducing stress, encouraging social interaction, and increasing states of arousal. Also respondents' suggestions for holistically improving these spaces were analyzed and graphically interpreted through digital renderings. The comments of responding Holistic Interior Designers suggested that Holistic Interior Design is an intuitive and perceptual process to enhance the well-being of occupants. Despite the subjective nature of this process, suggestions to improve each space were rarely in contradiction, and were supported by empirical evidence from scientific studies. The gathered data revealed connections between Holistic Interior Design practices and evidence-based design research on well-being, color, light, integration of nature, and noise. This suggested a link between the intuitive practices of Holistic Interior Design and empirical data in these areas. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Interior Design in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts. / Spring Semester, 2014. / November 12, 2013. / Color, Evidence-Based Design, Holism, Holistic Interior Design, Light, Nature / Includes bibliographical references. / Marlo Ransdell, Professor Directing Dissertation; Jill Pable, Committee Member; Jim Dawkins, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_185238 |
| Contributors | Faircloth, Judson Willoughby (authoraut), Ransdell, Marlo (professor directing dissertation), Pable, Jill (committee member), Dawkins, Jim (committee member), Department of Interior Design (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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