The Science of Atmosphere: How Design Shapes Our Mood, Mind, & Experiences

The importance of hospitality design, and how you can incorporate the same principles into your daily life

Why Beauty Matters in Our Spaces

The other day, I stumbled upon my current obsession in NYC: a cocktail bar called Tigre in the Lower East Side. The entrance is unassuming; an unmarked door in a graffitied wall. If not for the man checking IDs outside, I would have missed it completely.

Upon walking in, I immediately felt at ease. The lighting was soft and moody, the seating plush, the table settings artfully arranged. The entire space was made to feel cozy, warm, and tucked away, like it was my little secret to be kept. The bar is beautiful; a half circle ensconced in soft golden light. I sat down, ordered a classic cocktail, and soaked in the vibes.

As a self-proclaimed aesthetophile, I adore restaurant design. This casual experience got me thinking about what it means to surround yourself with beauty, why it’s important, and how I can carry the positive feelings that design evokes into my daily life. This led me to learning about neuroaesthetics; the study of how art, beauty, and design affect the brain. It combines neuroscience, psychology, and aesthetics to understand why certain spaces, objects, and experiences evoke emotional and physiological responses.

In hospitality, neuroaesthetics plays a key role in shaping guest experiences. Hotels and restaurants leverage these principles to create environments that feel luxurious, calming, or energizing. Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt a vibe shift? Maybe dim lighting in a cocktail bar gave you a sense of comfort and intimacy, or maybe the openness of a sunlit hotel lobby gave you a welcoming feeling of optimism and clarity.

The Neuroscience of Aesthetics

The way Tigre made me feel isn’t accidental. There’s a science behind why certain spaces make us feel a certain way, and that’s where neuroaesthetics comes in.

The core science behind neuroaesthetics is how the brain responds to symmetry, lighting, textures, and colors in our environment. The brain reacts to visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli in ways that can trigger pleasure and relaxation… or even, in some instances, discomfort.

Aesthetic experiences activate the limbic system, which governs emotions and memory. Spaces designed with neuroaesthetics in mind can create lasting emotional connections for this reason (like the nostalgia of your cozy hometown diner). Certain aesthetic choices (like natural light, organic materials, and harmonious proportions) can reduce stress and improve well-being.

For example, aesthetics can utilize color psychology to increase happiness in a warm-toned hotel lobby or lower stress in a spa with cool hues. Soft, layered lighting can mimic natural circadian rhythms, promoting relaxation in rooms or vibrancy in social spaces. Plush fabrics, natural wood, and curved architecture engage the brain’s sensory system to make spaces feel more inviting. Spatial flow and harmony can play a role too; open, symmetrical layouts with intuitive navigation reduce cognitive load, making guests feel at ease. In addition, thoughtfully curated design choices like art, scent, and music tap into memory and emotion, reinforcing a sense of place.

All this is to say, well-designed spaces have a profound psychological and physiological impact, influencing mood, cognition, well-being, and even creativity. Elements like natural light, balanced proportions, and thoughtful material choices can reduce stress, enhance focus, and foster a sense of comfort.

To invoke these feelings, spaces need to feel inviting and harmonious without being overworked or contrived. Simplicity, natural flow, and understated elegance can make a space instinctively welcoming. When design is done well, it doesn’t demand attention. It just feels right.

Hospitality Design is More Than Just a Pretty Space

Neuroaesthetics isn’t just a theoretical concept. It’s a fundamental pillar of hospitality design. Using the emotional power of ambiance, some restaurants and hotels feel absolutely magnetic! Design creates an immersive experience that influences how guests feel in a space.

The moment a guest steps through the front door, their brain will make a split-second judgement based on design cues. A grand yet inviting hotel lobby with warm lighting and natural materials immediately signals a sense of comfort and exclusivity, creating a positive emotional anchor that shapes the rest of their experience.

We may not always be able to articulate why a space feels good, but our brain will instinctively respond to the visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. Thoughtful hospitality design taps into these subconscious triggers, making guests feel at home even in unfamiliar surroundings.

In addition, hospitality design creates memorable experiences that become a part of the guest’s lasting memory. This emotional connection translates into brand loyalty, since feeling deep emotions in a space can make them more likely to return.

Bringing the Concept Home

The spaces we inhabit daily, like our homes and workspaces, have a much greater impact on our emotions, focus, and well-being than hotels and restaurants. This is where we spend the majority of our lives, after all!

By incorporating the core principles from neuroaesthetics, we can create environments that evoke same sense of calm, inspiration, and effortless beauty found in thoughtfully designed hospitality spaces.

Small, thoughtful choices in color, texture, lighting, and spatial flow can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance daily life. Maybe it’s a living room that feel inviting or a bedroom that promotes deep rest. No matter the room, neuroaesthetic design can turn ordinary spaces into sanctuaries.

So how do we begin to incorporate these principles into our homes? For me, lighting is the most important factor that makes a space feel cozy. I don’t want harsh overhead lighting in any room; I prefer soft, ambient lighting! It creates warmth and intimacy, while harsh overhead lights feel sterile, like a hospital room.

There are many ways to enhance your lighting game. You can use dimmable lighting and warm bulbs to bring out the cozy vibes. You can also incorporate accent lighting like wall sconces, table lamps, or even candlelight!

Lighting sets the mood, but texture plays an equally important role in creating a tactile sense of comfort. Add in some soft and inviting fabrics like velvet, linen, cashmere, or boucle. For daily rituals like sleeping, pick high-quality linens and bedsheets. A restful night of sleep is always worth the investment.

Color psychology is another way to subtly transform your space and engage your mood. Soft neutrals and earthy tones (think beige, warm white, soft gray) create a serene, spa-like environment. Deep blues and greens evoke sophistication and calm. Warm, muted tones (like rich browns and mustard yellow) feel grounding and inviting, perfect for dining rooms or lounge areas.

The smallest design choices can make your daily life feel more intentional and beautiful. Swap out mismatched drinkware for glassware that feels luxurious to hold. Invest in well-designed furniture that balances beauty and function. Texture and contrast can be your best friend when it comes to effortless sophistication; add in a marble tray on a rustic wood table or linen napkins with ceramic dinnerware.

Moving on to flow and comfort, let’s talk about how movement and purpose can create an intuitive and clean atmosphere. Removing clutter and excess can clear pathways and breathing room, along with giving you an overall sense of calm. A cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind. From personal experience, I’ve noticed that a disorganized bedroom disrupts my ability to unwind and rest.

It’s also important to acknowledge how a space invites you in. Does the layout encourage gathering, resting, or creativity? Use curved furniture, rounded edges, and organic shapes to make a space feel softer and more inviting.

And then there are the sensory elements; the final touch that makes a space feel truly immersive. Let’s talk about what makes a space really shine. Scents are an obvious one… I’m thinking soft florals, fresh linen, and woodsy scents! Although to be honest, I’m not a big scents girl. Overpowering smells feel overbearing to me, so I prefer as subtle as possible. Even scentless candles! But no matter your preference, scent can make an impact. Background music can add a little something extra, too. This may not be practical for your day to day life, but for me it’s ideal when hosting or having a nice romantic dinner at home. Soft jazz, bossa nova, lo-fi, or ambient sounds can create a calming, immersive atmosphere. For tactile additions, think of adding soft rugs, plush throws, or other natural elements to enhance the sensory experience of your space.

Bringing neuroaesthetic principles into your personal space isn’t about making it look like a five-star hotel, but rather about capturing the feeling of comfort and well-being. By making small, intentional design choice, you can transform everyday spaces into environments that inspire, restore, and elevate your daily life.

Designing for Feeling, Not Just Looks

If there’s one thing you’ve gathered from this article, I hope that it’s that design isn’t just superficial, but that it’s deeply tied to wellbeing! A well-designed space doesn’t just look good, it feels good. Thoughtful design influences emotions, energy levels, and even productivity. That night at Tigre, I wasn’t just enjoying a cocktail. I was experiencing the power of intentional design! And that’s something we can all bring back into our everyday spaces.

If I have any advice to give, it’s to pay attention to the spaces that make you feel something. Whether it’s a cozy corner in a cafe, a perfectly lit hotel lobby, or even a quiet museum gallery, the places we feel drawn to often have subtle yet intentional design choices that shape our emotions.

The next time you step into a space, notice how it makes you feel. Is it the lighting? The textures? The layout? Beauty isn’t just visual, it’s emotional. Once you start paying attention, you’ll never look at design the same way again.