Design that speaks to the senses

Multi-sensory design is an important factor in creating commercial and hospitality interiors. It taps into all five senses to create a human-centered space.

That’s why creating a coffee bar is about more than just having seats and serving coffee nowadays. It’s a whole performative experience on its own!

With increased mobility and the gadgets we all use, people are spending more time indoors, encouraging interiors to become more imaginative and productivity-inducing. Here are the five senses that should be considered.

Vision. Being the most obvious, this is a given. Visuals must always be pleasant.

Sound. The sense of sound is of utmost importance because of acoustics and music. It sets the mood instantly.

Smell. The sense of smell can make or break an interior space. Having a sweet-smelling home can be very inviting.

Taste. Taste association is important in any interior. It connects with smell and visuals, so try to make these elements complement one another.

Touch. The sense of touch should create comfort. We have to be sensitive to the textures and tactile materials we choose for a room to create a multi-sensory experience.

Here are a few tips on multi-sensory design and creating the perfect ambiance for your home.

Multi-sensory design is an important factor in creating commercial and hospitality interiors.

If you want the space to be more relaxing, stick to neutrals mixed with soft colors such as muted olive, heather or soft burgundy.

VISION

Color palette. Choose the right colors for your space. If you want the space to be more relaxing, stick to neutrals mixed with soft colors such as muted olive, heather or soft burgundy. For a stronger approach, and if color is not an issue, go all out with your preference—glossy teal, electric blue or fire-engine red.

Play with light by putting together different layers of light, from the natural light coming in through your windows to ceiling fixtures, chandeliers and table lamps.

Play with light. I always like putting together different layers of light, from the natural light coming in through your windows to ceiling fixtures, chandeliers and table lamps. Play with these settings so you can always change the mood of your space according to your emotions or your guests.

Wood can soften and calm the mood of any space.

Layer prints with fabrics and wallpaper, adding local Hablon and Ikat patterns sparingly.

Play with prints. If you are a print lover, layer them as well. People have mixed prints on their fabrics and wallpaper. Local prints like Hablon and Ikat would be a nice touch, but use just a few elements since these can overpower a space.

These can be mixed with animal prints, although it is best to stick to one kind if you’re playing with other patterns. Stripes, kilim and florals can be placed together, but make sure to sample each before applying them to the space.

Striped, kilim and floral patterns can be mixed, but sample each before applying them.

SOUND

Treat the space with good acoustics. There’s nothing better than good conversations and good music together—and yes, these can work in the same room at the same time.

Bang & Olufsen has good speakers that can provide great sound while still allowing proper conversations among guests. Make sure that you have sound absorbers in the room.

For a soon-to-be-built home, clients usually like padded acoustic walls, ceilings or both. In the case of an existing home, you can still apply ceiling acoustics and add carpets, absorbent fabrics for furniture and good curtains.

Ambient music. Create a sensory experience with mood-calming sounds. If you’re by the beach, the sound of water or chillout music is great! Always match the music with the atmosphere.

If you’re in Baguio, for example, cool Kevyn Lettau or Everything But the Girl are my music choices. Am I showing my age?

Carefully chosen textures and tactile materials can create a multisensory experience.

TOUCH

Comfy furniture. This is where good, comfortable furniture comes in. Chairs must be comfortable enough to sit on for hours, while fabrics should be soft to the touch. Avoid artificial, itchy textures to prevent uncomfortable situations.

Textured wall finishes. Even wall finishes should look inviting to touch. I normally go for nicely textured wallpaper or paint.

Subtle fragrances help calm the mood and senses.

SMELL

Subtle fragrances. This is a no-brainer! Having subtle—and I mean subtle—fragrances throughout the space can calm our mood and senses.

Flowers and plants. Fresh flowers, provided that no one has an allergy, can do wonders for your space. Beautiful plants in corners create an airy and visually pleasing sensory experience.

A pleasant scent can make a home inviting, while an unpleasant smell can undermine the entire interior.

Candles, purifiers, and room sprays. An air purifier is a must for enclosed spaces. Candles with lamp warmers and soft room sprays are also much needed. For the room, I like citrusy smells such as the Verbena scent of L’Occitane and Neroli from L’Artisan Parfumeur, but these are personal choices. You have yours for sure.

A bowl of oranges and refreshing citrus spritzes can be a nice addition to a beach house.

Keeping edibles around to complement the space can make the experience more engaging,

TASTE

Edibles to match settings. To go hand in hand with the physical experience of the space, keeping edibles around that match the setting can make it more engaging.

For a beach house, for example, a bowl of oranges on the dining table and some refreshing bottles of citrus spritzers are a nice addition. For city homes, I would place a bowl of sangria and some apples in cocktail jars to set the mood.