Colour preference in relation to personal determinants and implications for indoor circadian luminous environment

Abstract

Colour of interior surfaces has to be considered in order to provide optimal visual and non-visual performance. Colour selection is often related to the occupant's colour preferences. First part of the presented study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study among the employees of the University of Ljubljana conducted in December 2019 in order to identify possible association between personal determinants, room typology, preferred colour of indoor surfaces and general colour preferences. Based on the findings from the survey results, a simulation study on a generic cellular office was executed in order to evaluate the implications of occupant's wall colour preference on the resulting non-visual luminous environment under the climate of Ljubljana. Results showed a strong association between the general colour preference and wall colour preference. Significant differences between gender and age groups were identified. The respondents preferred white, orange and blue coloured walls, the latter two, as deduced from the simulations, may have a substantial negative or positive impact on the spatial distribution and duration of appropriate non-visual exposure in the indoor environment. The results of the presented study highlight the importance of considering the potential impact of indoor surface colour selection when evaluating the quality of the indoor luminous environment.