Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

022 Cathedral Effect

High ceilings promote abstract thinking. Low ceilings promote detail-oriented thinking.

It is widely accepted that people prefer high ceilings to low ceilings. Lesser known, however, is that ceiling height can influence how people approach problem solving. Depending on the nature of the problem, ceiling height can either undermine or enhance problem-solving performance. Noticeably low or noticeably high ceilings promote different types of cognition — high ceilings promote abstract thinking and creativity; low ceilings promote concrete, detail-oriented thinking. No effect is observed if ceiling height goes unnoticed.1

In self-report measures, people predictably rated their general affect as “freer” in high-ceilinged rooms ...