Do creative work under a lofty ceiling.

Office. Garrison, New York. Photography by Beatrice Pediconi.

Architect Donald M. Rattner’s book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, presents 48 spatial strategies to enhance creativity at home.

Tactic #3 suggests performing creative work in spaces with ceilings at least ten feet high—or visually altering the environment to create the illusion of height. Rattner cites research showing that individuals in rooms with ten-foot ceilings score higher on creativity tests than those working under eight-foot ceilings.

The reason? Our perception of mental space mirrors our perception of physical space. The more expansive our surroundings feel, the more open our minds become to unconventional ideas and new perspectives.

ARTICLE: The Psychology of High Ceilings and Creative Work Spaces