Assessing interior design interventions on psychophysiological stress in a simulated dental clinic: a virtual-reality study

Interior design is increasingly recognized as a determinant of patient anxiety, yet empirical evidence quantifying its physiological impact remains limited. This study investigated how targeted design interventions influence stress responses during simulated dental procedures using virtual reality (VR). Eighty-two students completed a three-phase experiment comprising a resting baseline, a neutral operatory, and one of fourteen single-factor design scenarios manipulating lighting type, window view, surface colour, or window size. Heart rate (BPM) and galvanic skin response (GSR) were recorded continuously, and post-exposure interviews were thematically analysed. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated significant differences in BPM and GSR across phases (both p < 0.001). Relative to the neutral operatory, natural light, framed external views, and warm low-saturation colours produced significant reductions in BPM and GSR (p < .05). Post-hoc analyses identified Colour Orange (ΔBPM = −7.90), Skylight (ΔBPM = −3.48), and 1 Double Pane (ΔGSR = −1.54 μS) as the most restorative configurations (all p < 0.001). Thematic findings converged: intervention rooms were described as calmer, more spacious, and visually engaging than the sterile, confining control room. These results provide typology-specific evidence that balanced, controllable biophilic and chromatic interventions can attenuate physiological stress in dental settings.