Virtual interior environment: Influence of colour on the sense of immersion

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of colour on the sense of immersion in virtual interior environments. The perceptual significance of colour in interior design necessitates a critical evaluation of the three dimensions of colour-hue, saturation, and lightness (HSL)-in the context of their application in virtual environments (VEs). The study aims to investigate how the sense of immersion in virtual interior environments varies depending on hue, saturation, and lightness and to examine the extent to which colour dimensions influence the sense of immersion in VEs. In this study, the HSL colour space was employed to create varying degrees of colours, and an online survey was conducted to understand the individuals’ sense of immersion in different virtual interior settings. The findings suggest that reducing the degree of lightness of colours in a virtual interior environment enhances the sense of immersion. In addition, the study reveals that whether a virtual interior environment highlights natural or artificial lighting, augmenting the degree of lightness of colours intensifies the sense of immersion in the perceived environment. © 2023, Gruppo del Colore? Associazione Italiana Colore. All rights reserved.