The atmosphere of the Lot[us] Room was made to reflect that of natural and calming elements. It serves to provide a sense of tranquility through the sense of sound, sight, and smell. These elements include aromatherapy, the color of the room, lighting, and nature like pieces such as the waterfall and plants. Specifically looking at nature-like elements, evidence indicates that there is a direct connection between nature and improved mental health.  A systematic review on the effects of nature-walks on depression and anxiety found that the consistent finding across twelve different studies was that nature walks were beneficial for anxiety, (Ketora et al. 2021).   In another meta-analysis which included 30 articles, there was a positive correlation between nature connectedness and happiness (Capaldi et al. 2014).  A professional article reviewed several studies and found supporting evidence that interacting with natural elements improves mental health and reduces anxiety, (Capaldi et al, 2015).  Though we cannot mimic nature in its fulness, we wanted to include aspects of nature in the Lot[us] room. Therefore, we included a water feature and several plants to bring nature to a room that would have otherwise been left industrial.

 

Lighting and color are also a crucial aspect of creating a calming atmosphere. It is not unknown that natural light has a significant impact on both our physical and mental wellbeing. However, in the space at SVSU, we were limited on the ability to provide natural light to students. Therefore, we chose to use warm, soft lighting to create an environment that feels calm and welcoming, not bright, white lighting that can create a harsh feeling. Sally Augustin Ph.D. (2021)  explains that warm light creates an environment that is welcoming, social, and promotes creativity. We additionally wanted to promote a sense of happiness and cheerfulness through the color of the room, therefore we chose yellow. Yellow is an eccentric color; it is bright and lively. It can be interpreted as being happy and energetic. It is bold, but it is perfect for Lot[us]. Vincent Van Gogh said it himself, “How wonderful yellow is, it stands for the sun,” (Kendra Cherry, 2023). Yellow is more than just a color for Lot[us], it is symbolic. Through Lot[us] we want to be a light for others, shining in their darkness.

 

Lastly, we provide aromatherapy to promote relaxation through the sense of smell. Evidence is extensive on the benefits of aromatherapy. One oil we specifically want to look at the benefits of is Lavender. Several systematic reviews indicate there is a benefit of using inhalation therapy for anxiety, specifically with lavender oil (Donelli et al, 2019) (Gong et al, 2020).  The meta-analysis by Gong et al. (2020), indicates that “aromatherapy could alleviate anxiety especially temporary anxiety”. In this study, lavender specifically was more beneficial than other citrus or rose oils.

 

“It is reported that inhalation of lavender (diluted to 10% concentration) for 3 minutes increases alpha power of EEG as decreases anxiety and brings the subject to a better mood in 40 healthy adults.” According to David Strayer (2018), nature is a restorative tool and has the ability to restore cognitive function. When walking in nature without distraction, it was found that on an EEG, the brain appeared more rested.