I've had the same question in the past and couldn't find any info on it, so I measured a variety of rooms in homes, at work, etc. and have come to several conclusions. One is that when the length and width vary by more than the 1.5 ratio you mentioned, there seems to be the perception that the space is not so much a "destination, or "room," but more a "passageway" to somewhere else, like a hallway.
The second thing I've noticed about room dimensions, if that the height component is as important as length and width when it comes to the perception of size. Increasing the ceiling height from 8 to 9 feet has a more dramatic effect on my senses than increasing the length or width by a foot.
Personally, I prefer the visual interest of odd wall angles and bump-outs to a purely rectangular room, if the space and budget allows. It really pays to look at some of the newer homes on the market to get ideas on how to create the feeling you're looking for. I’ve been finding that getting away from the rectangular shape makes it more difficult to quantify size, and allows smaller rooms to look larger than they really are. |
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