Sound

Environmental noise is distracting and therefore impedes creativity. In contrast, the positive sound has the potential to increase creativity. Music, silence, and the absence of noise as elements that support creativity.

Temperature

Some studies have found that adequate indoor climate (temperature, velocity, humidity, and composition of the air in the workplace) positively influences creativity. Too high temperatures inhibit creativity. 

Smell

Positive smell (e.g. fresh air, absence of bad smell) to stimulate creativity. However, Lee (2016) could not confirm that positive smell has an effect on creativity.

AIR

Improve the quality and quantity of natural ventilation, Allow individual access to operable windows, Separate ventilation air from thermal conditioning, Provide task air for individual control.

Materials and surfaces

Various types of material employees are surrounded by in their workplace have an impact on creativity. In their study, manufactured and composite materials (e.g. plastic laminate, synthetic fibres, carpet, and steel) had a strong negative correlation with the perceived creative potential. In contrast, rooms with mainly natural elements (e.g. wood, marble, and leather) were perceived as environments with high creative potential. 

Colours

Generally, a room’s colour scheme can be differentiated into cool colour designs (e.g. blue, green, or blue-violet) and warm colour designs (e.g. yellow, orange, or red). Cool colours negatively influence creativity, whereas they found no stimulating effect of warm colours on creativity. Both warm and cool colours are enhancing creativity. Use different colours for different phases of the creative process. Execute divergent thinking activities in an environment with more warm colours, whereas cooler colours should be used to support the convergent phases of the creative process. Sterile environments without colours have a negative impact on creativity.

Plants

All seven studies investigating the influence of plants on creativity confirmed that plants have a creativity-enhancing effect. 

Disengaged space

Disengaged space is closely related to a relaxing space, yet it is more than that. It provides possibilities for individual mental breaks through non-work-related activities with others, including play spaces for activities such as billiards and darts, or social hangout spaces, such as cafés and lounges. In his study with innovative start-ups, Lee (2016) found that disengaged space is the most important space type for creativity. 

Light

Different light settings can influence creativity. Adequate illumination is necessary for promoting creativity in the physical workspace, whereas insufficient light inhibits creativity. Moreover, current studies have found especially the exposure to daylight as creativity-supporting Different tasks require different lighting settings. Contrary to these findings, Steidle and Werth (2013) showed in multiple experiments that darkness and dim illumination improve creativity, as participants felt less observed and controlled. Moreover, they found that participants in dim rooms performed better on creative tasks and worse on analytical tasks than participants in brighter rooms. Consistent and controllable light is an important determinant of creativity. 

Maximize the use of day lighting without glare, Separate task and ambient light, Select the highest quality lighting fixtures, Design plug-and-play lighting and dynamic lighting zones. The premise of this kind of research is that neutral but healthy backdrops to creative activity can foster a state of wellbeing and alertness that is a necessary predisposition to ideation.

Window/view

Windows and views outside the office can positively influence creativity. McCoy and Evans (2002) found that a view in general (visual access to any area outside the immediate setting) and a natural view (visual access to living plants, trees, or sky) strongly correlate with the perceived creative potential of an office. Consequently, offices with no view were associated with low creative potential.