Part 5: The Aesthetics of Joy: What Beautiful Spaces Do to Our Brains

Welcome to The Everyday Science of Joy, a 13-part series for educators and caregivers brought to you by the ESSDACK Resilience Team and inspired by the work of Ingrid Fetell Lee around The Science of Joy. We’re diving into what brain science tells us about joy: why it matters, how it shapes our nervous systems, and how we can design classrooms, homes, and communities that help people truly thrive.

Each post, we’ll explore one joyful concept and connect it to practical, brain-based strategies you can use right away. Think of this series as a little dose of inspiration and science, wrapped up with curiosity, compassion, and maybe even a laugh or two because joy is serious business (and seriously good for us)!

The “aesthetics of joy” is more than decoration. Tt’s neuroscience. Ingrid Fetell Lee’s research shows that certain visual patterns such as round shapes, bright colors, abundance, lightness trigger joy responses in our brains.

From balloons to bubbles to confetti dots, circular and colorful forms signal safety and vitality. They whisper, “You’re okay here.” That’s why classrooms full of color, art, and movement feel alive, while gray cubicles often don’t.

When we intentionally design joyful spaces, we send subconscious cues of belonging. Round tables invite collaboration; color invites energy; symmetry invites calm.

So whether it’s a child’s drawing, a splash of green, or a set of curved chairs, these aren’t frivolous—they’re fuel for creativity, regulation, and trust.

✨ Joy Practice Challenge: Add one new joyful aesthetic to your environment this week—a plant, bright poster, or art created by students. Observe the energy shift it creates.