Beyond Generalizations: Context‐Dependent Effects of Lighting Color in Interior Environments

ABSTRACT As lighting technologies become increasingly tunable and user‐driven, understanding how individuals engage with color and light properties in context‐sensitive ways is critical. This study introduces a novel experimental framework that combines direct user agency with eye‐level spectral measurements to examine lighting preferences in realistic interior environments. Twenty‐five participants customized illuminance, correlated color temperature, and chromaticity across six scenarios varying by environmental context (home vs. work office) and psychological intent (relaxation vs. stimulation). Measuring lighting conditions at participants' eye level, rather than at traditional fixed measurement points, accurately captures the spectral environment participants experienced during preference formation. Results indicated significantly higher illuminance and cooler CCT preferences for work‐related scenarios compared to home environments, along with individualized chromatic shifts clearly aligned with psychological intent. All participants performed perceptible and intentional chromaticity adjustments between relaxing and energetic settings, although the direction of these changes varied notably across individuals. These findings validate the effectiveness of this methodological framework in capturing context‐sensitive lighting behaviors while underscoring the limitations of generalized color prescriptions. The results highlight the importance of adaptive, user‐controlled lighting systems that accommodate diverse functional and psychological needs, thus contributing to evidence‐based lighting design through detailed insights into how environmental context and psychological intention shape perceptual preferences in realistic settings.