This study analyzes how interior tone design in youth apartments influences residential satisfaction and residential choice in Zhengzhou, China. Grounded in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) model and the Practical Color Coordinate System (PCCS), it introduces perceived congruence as a mediator to clarify the multidimensional pathway from PCCS tone stimuli to emotional appraisal and decision making. Typical youth-apartment PCCS tone schemes were generated using the PCCS system and evaluated by young renters (N=163). Measures covered four dimensions of perceived congruence—personal aesthetics, functional requirements, cultural identity, and self-identity. Structural equation modeling with bootstrap mediation tested model fit and indirect effects along the S-O-R pathway. All four PCCS tone groups were positively associated with residential satisfaction and residential choice, with bright tones showing the strongest impact. Indirect effects were evident across all con-gruence dimensions, with variations reflecting tone-specific psychological mechanisms. Overall model fit was acceptable. The findings extend S-O-R applications in environmental design by specifying how tone operates through perceived congruence among Zhengzhou youth renters. Practically, they suggest bright/neutral base palettes with small-area accents and replaceable décor to support self-expression, while exercising caution with large, highly saturated applications. The single-city, cross-sectional design is a key limitation and invites multi-city and longitudinal replications.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.