Comments on: Spark Better Creative Thinking With Extra Headroom

By: Lisa Y

Lisa Y — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:40:38 +0000

In my opinion, some people are just born with a “high-ceiling” mind than others. Others can’t get past the superficial and are therefore incapable of big-picture/critical thinking. Being in a high-ceiling or low-ceiling room makes for a good metaphor but hardly a factor.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:43:12 +0000

In my current city condo I have a funky room on the third floor that has a sloped ceiling. I’ve placed a sofa and some good books on the side of the space with the highest ceiling, and a cozy workstation opposite in the more confined low side. In between I have a narrow table that’s perfect for spreading work out. The working footprint of this room is tiny (8×9, plus a niche where the workstation is), but because of the high ceiling and the fact that the space encompasses the stairwell used to reach it, there’s “enough room to think.” I doubt the developer had the study referenced here in mind, but for me it does bear out the notion.

By: Jo Golden

Jo Golden — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:19:55 +0000

I have done a good amount of work with people and their work spaces over the years, usually in cities where physical boundaries tend to be tighter. In my experience it is not the size of the space as much as the space folks leave themselves mentally and physically within it.

I have lived with tall ceilings and in English basements and find that, after a period of adjusting my expectations of the space itself, one is as good as the other for the theory building/creative work that goes on in my home office. (Full disclosure–it is my preferred form of headwork from the start)

It’s like that whole house/home distinction. What makes it work is deeply personal, the result of life experiences, and expectations have a lot to do with income level.

If I want to spark my creativity, it sometimes helps to edit the objects taking up space in my office–or get away from my desk. Raising the ceiling is just so much work…

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By: Higher ceilings can, in fact, help with creative thinking. | Developing Creativity

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:00:02 +0000

[...] have just found this blog, with a particularly interesting post on how higher ceilings can aid creativity! It sounds unusual [...]

By: Bryony

Bryony — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:31:54 +0000

In a sense I agree, in as much as my bedroom ceilings are so high, that when my lightbulb blew recently, and it became apparent that we had no ladder, I was forced to ‘create’ an inpromptu ladder involving various bits of household furniture.

By: rincy

rincy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:20:47 +0000

when am stuck during writing assignments i stare outside the window..i have made sure right from the beginning that i got a place next to the big window..looking out..watching the traffic flow..or even just simply gazing out helps me when i get stuck during work..come to think of it..even when i go out to eat..i prefer a place which allows me to gaze outside the window..hmmm..interesting..never consciously thought about this before reading this blog post..

By: Shayne Mauricette

Shayne Mauricette — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:42:14 +0000

The whole concept of the artist’s loft with high ceilings is not a cliche at all…in fact if you read “Brain Rules” by John Medina, he really distills how important “expansive” thinking is and it’s relation to creative thinking. There’s a great example that he gives with reference to education where he says that children learn better when they’re free to think and not confined to desks for lengthy time periods…connects nicely with your post.

Shayne

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By: Melody Green

Melody Green — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:37:52 +0000

I prefer a sense of space when I create whether that is tall ceilings, an uncluttered clean room or being outside.

Something I have found very interesting is that some of my best creative ideas happen when I’m travelling by air.

Now is that because I’m thousands of miles in the air albeit in a cramped tin can or to do with the clarity of the atmosphere? (I might add here that I always travel economy so it is not the luxury of first class that’s creating it!)

I haven’t worked out why, but it’s one of the reasons I look forward to flying!

Cheers

Melody

By: Chris Ritke

Chris Ritke — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:38:19 +0000

You’re probably right. But I would say there’s more: a big window right in front of you with a big view of nature. And then there’s the door. Just going out to where there’s no ceiling at all is the best. And not just because of all the room over your head, but also because you’re away from your work.

By: Wily Walnut

Wily Walnut — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:57:21 +0000

Fascinating, thanks for sharing!

Maybe if you have a bigger box you don’t need to think outside of it so often

I’m thinking artist’s lofts…lofty thinking…give me room to think… creative space… openness… full of light… give me room to breathe… to express myself…

Life as a mirror…

tiny creative space = tiny creative mind that keeps hitting the ceiling.

Speaking of which, I’d leave this broom cupboard I’m in and go outside (like Ed) but there’s not much blue sky thinking to be had in the UK today! Battle-ship grey sky thinking just doesn’t have the same ring about it!