Residential wellbeing by design: Inherent and modifiable physical features for psychological need satisfaction

Background. When home environments are designed with features that fit and support diverse and changing resident needs, it may benefit residents’ wellbeing. However, limited knowledge exists about which physical elements of homes should be prioritised to support residents' psychological needs. This study explored whether physical elements, such as spaces, objects, and features, support residents' basic psychological needs for Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness, and Positive Affect. It further examined the role of home modification behaviours in supporting resident's wellbeing. Study. One hundred and eighty-seven UK residents completed an anonymous online survey. After introducing the four basic needs concepts, participants were asked to list the specific spaces in their home and the objects in those places that helped them satisfy those needs. After that they were asked what changes they had made in their house to support their overall needs. Results. Content analysis showed that bedrooms, gardens, living rooms and kitchens were rooms most frequently mentioned as important for satisfying basic needs, within which windows and sofas were frequently mentioned. Four themes relating to home modification were identified via thematic analysis: personalisation, furniture changes, and structural alterations, with kitchens and bathrooms being the most frequently adapted spaces, followed by gardens and bedrooms.Conclusions. The study identifies specific physical environment features that support basic psychological needs, providing evidence-based insights for housing design. Examining both inherent features and resident modifications reveals where standard housing designs adequately support psychological wellbeing and where design interventions are needed: improved inherent features and strategies that enable resident-led modifications.