Healing spaces have played an important role in human history as arenas for healing and restoration of physical health. Current research from across disciplines identifies that engagement with space for people with mental illness can reduce emotional stress and thus improve health. This research leads to the central question of this paper: How do people with mood disorders achieve emotional regulation through healing spaces? In response to this question, this paper investigates the effects of sensory experience and architectural space on emotion regulation, with a particular focus on healing spaces. It proposes a model to analyze and explain how the design and use of healing spaces can create emotional experiences that stimulate patients’ senses and facilitate emotional regulation in individuals with mood disorders. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding how elements of healing spaces affect patients’ senses and contribute to the quality of emotion regulation. The paper argues that healing structures can effectively enhance the emotional experience of a space by creating a positive spatial atmosphere, thereby aiding in the healing process for patients with mood disorders. This paper’s analysis of the existing literature identifies key mechanisms by which healing spaces promote emotion regulation-healing structures-and breaks them down into three main structures: (a) Safety Guarantees Physical and Mental Development; (b) Functionality Supports the Treatment Process; (c) Ambiance Promotes Emotional Comfort, this study examines existing evidence to determine how healing structures promote emotionally regulated treatment. The study also explores representative examples of healing spaces and how they utilize spatial elements to stimulate the patient’s senses. This research results show that healing structures directly influence or facilitate eight primary spatial elements (color and form, light, sound, air and temperature, nature, materials, play and games, and activity and communication) which incorporate one or more dimensions of healing. Therefore, this paper aims to enhance our understanding and awareness of the correlation between interior space, human senses, and healing structures.

With the intensification of global population aging, attention to the emotional health of the elderly continues to grow. Traditional interior architectural design primarily focuses on optimizing physical functionality; however, this approach is no longer sufficient to meet the increasingly complex emotional needs of the elderly. Integrating the Three-Level Theory of Emotional Design (TTED) into interior design provides a significant opportunity to systematically address the multidimensional needs of the elderly. However, existing research is often fragmented and lacks thematic literature reviews to summarize the key factors, characteristics, and design strategy frameworks of interior design. This study aims to evaluate the impact of interior design on the emotional experiences of the elderly and to construct a conceptual framework to address current research gaps. By establishing rigorous selection criteria, 39 high-quality studies were identified from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Mendeley databases. Using ATLAS.ti 9 for thematic analysis, five core themes were distilled: aesthetics, use and function, emotional reflection, design strategies, and emotional experience. The findings revealed that architectural interior design practices often paid limited attention to the emotional needs of older adults. Through a comprehensive literature review, 10 key design features were identified, including multi-sensory attributes, morphological characteristics, cultural elements, and natural components, alongside 17 related research directions. The study introduces a dynamic feedback mechanism within the framework of the proposed architectural interior design strategy, highlighting the importance of employing multiple strategies that balance and complement each other in practical applications. Additionally, the study clarifies future research directions, offering theoretical support and practical guidance for designers to address the complex needs of the elderly. This achievement provides a systematic reference for the future development of interior architectural design and has significant implications for improving the emotional experience of the elderly.