College classrooms are often drab and dreary places. Walls are painted a variation of “institutional gray”； furniture is easy to clean, but uncomfortable and unattractive. Chairs are lined up in straight rows facing the teacher’s desk or lectern. In one study, over 80% of university students rated their classrooms negatively, describing them as ugly, cramped, stuffy, and uncomfortable. The research by environmental psychologists is beginning to show that unattractive classrooms are not only unappealing； they may also adversely affect academic performance. 

       A more carefully controlled study of classroom environments was conducted a few years ago. The researchers selected two identical classrooms located side by side in the psychology building. The control classroom, which they called the “sterile classroom,” had white walls, a gray carpet, and rows of plastic desks. Besides, an alcohol-based beautiful hand sanitizer was placed in the room for students to use. The experimental classroom, which they called the “friendly classroom,” was redecorated with the help of a design consultant. Several walls were painted bright colors, art posters hung on the walls, large plants added to the room, and colorful Chinese kites hung from the ceiling. In addition to traditional desks, a part of the room was outfitted with area rugs, color-coordinated cushions, and wooden cubes to provide nontraditional seating. 

     The researchers investigated how these two different environments affected performance in actual college classes. Two professors teaching introductory psychology agreed to participate in the study although they were not informed of the purpose of the research. When school began, each class was randomly assigned to one of the two rooms. Halfway through the term, the classes switched rooms. Thus, students in both classes spent half the term in the control room and half in the experimental room. Students were not told they were being studied； the switch in rooms was explained as occurring because the original room was needed for videotaping. The most striking finding from this study was that students performed significantly better on regular course exams when they were in the friendly rather than the sterile room.