Body Quote by Ada Louise Huxtable
“One of the most basic human instincts is the need to decorate. Nothing is exempt - the body, the objects one uses, from intimate to monumental, and all personal and ceremonial space. It is an instinct that responds ... to some deep inner urge that has been variously described as the horror of a vacuum and the need to put one's imprint on at least one small segment of the world.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Need to Decorate,” 1975
Humans have an innate drive to adorn and leave a mark on their surroundings, from personal to monumental spaces, filling a psychological void.
In simple terms: Decoration satisfies a deep human urge.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the psychological need to personalize and mark spaces.
Themes
design
psychology
human instinct
Mood
creative
inspirational
Type
aesthetic
motivational
When to use this quote
- interior design
- urban planning
- personal branding
- public art
Key Concepts
aesthetic expression
identity formation
environmental psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your desire to decorate a space?
- How does decoration reflect personal identity?
A Different Perspective
Excessive decoration can become cluttered or superficial.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
