Designing with Serendipity in Mind: Creating Spaces for Micro-Moments of Connection

As an interior designer specialising in PBSA for 15+ years (good grief - where does the time go?) I’ve learned that the right blend of design elements can turn a building from one that students may sleep and study into a real community - one where connections happen naturally, making studying at university a more enriching and enjoyable experience.

Having a Gen Z teenager at college, I’ve also seen firsthand how tricky it can be to settle into a new environment, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. The desire to connect is there, but the opportunities don’t always present themselves - especially for students who aren’t into structured social events. From my knowledge and experience it’s clear that more than ever, we need to create spaces that make everyday interactions easy, give people a reason to strike up a conversation, and help socialising feel effortless.

Additionally, the rise of digital culture and the lasting effects of COVID have made in-person socialising harder for Gen Z. A 2022 survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that one in four students felt lonely often or always, and the Mental Health Foundation reported that 80% of young people feel social anxiety has worsened since the pandemic. Having grown up online, spontaneous, face-to-face conversations don’t always come naturally to them. While organised social events can help, we can’t just rely on planned activities - good design can play a huge role in creating easy, everyday moments of connection, without the pressure of participation.

This is where serendipity and intentional design come into play. Those small, unplanned moments - a smile of acknowledgment, a brief chat while making a coffee, a shared laugh over a noticeboard doodle, help build familiarity, turning strangers into a community. And when people feel like they belong, their mental well-being improves. So, how do we design spaces that encourage these natural interactions? Thoughtful use of colour, clever spatial planning, and little unexpected design touches all work together to create an environment where social moments happen effortlessly. Let’s explore how.

The Power of Colour to Connect

We’ve talked about this before at N+L (can you tell we love it?), but colour psychology is such a powerful tool when it comes to creating spaces that encourage connection. The right colours can completely change how a space feels - warm terracotta’s and dusky yellows create a sense of comfort and approachability, while greens and blues bring in a calming, open energy. It’s all about setting the right tone so people instinctively feel at ease. Thoughtfully chosen colour palettes can even help ease social anxiety, making interactions more natural and effortless.

Seating That Sparks Interaction

Not every social moment has to be a deep conversation - sometimes, it’s just about those small, everyday exchanges. Well-placed seating in high-traffic areas like hallways, entrances, or near lifts can create natural opportunities for those casual moments, a quick hello, a nod of recognition, or a shared joke about the weather. The key is to design inviting but non-committal spaces where people can connect without feeling like they have to stick around.

Communal tables with shared activities - think games/puzzles, interactive message boards, or creative projects, these can all be a wonderful way to bring people together without putting pressure on them to interact. Even background music can make a significant difference, setting a relaxed tone and making spaces feel warm and welcoming rather than awkwardly silent.

Rethinking Corridors

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - so many PBSA layouts focus on function and budget, leaving corridors feeling cold and just practical. But what if we treated them as more than just walkways? A simple chalkboard where students can leave messages, a community map where students can pin their favourite cafés, study spots, or running routes, can all act as subtle conversation starters. Instead of just passing each other in silence, these little touches encourage spontaneous interactions, helping to make the space feel more like home.

Even something as simple as displaying student course work - whether it’s art, photography, or creative writing, could encourage people to slow down and take notice, inspire, invite conversations, and create those little moments of connection that add up over time.

Consider the Everyday Spaces

Beyond the big amenity areas, some of the best social interactions happen in the everyday spaces students pass through all the time - kitchens, laundry rooms, lifts, and bike stores. With a bit of thoughtful design, these functional areas can double as effortless points for connection.

A communal island in a shared kitchen invites conversation while cooking, a couple of comfy seats near the washing machines turn laundry chores into an opportunity to socialise, and even simple things like fun notices or music in lifts can make everyday interactions more natural. These small design choices help create spaces that encourage connection without forcing it.

A Simple Way to Spark Connection

The 'Happy to Chat' benches, introduced in the UK to encourage conversation among strangers, provide a great example of how small design interventions can foster connection. Typically found in parks and public spaces, these designated benches invite people to engage in friendly exchanges. Adapting this idea for PBSA, strategically placed benches or ‘Talk Tables’ - marked with signage and thoughtful design features, such as colour-coded tabletops, playful iconography, and warm lighting - could help remove social barriers. Research highlights that informal, everyday interactions, such as those encouraged by 'Happy to Chat' benches, play a key role in reducing loneliness and strengthening a sense of belonging. By weaving these elements into high-traffic areas, students gain an easy and natural way to connect, without pressure, just opportunities for effortless, low-key social moments that help turn a space into a community.

Why Micro-Moments Matter

It’s about designing inspiring spaces that naturally encourage interaction and foster a genuine sense of belonging. The more we see familiar faces, the more comfortable we feel striking up conversations. These small, repeated interactions gradually build connections, turning a collection of individuals into a thriving community. It’s not just about hosting big social events or designing impressive common rooms - it’s about the subtle, everyday details that make human connection feel easy, natural, and meaningful. By designing with serendipity in mind, we can help students feel truly at home.

Brilliant design isn’t just about the aesthetics of the physical space - it’s about shaping experiences, relationships, and a sense of community. And in a world where meaningful connection can be hard to come by, that feels more valuable than ever.

N+LX