Romkomfort

Romkomfort, or room comfort, is the overall user-perceived quality of an indoor space. It describes how pleasant and functional a room feels, taking into account a combination of thermal, visual, acoustic, and air-quality conditions. The concept is used in architecture, interior design, and building engineering to create spaces that support well-being, health, and productivity.

Key components of romkomfort include thermal comfort (temperature, humidity, air movement, and temperature stratification), indoor air quality (ventilation, CO2 and odor levels, and VOCs), acoustic comfort (ambient sound levels, reverberation, and sound masking), and visual comfort (lighting quality, glare control, daylight availability, and color rendering). Ergonomic and cultural factors—such as adjustable furniture, space layout, accessibility, and user control over environmental conditions—also influence perceived comfort.

Assessment of romkomfort combines subjective and objective methods. Occupants may report satisfaction through surveys, while measurements provide data on PMV/PPD for thermal comfort, CO2 concentrations and ventilation rates for air quality, illuminance and daylight metrics for lighting, and sound levels for acoustics. International standards commonly referenced include ISO 7730 and ASHRAE 55 for thermal comfort, and EN 15251 or EN 16798-1 for indoor environmental quality in building design and operation.

Applications of romkomfort span offices, homes, schools, and healthcare facilities. Designers aim to balance energy efficiency with occupant comfort, using strategies such as proper insulation, controllable HVAC and lighting, low-emission materials, acoustic treatment, and flexible layouts. The term is especially used in Nordic and German-speaking contexts, where room comfort is treated as a holistic, design-driven criterion for building performance and occupant well-being.