Two types of environmental features shape nonverbal communication: fixed features and semi-fixed features (E. T. Hall, 1981). Fixed features are relatively stable parts of the environment—for example, walls, ceilings, floors, and doors in a building. Fixed features send powerful nonverbal messages to others. For example, what do luxury homes and cars share in common with first-class seating in airplanes? Bigger size. Simple differences in the fixed features of room size, ceiling height, and (in the case of cars and airplanes) seat size and legroom convey greater wealth and prestige. People recognize this and use such features to nonverbally communicate stature to others (by driving big cars, building huge houses, and so forth).

Semi-fixed features are impermanent and usually easy to change. They include things like furniture, lighting, and color. Hard, uncomfortable furniture shortens interactions, just as soft, plush seating encourages relaxed, lengthy encounters. Bright lighting is associated with action-filled environments, whereas soft lighting goes with calm, intimate environments. Color also makes a difference; people experience blues and greens as relaxing, yellows and oranges as arousing and energizing, reds and blacks as sensuous, and grays and browns as depressing (Burgoon et al., 1996).

You can make choices about fixed and semi-fixed factors to send a nonverbal message. For example, if you want to convey a sense of formality while conducting your monthly sales meeting, have attendees sit at a large, rectangular conference table in rigid high-backed chairs, in a room adorned with portraits of the company founders. If you want to convey a sense of creativity and relaxation, have the meeting at a local coffee shop, where salespeople can lounge in comfy chairs in front of a fireplace.