A Behavior-Based 3R Measurement Model for Assessing Sustainability in Residential Interior Spaces: Evidence from Jordan

Residential interior spaces significantly contribute to material consumption, renovation waste, and indoor environmental exposure, yet sustainability at the interior scale is still commonly assessed through prescriptive design guidelines, rather than measurable performance. The existing literature lacks an empirically validated framework that operationalizes circular economy practices within residential interiors and links them to consumption-related behavior. To address this gap, this study develops and validates a multidimensional measurement model based on the 3R framework (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to evaluate interior sustainability through environmental, economic, and social indicators and examine its relationship with perceptions of overconsumption and continuous interior change. The model was empirically tested in Jerash, Jordan, using a structured survey of adult homeowners (N = 304). Reliability and construct validity were confirmed through exploratory and confirmatory analyses, followed by regression modeling. The results demonstrate that interior sustainability can be reliably quantified using coherent 3R-based constructs, with environmental, economic, and social indicators strongly associated with the three dimensions (r > 0.8). Engagement in reduce and Recycle practices showed significant associations, with more critical attitudes toward trend-driven renovation and excessive consumption, whereas reuse did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect. The model explained 43% of the variance in these perceptions (R2 = 0.432, p < 0.001). The findings advance interior sustainability from prescriptive guidance toward analytical, behavior-based measurement and provide a transferable framework for assessing circular material practices in residential interiors.