Building a highly efficient environment for creative thinking has always been the core goal of a university's environmental research. However, previous studies show that there remains a lack of a subjective understanding of the relationship between physical space and creativity in universities. This study offers insights into the structure and factors that impact creativity in common spaces of universities. Based on grounded theory and following the principle of purposive sample using 20 participants in China, 462 initial codes and 45 axis codes were generated, and 5 categories were revealed for a subjective understanding of creativity in common spaces of universities: creative behaviour, characteristics in creative thinking, humanistic environment, physical space and individual potential. More specifically, creative behaviour is the core category of the above five factors. Characteristics in creative thinking include an internal impact factor, while humanistic environment and physical space are external impact factors. In addition, individual potential is the principal reason for differences in efficiency. Meanwhile, in universities' common spaces, the humanistic environment has a greater influence than that of physical space. Teachers and students have different space requirements. Closely combining the functions of information acquisition, meditation and academic exchange would help improve creativity efficiency. Lastly, this paper reveals structure theory and 23 keywords for creativity in common spaces of universities.