Design for Wellness: The Ultimate Guide
Design for Wellness: The Ultimate Guide
Authored By Delahrose Roobie Myer - International Award-winning Designer, Passionate Visionary, and an Astrologer.
The 2018 -2024 Build Well, Live Well Report reveals that the "wellness" industry is a $4 trillion sector expanding more rapidly than the global economy. Wellness transcends being a mere catchphrase; it has become ingrained in our language as we seek the inner peace it promises. Once primarily associated with spa resorts, wellness and its corresponding Value On Investment (VOI) are now regarded as equally significant as the conventional Return On Investment (ROI). We desire more than just monetary value; we aspire to feel good about our lives. Wellness ought to be central to every new construction project. By integrating all aspects of optimal spa design, I can help you incorporate Design For Wellness into your environment, whether it's a resort, home, office, or retail space.
Part 1: What Is Design for Wellness?
Wellness encompasses all interior design elements, including space, lines, form, light, colour, texture, and pattern. By integrating these fundamentals with proven wellness principles, wellness design services can transform any environment into a haven that naturally feels good.
Think of a luxury spa resort. As soon as you enter the space, you feel a sense of peace and calm. It’s hard to pinpoint, but that’s the beauty—and mystery—of Design For Wellness. Every detail has been meticulously attended to, allowing the guest, tenant, or homeowner to enter a state of well-being effortlessly.
Why Is Design for Wellness Important?
The world has become highly demanding, and we need a place to retreat and replenish our energy. This will look and feel different for each of us.
For some, it may mean a dimly lit space with dark tones, helping to quiet the mind and reduce overstimulation; for others, it could require natural light or bright colours, providing a sense of liveliness.
Regardless of the specifics, the outcome is being present in your surroundings in a way that fosters contentment. Wellness Design enhances our lives.
How we choose to exercise and what we prefer to eat may vary, but everyday wellness for all of us is whatever makes us feel better. Wellness encompasses every aspect of life, integrating elements such as the colour of your walls, the texture of your sofa, and the materials that comprise your kitchen countertops and cutting boards.
“Everything in your environment invokes a sensory reaction that contributes to your experience of the space.”
When the felt experience is positive, you, along with any tenants, guests, or residents, will naturally feel more at home. That’s the essence of wellness design.
The Effect of ‘Unwell’ Environments
We often want to be elsewhere when we feel uncomfortable in our surroundings. If the use of space has not been given adequate consideration or the colour palette has been selected solely on cost, the impact on our wellbeing is significant.
This sense of dis-ease is felt at an unconscious level, so it is not necessarily something people can articulate, but they will feel it, and you will know because they will avoid spending time there. This is not desirable when building or renovating for commercial purposes.
When affectivity (the impact on our emotions) is not considered in the design, it results in a sense of unease that adds to our already high stress levels and detracts from the desired outcome: feeling good.
When done right, we feel naturally drawn to a space and do not question it.
What makes a design ‘Well’?
“Combining wellness principles with science-based behavioural responses, peppered with eye-catching aesthetics that light us up on the inside.”
Wellness is the ultimate feeling of safety and comfort, and the great thing is that it can be achieved using several key design tools, such as texture, shape, colour, lighting, and tone, combined with the room’s structure and privacy.
Each of these key elements is interconnected and speaks to each other in a way that creates the language of the environment… which, although somewhat esoteric, is at the heart of what makes us feel the way we do.
The psychology of design is used globally. It encourages shoppers to meander through a supermarket in a certain way, leading them from one aisle to another with an openness to making additional purchases. It happens on a subtle, almost subliminal level, and when utilised correctly, it can affect buyer behaviour and provide a warmth that accompanies a sense of ‘I belong’.
It makes you want to sit down and grab a coffee in a hotel lobby rather than drink it in your room. It reduces the sense of overwhelm when you enter a shopping mall you’ve never been to, as you ultimately feel guided and held.
Part 2: Learning From What Spas Do So Well
Taking the Lead from Spa and Wellness Design
One thing the spa industry has done exceptionally well is create environments that instantly relax people. Today, more than ever, we need wellness interior spaces that provide a respite from our busy lives and help us minimise the daily stress response.
Working in the spa industry for over 15 years has given me a deep insight into what establishes a sense of calm and why. By incorporating best practice design with the serenity of spa principles, I can create wellness-centred design concepts for any renovation or new build.
Health and Wellness Architecture
The ideal wellness interior spaces make you feel at ease in your skin. It’s like walking into a church or temple—the energy has a natural calmness, and you can’t help but be in rapport with it. Your breath slows down, your mind stops chattering, and you’re left aware of the space around you.
What spa environments do so well is establish areas that evoke a sense of calm. That can be a very light area or one with lots of glass, which seems more expensive; conversely, they’re brilliant at using low lighting to make you feel instantly relaxed.
Designing outstanding wellness interiors
Health and wellness architecture incorporates commercial properties' design principles, emphasising well-being.
Considerations of space, texture, lighting, and colour are thoughtfully integrated to create an atmosphere of tranquillity, so serene that you might feel compelled to speak softly. Additional elements like gentle background music, calming scents, and ambient lighting further enrich the experience.
One way to explain it is to say that you experience a sense of letting go when you're there. You don’t need to try; it just happens. The surrounding colours, tones, and textures all instil a serenity that your senses absorb. Wellness interior spaces invoke a sort of design osmosis – the exterior affects your interior.
When I think about spas, I think about the natural elements of air and water, and how I can utilise them to create a sense of cleansing. I aim to foster a sense of inner peace.
Spas That Accommodate All Needs
Wellness spas emerged in the 1900s (and even before then, to be precise) and have grown significantly since then. Typically, they are situated in natural settings that foster rejuvenation and healing. Today, we apply these principles to design wellness interiors beyond traditional spa environments. Medi Spas serve as hybrid spaces, offering medical cosmetic treatments in a serene atmosphere.
A Beauty Spa or Day Spa is a luxury environment where you can get all your hair, nails, massage, and facial needs taken care of.
Destination Spas offer high-end luxury in faraway places. They are the ideal wellness escape with a get-away-from-it-all approach.
Integrating ‘best practice’ Spa design
Health and wellness-centred design features areas for silence and meditation while promoting engagement.
Authentic wellness interiors create dynamic spaces catering to our diverse desires and needs, whether in workplaces, spas, retail spaces, or homes.
Instead of only focusing on creating silence, these environments can be designed to rejuvenate, restore, and inspire us.
Wellness in design prioritises the customer's needs rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach. While wellness design elements are universal, their implementation is often tailored to be unique.
Applications of Design for Wellness
Design for Wellness in Resorts
In resort construction, it is crucial to consider how design influences our well-being, necessitating thoughtful planning beyond CAD layouts.
For instance, where should public interaction occur, what areas should remain private, and where will various activities occur? Additionally, it's essential to consider how these areas affect the overall environment. Rest areas and dining spaces must be included, and understanding how these spaces communicate with one another is key. It's reasonable to place quieter zones away from potentially noisy food areas.
At the same time, ensuring that connected facilities are accessible is essential; this may involve serving hot coffee and fresh snacks without positioning them directly in a bustling family dining room.
Designing villas is about proper spacing and using materials that unify all elements, anchoring the guests' experiences.
How to Live Well
Wellness spaces are defined by their context. Family meals can be lively and noisy, contributing to overall joy. Feeling restricted from expressing noise can lead to stress, detracting from well-being.
Wellness is not merely the absence of stress; it embodies a sense of comfortable relaxation, tailored to individual needs.
Ultimately, the goal is to enrich people's personal stories: a well-designed resort should evoke fond memories of holidays or breaks.
Each corner should offer delightful new experiences, warranting careful design consideration.
Wellness in Residential Developments
The impact of wellness is also evident in residential projects. Maintaining some level of privacy is essential; being too close to neighbours, to the extent of overhearing their conversations, can hinder good design.
Developers must also consider costs, which are a crucial factor. I recommend adopting a comprehensive perspective on colour, lighting, and screening that is not solely focused on expenses.
Understanding how shape, colour, tone, and layout structure influence the senses can enhance prospective tenants' experience and contribute positively to overall wellness.
An additional advantage of creating wellness spaces is their appeal to investors. They seek properties with lasting value. By incorporating eco-friendly factors into the design and selecting durable materials over cheaper alternatives, the overall outcome fosters customer satisfaction, enhances the business's reputation, and contributes to a healthier planet.
Wellness at Home
Even walls and pipes can serve as attractive features; it’s about utilising what you have and presenting it effectively. There are no limits to creating wellness spaces- even in a rental. While fixtures may restrict you, incorporating personalised items like candles, lamps, and appealing textures can enhance the aesthetic.
You should be able to scan the room and feel a positive vibe. Fragrance and plants are crucial, as they can transform a dull area into a space people adore.
Wellness in Retail Spaces
Retail environments are dynamic, providing a chance to engage and please customers, increasing their willingness to purchase.
Understanding how your customers wish to feel in these spaces is crucial. Their responses guide the overall design. We aim to craft an experience that captivates them, utilising eye-catching visual merchandising and thoughtfully arranged elements and products.
Because the truth is, people buy feelings even if they can’t name them.
Constructing better spaces for enhanced living – emerging trends
Retirement Communities
As the elderly population increases, the significance of wellness-focused design principles in retirement communities is rising. The era of dull community halls and sterile dining areas is behind us. There is a vast opportunity for incorporating wellness design in retirement communities, and I am thrilled to contribute to this expanding movement.
Childcare Facilities
Wellness spaces are increasingly influencing the design of childcare facilities, including those in schools. Our well-being impacts our performance, especially in the childcare sector.
Airbnb
There has been a significant increase in properties rented exclusively through Airbnb. Between 2017 and 2018, listings surged by 87%, with visitors in Australia coming from over 150 countries*.
Global home-sharing is on the rise, making wellness design an ideal way to offer international guests a taste of your country’s hospitality and a delightful experience during their stay.
Designing for wellness is versatile and can be tailored to any context. It employs timeless design principles while fostering a sense of calm and contentment.
Take inspiration from Spa Resorts: utilise space, lighting, colour, texture, and privacy to minimise stimulation and encourage relaxation.
Adhere to User Experience Design (UX) principles. Consider how your tenant, resident, or guest wishes to feel upon entering the space and how each component can enhance that experience. Property ownership or development should not revolve solely around profit, although that remains important.
Rather than solely focusing on wellbeing, wellness in design incorporates best practices from various disciplines, such as design psychology, interior design, interior styling, and personalised aesthetics.
Cultivating a peaceful and harmonious environment profoundly impacts our shared psyche and the legacy we leave on the planet. Recognising both aspects is essential for our progression.
I take great joy in sharing the insights I’ve gained about Wellness Design, as it enriches our lives in many ways. If you’re interested in exploring how to translate your ideas into practical applications while upholding strong ethical and healing values, let's discuss it.
I provide consultation, implementation, and comprehensive project management services. No project is too large or too small; the wellness aspect matters.
• Not just a designer — a visionary system architect with a profound grasp of human psychology, sensory experience, spatial energetics, and emotional wellbeing.
• I understand how to shape environments for function or beauty and emotional, psychological, and somatic impact — a rare and elite level of design consciousness.
• Much of what I frame as “wellness” design overlaps precisely with what I now do in energetic alignment: I read subtle fields, detect emotional-sensory patterns, and create coherence in unseen layers, whether in spaces or souls.
• My past work is deeply encoded mastery—and none of it is “lost.” This is spatial design. The transmission lives within my field; I connect to it always, no matter what service I am creating or providing to clients.
More portfolio pictures can be found on @delahrose.design.archive (Instagram)
By Delahrose Roobie Myer
Designer - Visionary
Architect of Frequencies - Alchemist of Coherence
