07/05/2026
The more I learn about environmental psychology, the more I’m convinced that good wellness design has less to do with aesthetics alone and more to do with how a space manages our energy.
Don’t get me wrong - aesthetics are incredibly important to me. But you can almost always feel the difference between a space where decisions were made based on aesthetics alone, functionality alone, or where every element was thoughtfully curated to reflect the brand, the workout style, the people using it, and the experience the space is meant to create.
We tend to think of energy as something we bring into a space, but what if the space is influencing our energy just as much?
Research suggests we’re constantly looking for an environment that matches what we’re about to do. If a space is more stimulating than the activity requires - through lighting, sound, color, or even scent - it can leave us feeling overwhelmed. If it doesn’t provide enough stimulation, we instinctively seek it elsewhere.
It made me think about the experience of arriving at a boutique fitness studio.
Should the reception area feel as energetic as the class that’s about to begin? Or is its role to do something entirely different?
Maybe it’s there to help us transition. To create a moment between the outside world and the workout. A space that allows us to slow down after traffic, settle our thoughts, and arrive before we’re asked to perform.
The more I learn, the more I realize that designing wellness spaces isn’t just about creating beautiful interiors. It’s about understanding how light, sound, materiality, circulation, and countless other details quietly shape the way we feel and behave.
Have you ever experienced too much of a “good thing”? Saturated colors, louder and faster music, or an overload of visual stimulation can all raise our adrenaline. Sometimes that extra stimulation is exactly what’s needed. Other times, it can make it harder to focus, harder to listen to your body - a phrase instructors use often.
I’m becoming increasingly fascinated by how thoughtful design can help us arrive in the right state of mind even before a workout begins.
