Interior design can significantly influence mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, particularly in high-pressure environments such as healthcare facilities and military settings. These environments often entail high stress, fatigue, and emotional strain, making it essential for design to transcend aesthetics and address functional, cognitive, and emotional needs. Designing for wellbeing in these settings requires balancing two key aspects: aesthetics and cognitive functionality.
Interior design can significantly influence mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing
Aesthetic and Cognitive Design: Creating Effective Spaces
The aesthetic component of design shapes the visual and sensory experience of a space through the use of colors, materials, lighting, and textures. These elements contribute to how comfortable or soothing an environment feels, impacting emotions, mood, and overall comfort. For instance, natural lighting and carefully selected color palettes can promote psychological comfort, boost productivity, and improve mood. However, aesthetics alone is not enough to create a truly supportive environment when it comes to designing for people’s wellbeing.
Equally important is the cognitive aspect of design, which focuses on how spatial organisation and layout influence behavior, safety, and efficiency. In healthcare settings, for example, this means creating layouts that support the day-to-day needs of patients, families, and staff. Thoughtful spatial planning reduces unnecessary movement, enhances communication and visibility and can drastically improve infection control, all of which contributes to happier and healthier patients and staff. A well-designed hospital interior puts the needs of its users first. This involves creating a space that enables staff to perform their duties effectively and safely. An environment designed to support its users will reduce staff fatigue, boost morale, and ultimately enhance the quality of patient care.
Context and Connection: Design that Resonates
To create environments that are not only functional but also meaningful, it is crucial to consider the broader context and surroundings of a space. Our recent project at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton serves as a good example of how this can be achieved. Drawing inspiration from the town’s history and the work of the local writer George Eliot, the interior design was tied to her descriptions of the landscape. Integrating elements that reflect the region’s heritage created a sense of place and pride, making the hospital environment resonate more deeply with its users.
This approach goes beyond merely incorporating nature-themed artwork. It’s about establishing a connection between the building, its location, and the people who interact with it daily. Whether referencing local flora, regional geography, or historical narratives, thoughtful design can foster a sense of belonging, helping staff and patients feel more connected, grounded and inspired.
This information is not new; thinkers like Stephen Kellert, the pioneer of biophilic design, and Abraham Maslow, creator of the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs, have long explored the significance of relational values in social-ecological systems. These concepts have been applied in office design for centuries. Approaches include incorporating nature through plants or nature-inspired textures and creating spaces with soft boundaries that foster meaningful incidental interactions, ultimately enhancing a sense of belonging.
Human-Centric Design: Encouraging Resilience and Comfort
In both healthcare and defense, the demands on individuals are intense, making it critical to create spaces that don’t add to the strain. This is where human-centric design principles come into play. For example, in a mental health facility, a well-placed staff base can significantly improve the way staff are able to care for patients by providing clear sightlines and minimising unnecessary movement. Similarly, in a hospital ward, using a wood-effect vinyl flooring instead of a stark, clinical gray can create a warmer, more comforting environment without compromising hygiene standards. These carefully considered design details can have a real impact on how patients heal, because the more comfortable people feel in an environment the easier it is for them to focus on getting better.
The goal of human-centric design is to create environments that empower people to be their best selves, whether they are patients in recovery, frontline healthcare workers, or military personnel in high-pressure scenarios. By focusing on both functionality and emotional wellbeing, interior design can transform high-stress environments into spaces of support, comfort, and resilience.
The Power of Subtle Design Choices
Sometimes, creating a sense of comfort and resilience comes down to subtle but meaningful design choices. In high-stress environments, every detail, from the saturation of colors to the placement of windows, can impact wellbeing. For example, while bright colors are traditionally used for wayfinding in hospitals, they can be overwhelming for those with dementia or who are neurodivergent. Choosing a more subdued color palette can improve navigation without causing sensory overload.
Similarly, nature-inspired graphics that connect with the broader narrative of the space can make a clinical setting feel less intimidating. These graphics don’t need to be overly decorative; they can be abstract representations that contribute to a cohesive, calming environment. Ultimately, it’s about achieving a balance between maintaining safety and compliance while creating spaces that welcome and guide people, not confuse and isolate them.
Designing with wellbeing in mind is not just about aesthetics or compliance; it’s about creating spaces that resonate emotionally and inspire a sense of belonging.
Designing for Pride and Belonging
One of the most overlooked aspects of wellbeing design is its ability to instill pride and a sense of ownership in the people who use the space. When staff members feel proud of their workplace, it fosters a positive culture and enhances team cohesion. In environments like healthcare and defense, where burnout and retention are ongoing challenges, this sense of pride can be a powerful tool for improving morale and job satisfaction.
Designing with wellbeing in mind is not just about aesthetics or compliance; it’s about creating spaces that resonate emotionally and inspire a sense of belonging. Whether through a thoughtful and functional layout, a calming color scheme, or a narrative that ties the building to its community, interior design can make a profound impact on wellbeing in high-pressure environments. The only real way you can design interiors that users will be proud of is by sitting down with staff and asking how they are using the building, what works, what doesn’t. Then from here you can design a space that is fit for purpose and supports staff, patients and their families in the best way possible.
We all want to design buildings that inspire pride in their design and push the boundaries but ultimately for me, the most important aspect is how users experience the space. Are they finding it functional and suitable for their needs? Designing for wellbeing not only addresses safety and functionality but also contributes to emotional resilience and a sense of belonging. By blending aesthetics with thoughtful cognitive design and spatial planning, interior design can transform high-pressure environments into spaces of support, comfort and belonging.