After years of designing wellness spaces, I’ve come to believe that the best spas share something in common: you never have to think about where you’re going or what you’re supposed to do next. You lose track of time and become immersed and present in your immediate surroundings.
We’ve completed spas and wellness centres around the world, and whilst there are important cultural differences, the fundamentals remain the same.
The principle of zero resistance
In any hospitality environment, intuitive flow matters. But in wellness spaces, it becomes non-negotiable. When someone arrives for restoration, every moment of confusion, every wrong turn, every unclear threshold, chips away at the very thing they came for. Resistance becomes the enemy of relaxation.
Spaces should be instantly understandable and encourage guests to move at their own pace. Layouts should encourage openness and solitude and provide privacy without isolation.
Space as permission
Cramped wellness spaces send a contradictory message. It is better to provide generous zones and fewer services if you’re forced to compromise space. If we’re asking guests to slow down, to breathe, to let go, while surrounding them with tight corridors and crowded lounges the spa is failing in its primary function.
One of the most effective ways to enhance a spa where space is limited is to strengthen the connection to the outside. Generous glazing, natural light, and views of greenery, water and sky are fundamental to a successful spa experience. They expand the perceived volume of a space and create a sense of calm and openness.
Even in urban settings, design can still evoke nature. Carefully selected materials, integrated planting, water features and colour palettes that draw from the natural world can all contribute to a restorative, immersive environment.
The Sensory Layer
Wellness is a full-body experience. Design should engage every sense thoughtfully:
Light: Soft. Indirect. No harsh overhead glare. Natural light where possible, with gradual transitions between brightness levels.
Sound: Acoustic design is often overlooked. Hard surfaces echo and conversations carry. It’s also worth considering that in some situations, silence can sometimes feel as uncomfortable as noise.
Scent: Subtle and intentional. Never overpowering.
Touch: How does the floor feel underfoot? The handrail? The treatment bed? Tactility communicates care in ways guests feel but rarely articulate.
Bringing the outside in
Natural light remains the most powerful tool we have. But it’s not just about windows. It’s about how daylight moves through a space, how views are framed, how the boundary between interior and exterior softens rather than stops.
When all of this works together, something interesting happens: guests stop noticing the design entirely. They simply feel better. They move intuitively between states of activity and calm. And that, ultimately, is the point.
