Designing for Wellness: How WELL Certification Shapes Senior Living Interiors
Creating environments where residents, staff, and families feel at home, engaged, and supported has always been a driving force behind our work. A key aspect of this commitment is understanding how wellness-driven design can shape the spaces we create. Our Senior Interior Designer, Elizabeth Faestel, earned her WELL Certification last year, and we sat down with her to discuss how this achievement influences her design process and how it helps our clients and team become more aware of the many facets of wellness design.
How WELL Influences Design and Creativity
Elizabeth has always been passionate about designing spaces where end users can thrive, but earning her WELL Certification deepened that focus.
Elizabeth Faestel, NCIDQ, LEED GA,
WELL AP, IIDA - Senior Interior Designer
“The WELL standards make me think through design decisions and selections at a deeper level and hold me accountable for them,” she shares. “It’s about more than aesthetics—it’s about ensuring that every choice we make contributes to a holistic, wellness-focused environment.”
Applying WELL Principles in Design
Wellness is multi-faceted, affecting everything from physical movement to emotional well-being. Here are some key areas where Elizabeth incorporates WELL strategies into her designs:
Supporting Cognitive & Emotional Well-being
Staff members are the heart of any senior living community, and their well-being is just as important as that of the residents.
“When designing a staff break room, I aim to create an escape where team members can truly recharge,” says Elizabeth.”
Thoughtfully designed break areas might include:
Charging stations
Comfortable seating
Kitchenettes for nourishment
Storage for personal belongings
Access to natural light and outdoor views
These elements boost morale and help mitigate workplace stress, leading to a more engaged and satisfied staff.
Encouraging Movement
Movement is a fundamental pillar of WELL and plays a crucial role in senior living design. Elizabeth recently incorporated multiple spaces in a community to promote physical activity:
A Yoga & Group Exercise Room for gentle movement and social engagement
A Fitness Center equipped with the latest technology for strength and endurance training
A Golf Simulator to encourage recreation and active play
By providing a variety of movement options, residents have the opportunity to stay active in a way that suits their abilities and preferences.
Enhancing Acoustic & Thermal Comfort
Acoustics and temperature regulation are among the top concerns for senior living residents. Elizabeth addresses these issues through strategic material selection:
Acoustical wall panels and specialty glazing to reduce noise
Flooring materials with sound abatement attributes
Light fixtures that double as acoustical solutions
These thoughtful design elements create quieter, more comfortable environments where residents can relax and enjoy their surroundings.
The Impact of WELL on Senior Living
Wellness-focused design benefits every stakeholder in a senior living community:
Residents: WELL principles improve health, encourage engagement, and enhance restorative care programming.
Staff Members: Thoughtful design can reduce stress, improve comfort, and boost job satisfaction.
Families & Local Community: By designing inviting, comfortable amenity spaces, senior living communities can foster more significant interaction between residents and the broader community.
“If you build it, they will come,” Elizabeth says. “Creating open and welcoming environments helps establish an instant sense of community.”
Integrating WELL Elements Without Certification
While not every project can pursue full WELL Certification, there are many ways to incorporate wellness-driven design principles:
Selecting finish materials, furniture, fixtures, and equipment that enhance health and well-being
Advocating for WELL-focused programming and space planning from the start of a project
Designing spaces that support not just residents but staff, families, and the local community
Is WELL an Opportunity for Future Marketing?
As the next generation of senior living residents and their families become more health-conscious, wellness-based design will play a pivotal role in decision-making. Communities that prioritize WELL principles—whether through certification or intentional design—position themselves as forward-thinking and aligned with the evolving expectations of future residents. Studies have shown that environments designed with wellness in mind can significantly enhance the quality of life, with research indicating a 15% increase in cognitive function when incorporating biophilic elements like natural lighting and greenery. Additionally, thoughtfully designed wellness spaces can reduce staff turnover by up to 40%, ensuring better continuity of care and stronger community bonds.
Designing for wellness is not just a trend—it’s a responsibility. Every detail, from the colors on the walls to the materials underfoot, has the potential to uplift and inspire. With experts like Elizabeth leading the way, we’re proud to help our clients create spaces that promote physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being for all who enter them. Because at the heart of every great design is the desire to improve lives, one thoughtful choice at a time.