Wellness Interior Design in London: A Practical Guide to Healthier, Happier Interiors
How to rethink homes, aparthotels, and workplaces through a wellbeing-first lens—grounded in evidence, executed with care, and attuned to London’s unique context.
social wellness room, concept design by Biofilico for Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
Why wellness interior design—why now?
Londoners spend the vast majority of their time indoors, often in spaces that were never optimised for light, air, acoustics, or material health. Wellness interior design addresses this gap. It is not a trend or a style; it is a method that translates research on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) into design decisions that make everyday life calmer, clearer, and more restorative.
In a city that pairs heritage fabric with contemporary infill, wellness design also has to be pragmatic: discreet interventions in period homes; robust, low-maintenance solutions in hospitality; and performance-led strategies in hybrid workplaces. The goal is simple—spaces that look beautiful, perform well, and feel good to use.
What wellness interior design actually involves
Wellbeing-led interiors are built on measurable qualities rather than vague promises. The core pillars typically include:
Light
Daylight access, balanced contrast, glare control, and circadian-aware electric lighting help regulate sleep-wake cycles and comfort. In practice, that might mean daylight modelling in the concept phase, layered artificial lighting with quality drivers and controls, and careful treatment of reflective surfaces.Air
Ventilation rates, filtration, and source-control of pollutants matter as much as décor. Low-emission finishes and adhesives, protected drying times, and a considered ventilation strategy (including purge/boost modes where feasible) are baseline requirements for healthy interiors.Acoustics
Reverberation time (RT), sound transmission, and background noise shape focus and relaxation. Acoustic zoning, absorptive finishes, and door/partition specifications prevent “designing in” stress.Thermal comfort
Not just temperature, but air movement, radiant effects, humidity, and surface finishes. Shading, glazing performance, and controllable systems all contribute to perceived comfort.Material health
Preference for verified low-toxicity products with transparent disclosures (e.g., EPDs, low-VOC certifications), durable assemblies, and finishes that age gracefully rather than off-gas.Biophilic design
More than adding plants, biophilia includes forms, patterns, and spatial sequences (prospect/refuge) that connect people with nature. Thoughtful planting, natural materials, tactile variety, and views to greenery all play a role.
This evidence-based approach aligns naturally with frameworks like the WELL Building Standard or Fitwel. Certification is optional; the important thing is using these bodies of knowledge to inform design decisions and, where appropriate, to validate outcomes.
The London context: heritage constraints, modern performance
Designing for wellbeing in London often means navigating planning boundaries, listed elements, and tight footprints:
Heritage homes & conversions
Interventions should be light-touch yet impactful: secondary glazing where appropriate, acoustic underlays that preserve original floors, breathable, low-tox finishes compatible with historic fabric, and circadian-aware lighting that respects ceiling mouldings and cornices.New-build apartments & aparthotels
The priority is to hard-wire good acoustics and air quality from the start—partition details, door sets, service risers, and extract/ventilation choices—while specifying durable, low-tox finishes that stand up to high turnover.Workplaces & studios
For hybrid work patterns, design for focus and recovery: zoning, sound masking where helpful, robust fresh air delivery, and lighting that supports screen-based tasks without glare. Post-occupancy tuning ensures the space continues to perform after move-in.
In all cases, the guiding question remains the same: What simple, durable changes will have the greatest impact on how people feel and function in this interior?
A wellness-first design process (how it typically unfolds)
Discovery & clarity
Establish aspirations, constraints, and success measures. For a home this may be better sleep, fewer irritants, and calmer acoustics; for a hospitality or workplace project, it might include dwell time, comfort surveys, or complaint reductions.Wellness brief & KPIs
Translate aims into tangible targets—e.g., VOC thresholds for finishes, target illuminance and melanopic metrics for key scenes, reverberation time in living/meeting areas, and a ventilation/filtration strategy.Concept design & early testing
Test daylight and acoustic assumptions early. Build a materials matrix that balances aesthetics, sustainability credentials, and health disclosures. Develop a planting strategy and maintenance plan where biophilia is included.Technical development
Coordinate closely with MEP, lighting, acoustics, and (where relevant) horticulture specialists. Detail junctions and assemblies so that acoustic, air-tightness, and moisture objectives are protected during build.Delivery & commissioning
Verify lighting levels and controls logic, check acoustic performance against targets, manage curing and airing-out periods for finishes, and protect IAQ during the construction phase.Post-occupancy optimisation
Light re-aiming, control tuning, filter maintenance schedules, and simple occupant guidance ensure the design continues to deliver long after handover.
At Biofilico we find this cadence helps clients understand why each decision matters and how it contributes to comfort day to day.
Materials and finishes: beauty without compromise
Selecting healthier materials is not about chasing labels for their own sake. It is about reducing unnecessary exposure while maintaining craft and character.
Timber & stone with transparent sourcing and finishes that are low in VOCs.
Adhesives, sealants, and paints chosen for minimal emissions and robust performance.
Textiles that balance tactility with cleanability and sensible fire performance.
Acoustic treatments integrated subtly—behind slatted timber, within joinery, or as decorative panels—so comfort is felt more than seen.
A practical approach is to prioritise “big-impact” areas first: bedrooms and living spaces in homes, guest rooms and lounges in aparthotels, focus/meeting areas in workplaces. Kitchens and bathrooms follow with moisture-safe, low-tox specifications and appropriate ventilation.
Light: setting the daily rhythm
Circadian-aware design does not require theatrical controls; it requires clarity of intent:
Maximise daylight without glare; consider blind types and fabric openness.
Provide layered electric lighting: ambient, task, and accent—each dimmable, each with quality drivers.
For evening, ensure warmer scenes are easily selectable.
In bedrooms, give occupants control over light level and direction, reducing stray light and late-night blue peaks.
Good lighting plans are as much about what you remove (glare, hotspots, flat uniformity) as what you add.
Air and acoustics: the quiet workhorses of wellbeing
Ventilation, filtration, and acoustic comfort shape how people actually feel in a room:
Air
Target fresh air rates appropriate to use, protect duct runs and filters during construction, and choose finishes that do not overwhelm new systems with chemical loads. Where mechanical intervention is limited (e.g., listed dwellings), combine source control with trickle or decentralised solutions that respect the building fabric.Acoustics
Plan for sound from the outset. Partition types, door assemblies, floor/ceiling build-ups, and soft finishes all accumulate to shape perceived quiet. In existing homes, even a few well-placed absorptive surfaces can reduce fatigue dramatically.
Budgeting for wellness outcomes
A wellbeing-led scheme need not be lavish. It is a matter of priorities and sequencing:
Phase high-impact items first—glare control, acoustic zoning, mattress/bedroom air and light quality, and user-friendly lighting controls.
Allocate a small premium for verified low-emission finishes and quality drivers/controls; these often prevent costly rework later.
Design for maintenance—filters that are easy to access, finishes that can be refreshed, and plant selections with realistic care needs.
For hospitality and workplaces, the value often shows up in softer metrics—guest sentiment, staff satisfaction, fewer complaints—and in operational pragmatics like easier room turns and fewer reactive fixes.
A discreet, human approach
Healthy interiors are felt, not announced. The most successful projects are usually the most effortless to inhabit: calm daylight, quiet rooms, materials that feel honest, air that simply smells like nothing, and controls that work the first time you touch them.
Our role at Biofilico is to translate the science into spaces that feel natural. That involves listening carefully, testing assumptions early, and coordinating details so the end result looks beautifully simple—even when the thinking behind it is not.
Questions to ask as you plan a wellness-led project
What are the specific outcomes we want to improve (sleep, focus, calm, reduced complaints)?
Where will light, air, and sound make the most difference in day-to-day use?
Which materials and assemblies can deliver health benefits without compromising the aesthetic?
How will we verify performance at handover—and keep it working six months later?
What is the simplest path to achieve 80% of the benefit with 20% of the effort?
Having this conversation early tends to unlock clarity on scope, sequencing, and budget.
Illustrative pathways (common London scenarios)
Period townhouse refresh
Retain character; add secondary glazing where appropriate; introduce layered lighting with discrete wiring routes; specify breathable, low-tox finishes; focus acoustic absorption in living/bedroom areas; plan trickle ventilation and purge strategies that respect façades.Aparthotel or serviced apartment upgrade
Robust, low-emission finishes; durable joinery; acoustic door/partition packages; guest-friendly, pre-set lighting scenes; high-efficiency extraction and filtration; planting strategy tuned to light levels and housekeeping capabilities.Hybrid workplace fit-out
Zoning for focus/collaboration/recovery; high-CRI lighting with glare control; sensor-informed fresh air delivery; generous acoustic absorption at eye/ear level; simple controls with clear labelling; post-occupancy fine-tuning.
The specifics vary; the principles do not.
Frequently asked questions
Is wellness interior design only about adding plants?
No. Planting is one biophilic tool, but wellness design is broader—light, air, acoustics, thermal comfort, and material health, all coordinated with the architecture and building services.
Do I need a certification like WELL to benefit?
Not necessarily. Certifications can help structure a project and verify outcomes, but you can adopt the underlying strategies without pursuing a formal rating.
Will a wellness-led approach limit my aesthetic?
Quite the opposite. Material transparency and performance constraints can sharpen the concept and yield interiors that are both healthier and more refined.
Is this only for new builds?
No. Many of the most meaningful improvements in London occur in existing homes and heritage conversions with minimal visual disruption.
How do I start?
Begin by clarifying priorities (sleep, focus, calm), then assess light, air, and sound conditions. From there, develop a materials and lighting strategy and sequence interventions for maximum impact with minimal upheaval.
A closing note
Wellness interior design is, at heart, a practical discipline: careful listening, measured decisions, and craft that stands the test of time. If you are considering a project in London—residential, aparthotel, or workplace—and would value a conversation about how to make it genuinely supportive of wellbeing, Biofilico is always happy to share what we’ve learned and help you explore the options that fit your context.