The concept of wellness in design has become popular in the last few years, and it’s going to take off in 2020 and beyond.

“We are all looking to feel better,” said Jennifer Farrell of Los Angeles-based Jennifer Farrell Designs. She showcased this trend at The International Surface Event through the design feature, the Style Hub at The DISH.

“Design is coming into play in a whole new way so that you are experiencing the space with all of your senses,” Farrell said.

One of four themed rooms highlighted at the show, Overscaled Organics showcased how dimensional pieces come together to create an immersive, tactile, dimensional experience.

When paired with a soothing pallet featuring on-trend hues like burnt rose, faded denim and pale sky, the organic imagery created a “cocoon of comfort.” Farrell, 2020 TISE design visionary, says it is a relatively new concept of wellness in design that is starting to gain momentum, as homeowners seek to not only enjoy their spaces visually, but to create spaces that feel good as well.

Take, for example, Shaw’s Chateau Woven Mosaic stone tile, which Farrell placed on the walls of this design pod. 

“What’s beautiful about this is it’s so dimensional that you can’t keep your hands off it, so you have this really pleasing experience not just looking at something, but actually feeling it.”

Though the space was created using man-made materials, Farrell says design is leaning toward the use of materials that are either inspired by nature or feel as though they were gifted by nature. From agate and onyx visuals, to woods and heavy metals, Farrell applied this nature-inspired design concept to nearly every inch of the Overscaled Organics pod.

“Obviously these are all man-made materials, but we are trying to take our hand out of that and make them feel like they are earth-inspired,” Farrell noted.

From head to toe, Farrell explored the design possibilities of modern organics. On the floor and ceiling, COREtec Plus in Mata Oak was used to evoke the look of bleached driftwood. 

“We are going to see woods really moving to the ashy tones, staying away from the warms and going really cool, so you’re going to see things that look like they’re more like bleached driftwood instead of painted barn wood for a nature-inspired feel.”