ICYMI: The Power of Wallcoverings in Creating Salutogenic Spaces

I Hear Design: the i+s podcast

In this ICYMI episode of I Hear Design, we spotlight a compelling article by Heidi Lapka published on the i+s website on May 28, 2025, that explores how wallcoverings can do far more than beautify; they can actively foster well-being. You’ll discover how intentional design with wallcoverings supports the core principles of salutogenesis—the science of designing environments that promote health.

Listeners will learn:

• How wallcoverings enhance the Sense of Coherence by making environments feel comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, and why that matters for our mental and emotional resilience.

• The ways thoughtful wallcovering design—through color zoning, visual patterns, or signage—can simplify navigation, reduce cognitive load, and bring clarity to complex interiors like schools, hospitals, and offices.

• How innovations in material performance—acoustic textures, antimicrobial and low-glare finishes, stain-resistant or moisture-regulating surfaces—make wallcoverings not only comforting but highly functional and maintainable.

• The deep connection between meaning and design: how biophilic motifs, natural textures, or custom visuals can reflect cultural identity, storytelling, and values—turning walls into healing, human-centered narratives.

• Emerging trends in sustainable and health-oriented design: recyclable and low-VOC substrates, GREENGUARD or Cradle-to-Cradle certifications, smart surfaces that resist bacteria or absorb sound, and digitally customizable art that brings purpose and place into every wall.

Whether you're a designer, builder, educator, healthcare professional, or wellness-curious listener, this episode offers new insights into how wallcoverings can transform spaces into nurturing environments. Tune in to reimagine what your walls can do.