Design Details: Inside a Wellness Space Defined By Neuroaesthetics

In her own 11,000-square-foot home in Potomac, Md., Potarazu saw an opportunity to put those principles into action. While the rest of her vibrant, seven-bedroom home was filled with color, texture, and personality, the basement had been left unfinished. With the help of Ogden Construction, the general contractor on the project, she transformed the space into a 530-square-foot home gym and wellness suite, complete with high-performance workout equipment, a sauna, and a cold plunge tub.

“The goal was to create a space that was motivational in terms of wanting to wake up at 5 a.m. and go downstairs and work out, and then also create a space that had this wellness element to it,” Potarazu says. “I wanted to create something that had all the function of a gym and wellness area but didn’t feel like another at-home gym.”

Just steps away, the wellness room features a dual infrared and traditional sauna, along with a cold plunge tub for relaxing after a long, early-morning workout. 

While functional, aesthetics were just as important in completing the project. Rather than a cold, utilitarian gym, the wellness space was designed to feel both relaxing and energizing, depending on its use. The deep green walls and warm wood details introduce a biophilic element central to the neuroaesthetic approach, bringing comfort to the basement, while bright pops of pink and yellow keep the design lively and fun. 

“In the rest of the home, you find lots of color, whether it be through furniture, wall coverings, paints, et cetera,” Potarazu says. “So I wanted to [also] bring those down into the basement … Bringing in the green colors are obviously good for the neuroaesthetics, and layering in the art keeps it super fun and bright."

The abstract wallpaper behind the cold plunge tub adds visual texture and organic form, complementing the biophilic elements and enhancing the calming atmosphere.

Lighting also plays a crucial role in setting the mood and supporting wellness, another key principle of neuroaesthetic design.

"Keeping the lighting low and incorporating sconces helped to create that ambient lighting, so you’re not assaulted in the morning with overhead lighting,” Potarazu says.

However, for Potarazu, creating these spaces—or any space—isn’t about designing for the moment. She takes a practical approach to home design, focusing not just on what's popular (or fun), but on longevity, functionality, and how people actually live. 

For her own home, or when working with clients, Potarazu says the most important step in her process is considering what will be practical long term, while still creating a space that feels good to live in. She sees neuroaesthetics not as a passing trend, but as a lasting design principle; one that will remain relevant because it taps into how people genuinely experience and thrive in their environments.

“I think that [neuroaesthetics] is definitely an emerging area in design. As designers, we've always known that what we put into the home changes the way a person thinks or feels or operates,” she says. “But I think now that we have data to back it up, it's really fascinating and one of the pillars that my company is built upon.”