How Evidence‑based Design Transformed a Blank Building into a Space Where Healing Begins

^{Crossing Paths 2.5 mm LVT in the lobby reflects movement and direction without overwhelming the senses.}

^{Article written by: Frances Phillips, Senior Content Marketing Manager | Published by Shaw Contract}

Walking into a counseling center can be an emotionally charged moment. The sounds, colors and first steps across the floor shape how safe, seen and grounded someone feels. Grace Counseling Center in Central Florida knows this well.

Founded by Grace Church, Grace Counseling is a non-profit counseling center that provides reduced-cost counseling services for individuals, children, families and couples. Since opening in 2019, demand for care has grown rapidly, leading to an expansion. In its new 9,300‑square‑foot center, Grace Counseling saw an opportunity: create an environment intentionally designed for mental well‑being. 

Working with interior designer Mandy Wannen of Kaleidoscope Interior Design, the space was transformed from a blank, windowless interior shell into a calm and welcoming environment founded in warmth and healing.

^{Curved walls and varying ergonomic seating minimize harsh edges and help the guests feel at ease.}

Creating A Space Where People Feel Connected

Grace Counseling exists to make expert mental health support accessible to all, regardless of financial barriers. Every detail of the new space needed to reflect the mission of providing dignity, comfort and emotional safety for anyone entering the center.

To create this kind of environment, the design needed to counteract the building’s limitations. The structure offered minimal access to natural light and was originally an empty, undefined space. Wannen incorporated evidence-based design for behavioral health by reducing sensory stressors, supporting emotional regulation, and creating a space where people feel connected.

“We love seeing people’s reactions when they walk in. What could feel intimidating instantly becomes calming. You can see people relax. That response tells us that the design is working. It’s welcoming, it’s warm, and it helps people feel safe enough to begin,” said Executive Director Lauren Lashbrook.

Lashbrook notes: For counselors, the environment supports the sensitive work they do every day. For children, the hopscotch path becomes a moment of joy and play. For adults, the restorative greens and soft textures offer a sense of grounding.

See more images of Grace Counseling.

^{Flooring selections were carefully selected within lower ambient lighting levels.}

^{Cast and Joy Squared 2.5 mm LVT created the hopscotch path, becoming a moment of joy and play}

How Design Principles Supporting Behavioral Health at Grace Counseling:

1. Surrounding Interiors with Softness; Designing for Comfort and Inclusion

Curved walls and varying ergonomic seating minimize harsh edges and help the body feel at ease, a significant consideration for individuals experiencing anxiety or stress.

2. Leveraging Color and Nature- Inspired Elements for Emotional Calibration

Restorative tones such as soft greens and calming neutrals support emotional regulation. Greenery and a neutral, earth-inspired color palette evokes calm, biophilic cues that offer a grounding presence of nature, even inside windowless rooms.

3. Flooring That Supports Healing and Connection

As the foundation of any space, flooring influences how people move, how they feel and how they interact with their environment. In behavioral health spaces, flooring plays an especially important role in grounding the sensory experience and promoting safety. Flooring was chosen to complement the center’s ambient lighting.

“Careful attention was given to the lighting package to provide a home-like ambient atmosphere. Flooring selections were carefully selected within this lower light level, and In Tune pattern carried through with texture and contrast. Crossing paths LVT was a perfect selection to support the softness of the curved architecture, while providing the warmth of a wood grain visual,” Wannen said.

Shaw Contract products were selected to support the center’s mission through a blend of performance, durability and emotional warmth. Products include:

• Crossing Paths 2.5 mm LVT in the lobby reflects movement and direction without overwhelming the senses.
• In Tune EcoWorx Carpet Tile adds softness and acoustical comfort to therapy rooms. 
• Cast and Joy Squared 2.5 mm LVT bring color and brightness to pediatric areas and form a hopscotch path leading to therapy rooms. This design choice helps young clients engage with the space in a joyful way.

^{Cast and Joy Squared 2.5 mm LVT bring color and brightness to pediatric areas}

Why These Products Matter

• Easy maintenance fits the needs of a high‑traffic healthcare environment
• Warm, inviting aesthetics help reduce the clinical feel
• Color alignment with Grace Counseling branding strengthens familiarity and comfort
• Affordable hard surface options for healthcare spaces designed with budgets and strict timelines

Behavioral Health Design for Today’s Needs

The Grace Counseling project reflects a broader shift in healthcare: the recognition that mental health environments must be as thoughtfully designed as any other healthcare space. 

Across the industry, trends shaping behavioral health design include:

• Creating environments that reduce stress and improve emotional regulation
• Using color and pattern intentionally to influence mood
• Designing inclusive spaces for a diverse range of ages and needs
• Selecting materials that balance safety, durability and sensory comfort
• Integrating biophilic cues where natural light is limited

For Shaw Contract Vice President of Strategic Accounts Angela Ditmore, helping interior designers create experience-rich spaces is deeply personal. “Spaces like this matter. When design helps someone feel safe enough to begin healing, that’s when our work becomes meaningful,” Ditmore said.

^{In Tune EcoWorx Carpet Tile adds softness and acoustical comfort to therapy rooms.}