New Season, New Home!

Each Spring, a lot of us get the urge to try something new, house-wise—and this year, with so many of us having spent so much more time in our homes than usual that drive for something different is likely to be particularly strong. 

Sprucing up where you live now can work really well—you know the neighbours and the local markets, for example.  Staying where you are means you have fewer opportunities, probably, to change your living conditions than if you move, however.  Certainly, you can paint walls and rearrange furniture in any home you currently own.  If you’re staying in your home you can move walls and ceilings or put in more windows, if you want to, but you’re more likely to move than to change the architecture of your home much.  If you’re moving to a new home, your only limits are your imagination and your budget.

To stay or go?

Deciding when to move and when to stay put can be difficult.  Many factors need to be considered beyond the design of your home; for example, commutes to work and schools are relevant, as are access to amenities that can support hobbies, and life changing events, such as the birth of children or those children setting up homes of their own.

This issue we look at the different decisions that we face and explain why sometimes we feel the need to move from a psychological point of view, and what we can do to either improve or move home!

As a reminder of one top tip:

• In any area of your home, it’s great to use natural materials – slate or stone on the floor (as long as your home can support all that weight).Wooden surfaces with visible grain are also wonderful additions to any area of your home.  Seeing natural materials makes it more likely that we feel calm and collected as we live our daily lives.

And finally, as you read through all these things we ask you to consider when deciding whether you should relocate or not, make sure that any home that you stay in satisfies those requirements.  Design and re-design until your home sends the messages about you that you value, there are opportunities for privacy, the house aligns with your culture, and you can pursue the goals at home that add meaning to your life.