Mental Health and Moving Home

According to research by the HBF, 86% of people think life has become more stressful over the past 20 years and almost half (46%) are struggling to find ways to make life easier. We’re marking Mental Health Awareness Week (May 13 – 19) by taking a look at the link between mental health and the home, including how to reduce moving home stress, the benefits of decluttering on your mental health, how house plants can boost your mood and how to create a calming environment in your home.

How to enjoy an Easy Move

Delays caused by chains and uncovering nasty surprises were among the things people listed when asked about the stress of moving house. Benefits of buying a new home include that there’s no onward chain so you can move as soon as your new home is built. We’ve partnered with Snagsure to offer a three-stage inspection to ensure the quality of our new homes and reduce the potential for aftercare issues.

Almost half of people surveyed by the HBF said not having to manage estate agents, solicitors and surveyors makes a move easier.  If you want to buy one of our new homes but have a house to sell, we can help.

Sales director Sian Pitt explained: “We understand that people may feel stress moving house, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With our Easy Move scheme, homeowners can secure a quick sale, usually at full market value. Easy Move isn’t linked to the value of the properties being bought or sold so can be used by downsizers and upsizers alike. We’ll manage the whole process and we’ll even contribute towards the agent’s fees up to a pre-agreed amount.”

Clutter, cleanliness and mental health

There’s perhaps some truth in the old adage a tidy desk is a tidy mind. Various studies have shown that cleanliness and decluttering can have a positive impact on mental health. A cluttered space, full of things you no longer want, need or use, is difficult to clean. Establishing a regular cleaning and decluttering routine will help improve your mood. A clean kitchen means you’ll be more likely to make a homecooked nutritious meal. Fresh bed linen will help ensure a good night’s sleep.
Discover how to declutter a house in 10 steps with our handy guide.

How to create a calming environment

Creating a calm space, where you can relax and unwind, can have a big impact on your wellbeing.

“A home shouldn’t just look good, it should make us feel good too. We love using tactile fabrics that help create a warm and cosy feeling,” said Gemma Schofield, managing director of Lifestyle Interiors.

Follow the interior design trend of using layers of warm neutrals to create a sense of sanctuary without it feeling sterile.

The natural environment, including woodlands and beaches, can also provide interior inspiration and is a key element of wellness interiors. Soft shades of green and blue are among the colours considered calming.

Having rooms looking out onto nature – open spaces within our developments – or your own garden can also boost your mood.

For more interiors inspiration read our guide to interiors trends 2024.

Houseplants and mental health

We’ve already mentioned the calming effect of nature. The biophilic trend of incorporating plants and flowers in interior design remains popular thanks to the nurturing properties of nature.

Research has found that having houseplants in your home can lead to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and an improved state of mind.

Caring for a plant and seeing it flourish can be really rewarding. When choosing your houseplants, think about where in your home you’ll place them taking into account the amount of natural light in that space and ease of watering. If you have a pet, you’ll also need to check your choice of plant is pet safe.

If you want to move to a new home designed with modern living in mind, find out where we’re building.