Thanks to the recession we’re becoming a nation of frustrated home movers, which isn’t good for us as it can have a negative effect on our wellbeing
Are you M.A.D. not to move?
One of the biggest victims of the recession has been the housing market. Banks aren’t lending and people aren’t moving. The market has ground to a halt as people pull up the drawbridges and decide to stay where they are.
However not everyone’s happy staying put. There are thousands of people who’d love to move but can’t – because of the market, or because they can’t afford to.
“frustration and stress can lead to low mood and anxiety”
We’re becoming a nation of frustrated movers, which isn’t good for us as it can have a negative effect on our well-being. Professor Ben Fletcher, Head of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire and an expert on stress and health, explained:
“The frustration and stress of not being able to move can lead to low mood and anxiety”.
He suggests this could be termed M.A.D. or Moving Adjournment Disorder. He maintains that this
“is attributable to the fact that people’s hopes are dashed; they believe they are being held back from climbing the property ladder and providing the best for their family.”
Family impact
And it’s not just one person affected by this, but the whole family. Kate Leach, chief furnishing advisor at John Lewis, observes:
“Not being able to move house can impact on the whole family emotionally”.
But it doesn’t end there. It isn’t just our inability to move that’s frustrating us, but the state of our houses too. Last year, an IKEA survey found that around one in five (18%) people felt stressed and dejected about the state of their homes, and the figure climbed to one in three among those aged between 25 and 35.
Can’t move? Why not improve?
Here at Make it and Mend it we’re great believers in getting the best from your home, so we’re looking at ways to improve and not move. Not only will these ease the stress of staying put but help ensure you get the maximum price for your home when you do sell.
Here are few simple tips and technqiues to help you create your ideal environment…
Budget – Set a realistic budget and make sure you stick to it. You don’t need to spend a fortune making your house seem like new.
De-clutter – It’s essential to de-clutter before any large project- it’s the act of clearing out the old to make way for the new, such as starting a new business, moving house, attracting a new partner or having a baby. It’s all about letting go and allowing newness to enter our lives – new people, activities, clothes, space, money, but most importantly, fresh energy.
>> Read how to de-clutter your home
Inject some colour – Just by injecting a little colour into a room we can dramatically change the feel of a room, making it seem bigger or smaller, warmer or cooler, and definitely new. Colour can have a significant impact on the way we feel about our surroundings and ourselves. It can affect our moods and alter the way people feel when they enter a space.
>> Read how to bring colour into your home
Refresh your walls – Just by a simple tricks you can make a room feel fresher and cleaner. You can repaper or simply wash down walls. Using paint effects and decals can give the feeling of a room seeming bigger.
>> Fancy some wall washing? How to clean paintwork
Accessorising – Accessories can add real personality and character to your home. Whether those accessories are art works, photographs, candles or accent throws and pillows you can create an interesting detail and stylish decor. Even moving around your accessories can transform your living area.
Moving without moving – Create a feeling of change by simply moving around your furniture. New focal points in the room make it feel like a completely different room. But why stop there, why not move around the rooms themselves? Who says that your bedrooms have to be upstairs? Maybe you have a dining room that would be a much better living room? Throw away the rulebook and have a go.
Makeover your old furniture - Instead of throwing away dated furniture, invest in a re-upholstery service to rejuvenate old treasures. Or have a go yourself!
Signs of the times
Whilst, in general, sales on the high street are falling it seems that we are spending more than ever on making our homes look better. John Lewis reported that despite the recession sales figures for household items have increased.
- candles and home fragrances are up 70% year on year
- fabric flowers up 80%
- hand made rugs were up 689% year on year.
- John Lewis’s own brand plain textured wallpaper has sold 20% better than last year
- wall clock sales up 9.5%
What do you think? Are you stuck in your home and want to move? How are you coping? What ideas do you have? Leave us a comment.
