Should You Move for a Healthier Lifestyle?

In a world where wellness is more important than ever, many homeowners are re-evaluating whether their current environment truly supports a healthy, active life. While renovating can bring great improvements to your home, sometimes a new location offers better opportunities to enhance your overall wellbeing.

As an architect focused on creating homes that improve how people live, I often work with clients who aren’t just looking for more space, they’re looking for a better life. In this post, we’ll explore how your environment influences your health, when it might make sense to move and how others have made this shift successfully.

Does Your Current Environment Support a Healthy Lifestyle?

Before making any major decisions, it’s worth assessing whether your home and neighbourhood actively contribute to your wellness goals.

Key questions to ask:

• Can you easily access parks, walking paths, or safe cycle routes?

• Are there gyms, wellness centres, or fitness classes nearby?

• Do you feel inspired to be active and eat well in your current kitchen, layout, or garden?

• Is air quality a concern in your area?

• How easy is it to access healthcare, including GPs, specialists and mental health services?

Sometimes, the barrier to a healthier lifestyle isn’t motivation, it’s location or layout.

When Moving Makes Sense for Your Health

There are scenarios where even the most strategic home improvements may not solve the problem. In these cases, moving could be the smarter choice.

Consider a move if:

• You want to live closer to natural spaces like coastal paths, national parks, or countryside trails.

• Your current location has poor air quality, noise pollution, or a lack of green space.

• You’re seeking better healthcare infrastructure, such as proximity to a hospital or specialists.

• You need lower stress levels, which might be more achievable in a slower-paced or quieter area.

• You’re committed to an active lifestyle and want daily access to high-quality fitness and recreational facilities.

Some towns and developments are designed with wellness in mind, offering car-free zones, cycling routes, community allotments and social clubs focused on outdoor activities.

Real Stories: Families Who Moved to Live Better, Not Just Larger

Not every move is about upscaling. For many, it’s about upgrading their way of life.

The Greenfields in Devon

Originally based in an urban flat in Birmingham, the Greenfield family relocated to a village on the edge of Dartmoor. Now surrounded by trails and fresh air, their weekends are filled with hiking and gardening. “We’re not just fitter,” says Sarah Greenfield. “We’re calmer. Happier.”

The Rahmans in Kent

After years in a cramped London terrace, the Rahmans found a semi-rural home with space for a vegetable patch and easy access to a nature reserve. With better schools and cleaner air, they say the move was more about “quality of life than square footage.”

James, a Solo Professional in Bristol

James moved from a central high-rise flat to a suburban development with direct access to the Bristol-Bath cycle path. “I wanted to ditch the car and prioritise cycling. This move made it possible.”

These families didn’t just move for aesthetics or size, they moved for health.

Move or Improve: Which Path Is Right for You?

Improving your home, adding light, creating fitness-friendly spaces, updating kitchens for healthier cooking, can go a long way. But if your location inherently limits your lifestyle, a move might be the better route.

As an architect, I always recommend a detailed evaluation:

• Can changes to your current home truly support your health goals?

• Are external factors, air quality, space, access to nature, beyond your control?

• Would moving bring long-term wellness benefits that improvements can’t match?

Final Thoughts

Your home should support the way you want to live, physically, mentally and emotionally. If you’re prioritising wellness, the decision to move or improve deserves thoughtful consideration. And remember: living better doesn’t always mean living larger.

Need help evaluating whether your current space can meet your wellbeing goals? As an experienced architect, I can help you explore both renovation and relocation options tailored to your lifestyle. 

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