Relocation – cultural differences
Moving house or offices can be stressful and many people would rather put it off than take the plunge to what might be a better space for them or their business.
Whether you are looking to move within the UK or you are a foreign national – like me – looking to put down roots in the UK, there are many things to consider.
When I moved to the UK in 2006, I was a student and home was a small room in a shared flat at university. Not what I had imagined after growing up in a large 6-bedroom house in the German countryside.
Over the years I moved around a lot and life out of a suitcase had become the norm. I lived in France and Spain for extended periods, learning just how different housing can be in each country. From a minuscule studio apartment in Lyon, France, to a large 4-bedroom flat share in Alicante, Spain. This gave me great insight into how different cultures live and how we as humans can adapt to our situation. Even a small space can become a real home with just a little imagination and some clever storage.
Sixteen moves and many years later we finally moved into our first home in Horsham, West Sussex. It was a relief to finally settle and unpack – discovering long lost treasures. Our 2-bed semi became a first project and combining two people’s tastes was a fascinating challenge. A lot of sports equipment and crafting tools alongside a home office and enough space to relax all had to be incorporated into the design.
Now, 7 years later, we are on the brink of our (hopefully) final move – our forever home – and the suspense is killing me.
These international relocations and the ups and downs experienced with every one of them, triggered the creation of our specialist service for relocation.
With a background in translation and interpreting as well as global Marketing, my goal is to help individuals of any cultural background to create their dream space.
Be it a business move or a private relocation to the UK or even within the UK, we are here to make the move as smooth as possible.
We offer our relocation design services in four languages fluently – English, German, French and Spanish – and can facilitate an initial Skype consultation if you haven’t moved to the UK at the time of contacting us.
The countries I lived in and the various worldwide trips I have taken for holidays and business, have enabled me to gain an insight into different cultures and the expectations each of them has when it comes to a home.
The greatest differences I saw were probably in Tokyo, Japan, where flats and houses are often very small and both storage and living space is limited. Multi-functional design is key in these spaces and a bedroom often serves as a kitchen and dining room at the same time. I suppose I would compare it to when I lived in France and my bed was technically in the kitchen/living room, right next to the bathroom cubicle – just even smaller.
Throughout the year I plan to shed some light on the various hurdles you have to overcome when relocating in(to) the UK and what an interior designer can do for you to take away some of the stress when it comes to moving and making that new house a home.
To find out more or book a relocation consultation visit our Services page, get in touch through our Contact page or email us at enquiries@monseinteriordesign.com.
