Sponsored content
Most of us have heard of ‘downsizing’: moving to a smaller home to cut down on costs, maintenance, and stress. Yet, while it can free up time and money, it’s not always appealing in later life. In fact, Saga research has revealed that only one in five UK homeowners over 50 has taken the leap.
The reasons for this are varied and valid. Some people may wish to continue hosting family members or enjoying the perks of their larger properties, such as gardens and off-street parking. Others might want to stay immersed in a vibrant community or avoid the hassle of moving.
However, it may help to rethink the concept, not as downsizing but ‘now-sizing’. As our needs change, whether due to health, lifestyle, or other priorities, a more manageable home in the right location can support the way we want to live now. How much we own becomes less important as our focus shifts towards making room for what matters most.
To dig deeper into the idea of now-sizing and explore whether it’s right for you, we’ve partnered with Wallacea Living, who provide luxury, independent living in the heart of London with a focus on living life to the fullest.
What is now-sizing?
Now-sizing is a term we first came across while reading Sue Timney’s story. She’s an award-winning interior, product, and textile designer known for her iconic black and white creations.
The former Chair of the Chelsea Arts Club and former President of the British Institute of Design has now turned her focus to later-life living, becoming both Creative Director at Wallacea Living and a future resident of their North West London community.
To Sue, now-sizing is about “shaping your life for today, keeping what matters, and letting the rest go.” It reframes the discussion around downsizing so that it’s not simply about moving to a smaller place.
Instead, it describes finding a home that suits the lifestyle you want to lead now, not one you’ve outgrown. This could involve changing the size of your property and the amount of possessions you own – but it might not. It’s also about choosing the location and community that allows you to get the most out of later life.
Is now-sizing right for me?
Below, we cover some questions to help you decide whether now-sizing is right for you, and how retirement living communities like Wallacea Living might offer the perfect now-sizing solution.
Are there passions you want to explore?
Do you have a lifelong hobby that you never had enough time for due to work or family commitments? Or maybe you just want to try something new. Either way, now-sizing is a great way to follow your passions.
Sometimes, this is down to location. For example, if you’re a keen fisherman who’s always struggled to find time on the water, you could move closer to your favourite river or lake. Or if you’d like to travel more in later life, you might want to be within easy reach of an airport.
However, now-sizing could also involve moving to a different property type that’s better suited to your desired lifestyle. This could mean choosing a place with a larger outdoor space if you want to spend more time gardening, or moving to a retirement living community if you want to meet more people.
One of the best things about retirement living communities like Wallacea Living is that they offer a calendar of organised events – from interviews with VIP guests to wine tasting, book clubs, and even laughter yoga – designed to help their residents connect through various hobbies and activities.
Recently, Wallacea Living resident Paul Knight discovered an unexpected artistic talent at an in-house design workshop, leading him to call it “a place full of possibilities.”
Do you have a strong sense of community?
Having a strong sense of community and belonging is one of the most important building blocks of a happy and healthy life. According to the World Health Organisation, social connection improves our mental wellbeing, but it also has positive effects on our physical health, such as reducing inflammation, lowering our risk of serious health problems (such as strokes and heart disease), and preventing early death.
But unfortunately, it can be challenging to maintain our sense of community and belonging as we age. Some people in retirement miss the workplace connections they once had, while others may become isolated due to health and mobility issues.
With that said, it might be worth considering living in a village, town, or city, where the local community is right on your doorstep. Having good public transport connections is also a major plus, as you won’t have to rely on driving to get around. Retirement living communities are often built in convenient locations with this in mind. Plus, residents will join a ready-made community of similarly aged people, where socialising is actively encouraged.
For example, at Wallacea Living, luxury communal facilities like the on-site bar, restaurant, and spa are ideal for entertaining loved ones and connecting with fellow homeowners. The wide range of events is perfect for meeting like-minded neighbours, and its location means the vibrant community of North West London is right on your doorstep, offering literally millions of opportunities to stay connected.
Could you benefit from a more streamlined life?
Now-sizing doesn’t always mean downsizing – but for many older adults, it does. And moving to a smaller place often involves reducing our belongings, which can be liberating.
It can also lessen day-to-day stress and anxiety – because when our living space is cluttered and chaotic, it can have a similar effect on our headspace. Research shows that people are less distracted, less irritable, more productive, and better at processing information when their environments are organised and uncluttered.
However, deciding what to keep and what to part with can be challenging when so many of our belongings hold precious memories. This is why Wallacea Living organises specialist services to help their future homeowners sort through and move their things. As well as decluttering, they can arrange the sale, donation, secure disposal, or recycling of items you no longer need, making your now-sizing journey as stress-free as possible.
Paul has found these kinds of services very helpful throughout his moving process. “Once you’ve committed, there’s a lot of support that starts to come. They’re not intrusive… but as soon as you say you need something, they can step in. The feeling they offer has been very warm. I hadn’t realised how personalised they would make it.”
Do you want to live more intentionally?
Now-sizing can also help us live more intentionally because the less we own, the less time we spend tidying and maintaining living areas. This can free up headspace for what matters, such as looking after our health and spending time with loved ones.
Sue sees her next chapter at Wallacea Living as a chance to continue her design work, turning her second bedroom into a “studio in the sky”. She says, “It’s too good a space to waste on an empty bedroom. Walking into a room that’s had your activity in it the day before… that’s fantastic.”
By moving to a retirement living community like Wallacea Living, you can reduce home maintenance without sacrificing the perks of a larger property. For example, as well as having your own living space, you’ll also have access to luxury, fully-maintained communal spaces, such as landscaped gardens, a relaxed library, and even a private cinema.
Speaking about Wallacea Living, Sue looks forward to the ease that moving to a contemporary, managed building offers – with no more gutters to unclog and damp on the walls. What’s more, if she needs help with anything – whether changing a lightbulb or adjusting her boiler settings – the Wallacea Living team is on hand, “which frees up so much time!” she says. “It’s freedom from domestic chores, freedom to live the next stage with energy.”
Do you want to prioritise your health and wellbeing?
Like we’ve said, later life is an exciting chapter that gives us the freedom to chase our passions and do the things we’ve always wanted – whether writing that book or travelling the globe. But to get the most out of later life, it’s important to prioritise our health, which can be made easier by now-sizing.
There are various reasons why your current living situation may make prioritising your health challenging. Perhaps you live on a busy road that’s not suited to walking or cycling, or maybe your isolated location makes it tricky to get to regular health checks. So, when choosing a place to live in later life, it’s important to consider access to health services and places to exercise.
For example, Wallacea Living is ideally situated in North West London for homeowners to balance their health needs. On their doorstep, you’ll find two royal parks and the Regent’s canal towpath, all safe and scenic places to walk, jog, or cycle. Plus, the central city location and great public transport links make it easy to attend health appointments.
Wallacea Living homeowners can also make the most of various in-house health services and facilities – from exercise classes and a swimming pool to nutrition advice and a six-monthly wellbeing MOT. They even have a private GP booking portal to access appointments more quickly, plus a bi-monthly on-site GP visit.
Could you benefit from a little extra support and peace of mind?
As we age, we all need a little extra help and support, so it’s important to factor this into your now-sizing decision.
This may involve moving closer to family and friends who can give you a hand when you need, finding a more accessible property to overcome mobility challenges, or simply relocating to a more populated area where you feel safer and less isolated.
If accessing a little extra support and peace of mind are a priority for you, it’s worth considering a later-living community like Wallacea Living. Their on-site team is available to support homeowners 24/7, including providing around-the-clock security. This not only gives residents peace of mind when they’re at home, but also when they’re away visiting loved ones or travelling the world.
Wallacea Living even offer their homeowners a variety of personal care services – from help with housework and dog walking to supporting them at outings and appointments – which can help them live independently for longer.
Final thoughts…
Now-sizing looks different for everyone. For some, it could simply be moving to a slightly smaller, more manageable home to free up time and money to live later-life to the fullest. But for others, it could involve relocating from the country to the city, being closer to family, or choosing somewhere that’ll give them more peace of mind as they age.
For anyone thinking about now-sizing, it’s worth considering later-life communities like Wallacea Living. They can give us all the benefits of smaller homes without sacrificing things like luxury, community, and location. Check out their website to find out more using the button below.