London flat to Sydney backyard: What I learned.
My London shoebox, made a backyard non-negotiable
Small spaces. Big lessons.
Design for life, not for looks: Prioritise natural light, airflow and comfort over aesthetics.
Green space is mental space: Even a small garden, pot plant or balcony can transform your wellbeing.
Support, not style, is the real upgrade: Homes should nurture, especially during life’s tougher seasons.
Home is a feeling, not a footprint: It’s about what surrounds you - light, nature, safety - not square metres.
You don’t need a big budget to green a room: Succulents in water-filled jam jars are still a favourite of mine, they’re simple, beautiful and grounding.
How two very different living spaces taught me what really matters.
Living in a share flat above a restaurant in Chiswick, London in my 20s taught me how deeply people define their lives by how they live. We had no outdoor space, cranky radiators, and weak showers—but my top-floor bedroom window sat at tree line, turning it into a little treehouse through spring and summer.
Returning to Sydney, a townhouse with a patch of grass underfoot felt like winning the lottery. Suddenly, my plants didn’t have to be plastic.
What the two worlds taught me
Design isn’t glamorous - it’s survival
In London, light and space were negotiables. I lived with the bare minimum. But at home, I’m intentional: a room’s layout, ventilation, natural light now feel like daily gifts. Isn’t that design rooted in living and not a showroom?Green space, even the smallest kind, changes everything
As i looked over the street, the council tree in London was my entire garden. But being able to step outside, even briefly can bring joy, calm and a sense of community I never cared to measure until I needed it.Homes become therapy rooms when budgets are tight
Deep in child-rearing with little budget, I learned the biggest upgrade wasn’t paint, it was thoughtful changes so the place supported wellbeing, not just buffering chaos.
What I’ve lived taught me that home isn’t about how big it is—it’s about how much it holds: light, green, safety, and a sense of belonging. From cramped flats to garden-backed homes, housing shapes us more than we realise.
