Relocating to Switzerland can be a transformative and rewarding experience but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. As an English-speaking interior designer based in Zurich, I work with families moving from London and beyond, helping them create a home that feels calm, welcoming and functional from day one.
The first sign that a space is working? A quiet corner filled with light, a favourite chair and a view that’s slowly becoming familiar.
This is a journey I know personally. Though born in Switzerland and having lived here before, I spent 17 years in London before relocating back two years ago with my husband and our three children, this time to Küsnacht, just outside Zurich. We arrived with a mix of excitement and anxiety, facing everything from school transitions to learning a new language. Each of my children had different needs: two attended different schools to begin with, and we later had to change schools again to better suit their adjustment. There were language struggles, homesickness, missing old friends, and learning to build a new life in a new place. Our London routine with weekend cricket, walks on Hampstead Heath and familiar local shops were replaced with new rhythms such as ice hockey, forest hikes, climbing, skiing and school pick-ups in a new language.
Throughout this process, @findmyswissschool (findmyswissschool.ch) were a tremendous help in guiding us towards the right educational environment for each of our children. Their insight and support made a real difference.
This personal experience informs my work with families relocating to Switzerland. I understand the emotional weight of the move, how much admin is involved, how many decisions need to be made, and how important it is for the whole family to feel at ease in their new surroundings.
Recently, I’ve supported several families relocating from the UK to Switzerland. Each project is different, but the aim is always the same: to remove the stress and make the transition smoother.
For one family moving to Zug, I set up their entire home in advance of their arrival. This included sourcing and installing all furniture, lighting, and accessories such as bedding, rugs, kitchen items, as well as preparing a personalised shopping list for household essentials with local store addresses. When they walked through the door, everything was in place. They could begin their new chapter focused on work and school, not furniture assembly.
Another family, new to the Swiss Alps, had purchased a mountain house as part of their relocation. They were unfamiliar with Swiss interior design brands and didn’t know where to start. I organised everything from wallpaper and lighting to furniture and seasonal accessories, ensuring their home was warm and ready just in time for the ski season.
They shared this reflection: “Highly recommend Claudia for an interior project. Claudia provided us with a structured design plan and ensured that we were disciplined and spent the time needed to hit our milestones. She engaged skilled, local experts when required and took care of all arrangements with them. Her design eye is also great, and we welcomed her recommendations. Thanks to Claudia, our holiday home was fully functional in time for the winter season.”
Whether you’re settling in Zurich, Zug or further afield, the first weeks in a new home set the tone for everything that follows. A comfortable bed to sleep in, a kitchen ready to cook in, shelves for your children’s books and wardrobes for their clothes. These are all small things which make a space feel like home. A place that feels considered and complete makes a big difference in how a family adapts.
When I work with relocating clients, I offer not just design expertise but practical local knowledge and emotional insight. My goal is to take care of the decisions, so you can take care of your family.
If you are relocating to Switzerland and looking for an English-speaking interior designer, I would be delighted to help create a space that feels truly yours.
