Decorate Your Space: 5 Tips to Make a Senior Living Apartment Feel Like Home

If you’re planning for the move into your new senior living apartment, you know that life will be easier once you make the community your home.

You’re ready to launch your new lifestyle and enjoy the days when you’ll have assistance whenever needed and will no longer have to worry about living alone.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Someone else will take care of the cooking and cleaning, leaving you more free time to make new friends, participate in the monthly planned activities and social events.

You have an exciting adventure waiting. Now that you’ve chosen a floor plan, location and move-in date, what is left on your to-do list?

This is the perfect time to decide how you want to decorate your new senior living apartment.

5 tips to decorate your senior living apartment to feel right at home

The key to interior design is to make sure your efforts reflect your personality and create the type of space that welcomes you home every time you walk through your front door.

Consider these 5 tips to help you get started on decorating your senior living apartment.

1. Make a small space appear larger

There are ways to create the illusion of a bigger space, including hanging a large piece of art as a focal point. Other tips involve using mirrors that provide the feeling of more space by reflecting back light and images.

2. Use lighting for function and to set the mood

You need good lighting to eliminate any dark corners or areas in shadow that can create a tripping hazard. But you’ll also want lighting that is functional and inviting. Create the perfect reading area or highlight a painting or collection with illumination.

3. Don’t underestimate the statement accessories make

People focus on the sofa and chairs but often overlook the impact that a room’s accessories can bring. When decorating your senior living apartment, this is the perfect way to introduce bright colors and interesting textures.

4. Ask more of your furniture

Today’s creative furniture design makes it easier to find pieces that can function for more than one purpose. Think of tables that also provide storage or can function as a desk. And if you won’t have a guest bedroom for visitors, consider a sofa that converts into a bed.

5. Reflect your personality

Take a walk through your current space and choose a few favorite furniture pieces or other objects that help you feel at home. If you have a comfortable reading chair or treasured art collection, you’ll want to find a place in your new home.

What to avoid: consider these suggestions

To successfully decorate your senior living apartment, what you don’t do can be just as important as what you do. Take a look at these cautionary tips:

1. Waiting to downsize

Most people moving into senior living will be downsizing from a larger space. This is a great time to finally rid yourself of the years of accumulations – many of which have lost their meaning or use.

However, depending on how long you’ve lived in your home, the task of downsizing will take time and planning. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide what you’ll bring, sell, donate or how to distribute what is left over to family and friends.

2. Not knowing what to leave behind

Speaking of which…people often struggle making decisions about what to do with their possessions. It’s important to organize your downsizing items but commit to not allowing any “maybe” piles. They only delay the decisions that eventually have to be made and often end up being brought to your new home instead. Leave behind what you don’t need, want or have room for.

3. Not planning ahead

When planning to decorate your senior living apartment, include a strategy for your actual moving day. What time will the movers arrive? What will you need to get settled at least for the first few days? Plan to pack a box with towels and toiletries you can easily find. Start the day early enough so you can eat dinner at the community your first evening and go to bed early. It will be a busy day and tomorrow you start your new life.

Milestone Retirement Communities

If your family is considering retirement living, we hope you will consider Milestone Retirement Communities. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions. Find out for yourself all that a Milestone community has to offer you or your loved one, contact a community near you today to schedule a tour.