Decorating Your Apartment in Your Senior Living Community

Moving to a senior living community may require some downsizing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel like home. Whether you’re moving into an Independent Living community for more socialization or Assisted Living for added support, you can embrace this opportunity for a fresh start by decorating your apartment the way you want.

While the decorating options for your new apartment are endless, here are a few tips to help you get started.  

Embrace Your Style 

First and foremost, you must focus on your personal style and preferences. Otherwise, your new apartment won’t feel like home. Think about the colors and decorating styles you like, and find ways to incorporate them into your space. This step can give you a starting point to decide what furniture and artwork you want to use when decorating.

Also consider comfort and functionality. For example, it may not be feasible to bring an antique chair just because you like the style because you may need comfortable seating when you have company. Instead, get a chair that matches your color scheme.

Maximize Your Space 

Your Independent or Assisted Living apartment may be a bit smaller than your current home. The good news is that you'll have fewer things to take care of and less work on your part. Additionally, bigger isn’t always better. A large home may have felt empty and a little overwhelming. You can decorate your new apartment to feel warm and cozy.

Smaller spaces do require a bit more organization. Here are some tips for maximizing the space in your new apartment.

• Wall Space: When decorating a small area, take advantage of your wall space. Consider installing floating shelves or a tall bookcase to hold some of your treasures.
• Baskets and Bins: Placing decorative baskets and bins throughout your apartment adds charm to your space while providing extra storage. These baskets can hold everything from your remote control to extra batteries.
• Hidden Storage: Hidden storage solutions are a must when decorating an apartment. Invest in under-bed bins. Even if you struggle to get up and down, you can store rarely used items, such as holiday decorations, under your bed. When you need these items, you can ask a friend, family member or staff member to pull them out for you.
• Multipurpose Furniture: Multipurpose furniture, including a shallow ottoman or coffee table with drawers, is a great solution for storing items, such as extra blankets, books or electronics.

Personalizing With Decor 

The best way to make your new apartment feel like home is to bring your most important items with you. Carefully consider what treasures from home you want to bring along, such as family pictures, beloved keepsakes or your favorite art pieces. Having these items in your new apartment can make you feel at home as soon as you walk into your new space.  

Resist the urge to bring more than you need. Cluttering your new apartment can make you feel overwhelmed rather than at home. Remember, moving to a senior living community should reduce your housekeeping needs, so you can focus on enjoying this chapter of your life. You also want to save room for gifts visitors may bring or creations you might make at our Aberdeen Heights community.

Bring the Outdoors In

A tried-and-true decorating tip that can give any space a homelike feel is to bring the outdoors inside. Sure, you can look out the window and see all the beauty surrounding your apartment, but you can also take steps to bring some of that beauty into your new apartment.

Unless you have a green thumb, you may want to consider buying some plants that are easy to take care of, such as a spider plant, snake plant, peace lily or ZZ plant. Alternatively, you can create a small succulent garden or terrarium or even purchase some air plants that don’t require soil — just moisture. Bringing plants or flowers into your home adds extra beauty, and many plants also help purify the air in your apartment.

If taking care of plants isn't for you, consider purchasing artificial plants, flowers or even botanical prints. This step can still help add beauty and a sense of calm to your space.

Seasonal or Holiday Décor

Holidays and seasonal changes are celebrated in senior living communities. You can join the fun by decorating your apartment to match the current holiday or season. As mentioned above, you can store these decorations in an under-bed storage bin or closet and bring them out as needed.

This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and embrace the new season. You’ll also enjoy showing off your decorations to your family and friends as they visit your new apartment.

Sharing Ideas With Neighbors

If you’re looking for inspiration when it comes to decorating your new apartment, don’t be afraid to reach out to some of your new neighbors. We have a very friendly community here at Aberdeen Heights. Our residents are always happy to help each other out and exchange ideas. This can be a great way to learn about the latest decorating trends and organization hacks to help you decorate your space.

The first step to any move is to see the space for yourself. Call our team at Aberdeen Heights at (314) 909-6000 to schedule a tour today.