Congratulations! You or a loved one has made the decision to launch a maintenance-free yet adventure-filled life in a senior living community. If also downsizing, you’re likely discovering freedom from the weight of accumulations over the years.

While creating space for your new life, there is one other task you’ll want to contemplate before arriving at your community – but this one is fun…

Deciding how to decorate your senior living retirement home.

If you feel a little uncertain of where to start, don’t worry. We can help. Considering the following tips will soon have you feeling welcome and right at home.

10 Tips for Decorating Senior Living Spaces

Although there are many unique ways to make a space your own, these 10 tips will quickly help get you started:

Tip #1: Work from a floor plan

Request a copy of your specific floor plan with measurements so you can begin the design process. To represent your furniture, one great trick is to cut out shapes to scale. It’s much easier to experiment with placement and make the decision of what will fit with a piece of paper instead of a heavy sofa.

Tip #2: Decide what you’ll bring

For successful decorating, be intentional about what you will bring to your new home. Otherwise, you may create a crowded and less-than-inviting place to begin your new life. Make the decision before moving day arrives, such as whether to leave your overstuffed sectional behind and replace it with a smaller love seat and comfy chair.

Tip #3: Choose new pieces

Once you’ve decided what you will bring from your existing home, you’ll know what is needed to purchase. For example, consider whether a smaller dining table might provide a better fit, if one nightstand instead of two would work better, or possibly swapping out a full-sized bed for your king.

Download our complimentary Successful Transitions guide to learn more.

Tip #4: Remember to add your personal touch

Wherever you live is your home and you’ll want your new residence to reflect your personal taste. If you’re not sure how to define your touch, take a look around your home now and discover the common theme that defines your personality. Maybe it’s a collection, a style of artwork or your love of colorful throw pillows.

Tip #5: Make your home appear larger

A senior living home is often smaller than your current home as all those unused rooms have been eliminated. You’ll love the efficient use but may want to create the illusion of more space so try your hand with mirror placement, smaller scale furniture or multi-purpose pieces such as an ottoman that also serves as storage.

Tip #6: Use your vertical space

Be sure to check with your community first on what is allowed. But if possible, and with assistance, add floating shelves that are painted the same color as the walls to create more usable display space – and interest – in the room. Think books, art objects or photographs.

Tip #7: Bring the outdoors in

Take advantage of the natural light and add plants or flowers to your home. Not only will they make your space seem brighter, they also are a natural mood booster. Don’t overwhelm your space, although thriving greenery and a vase of fresh-cut flowers in the entry or bathroom bring a splash of color and beauty.

Tip #8: Accessorize with favorites

This is your chance to introduce colors and textures to your home, while also creating an inviting space that will welcome you and your guests to relax and enjoy. Don’t forget to bring a few framed family-favorite pictures of those special loved ones in your life or a display of your grandchildren’s artwork.

Tip #9: Create a gallery wall

A great way to display your photos or artwork is to create a gallery wall that extends upward. Not only will you be surrounded by memories of special celebrated times or people in your life, but this will also draw the eye up, creating the feeling of open space.

Tip #10: Leave duplicates behind

Hopefully, you eliminated all duplicates while you were downsizing, but it’s essential not to lose space to extra sets of dishes, cutlery or linen. Your square footage may be less but being intentional about how it will be used will motivate and inspire your new senior living lifestyle.

The Charleston Senior Living Community

Locally owned and operated, we offer personalized care by our dedicated team members. Setting a new standard in Assisted Living and Memory Care, we don’t define our residents by their limitations or illness but instead believe in focusing on the positive and the possibility.

The Charleston Senior Community includes private apartments for assisted living residents and for those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Your loved ones will benefit from our attention to detail, routine health assessments, delicious dining and daily activity programs as we support everyone to live their best life.

Consider a few of our amenities:

• Chef-led dining program
• Community movie theater
• Salon
• Ballroom
• Live entertainment
• Outdoor patio
• Social lounges
• Housekeeping

If you or your family is thinking about Assisted living or Memory care, we hope you will consider The Charleston Senior Community. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions, contact us today.

We also invite you to download our complimentary Successful Transitions guide to learn more about making the move to senior living.