After years of living in a family home, moving to a senior living community and starting anew means decorating a new senior living home, something that can be a fun and exciting experience. But where to begin? Whether the new home is a house, condo, cottage or apartment, here are some expert tips to consider for decorating senior living spaces.
Tip #1- Use furniture that fits
Moving to a senior living community often means a smaller home but it doesn’t mean it can’t be comfortable. The key to decorating senior living homes is to find furniture that fits the rooms without feeling cramped or cluttered. When downsizing it helps to use a floor plan software program like those in thespruce.com article, “10 Free Interior Design Software Picks,” that help arrange furniture ahead of time and weed out those pieces that won’t fit well.
Another way to maximize smaller rooms when decorating senior living spaces is with rounded furniture that helps to bring a room together. Semi-circular couches and chairs group easily and round tables and ottomans can take up less space and create wonderful areas for friendly gatherings. Find out more in the bhg.com article, “4 Ways to Try the Curved Furniture Trend That’s Everywhere Right Now.”
Tip #2 – Let the light shine
Modern senior living homes are built with seniors in mind so they are brighter and make the most of natural light. But there are some lighting tricks for decorating senior living areas that are a nice touch, not only for how a room looks and feels, but for an added level of safety, especially at night and in darker work areas.
According to the lampsusa.com article, “30 Lighting Tips for Seniors,” aging decreases the amount of light the eye can use to see so the first step is to replace low-wattage light bulbs with brighter ones throughout the home. Another great idea is to use sound- or motion-activated lighting especially in hallways and entryways so lights come on automatically upon entry. Touch lamps are another option as are stick-on lights in closets and cupboards. Check out more possibilities in the dailycaring.com article, “Better Lighting for Senior Reduces Fall Risk.”
Tip #3 – Use the power of reflection
Making the most of space is one angle on decorating senior living homes, but another is making each room look larger than it is. The easiest way to do this is to use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of greater space. Mirrors have been a part of home décor for centuries and can be found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and frames so there is a mirror for every style from vintage to ultra-modern. Mirrors can be hung on walls alone or in groupings, and they can also brighten corners, nooks, hallways and entryways. Take a look at just how versatile mirrors can be when decorating senior living spaces in thespruce.com article, “25 Mirror Decor Ideas to Brighten Your Space.”
Tip #4 – Space-saving ideas
Using every inch of space can be challenging but one way to do that is to incorporate pieces that serve more than one purpose. For example, ottomans that double as storage containers, coffee tables with drawers and/or shelves, wall-mounted fold-out desks that also serve as shelves when not in use, and dining tables with leaves that can seat as few as two or as many as eight. There are so many ways to save space while increasing utility and the cnn.com article, “22 genius space-saving furniture pieces for your home,” describes some of the best.
Tip # 5 – Add life to every room
Last, but by far not least is the use of live plants when decorating senior living spaces. Different types of plants can really add to any room including tall and leafy ones like rubber plants or fig trees that create a focal point and fill an empty corner, smaller flowering plants like African violets and Kalanchoe that add a splash of color to shelves and window sills, or light and airy plants like Boston or asparagus ferns that create a whimsical effect with their fairy-like fronds. Take a look at these and many more in the housebeautiful.com article, “37 Indoor Plants To Liven Up Your Home (and How To Care for Them).”
Keep in mind that plants also help clean the air and may offer other benefits as well! Find out more in the healthline.com article, “A Hobby for All Seasons: 7 Science-Backed Benefits of Indoor Plants.”
Decorating senior living homes is part of the charm of life for residents of Countryside Senior Living. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.
