Imagine: you’re moving out of the home you’ve lived in for years and into one of our Madison Heights senior apartments. You’re trying to figure out what the best way to make it work in a way that’s best for you, but it can be a little overwhelming to even think about where to start.
Worrying about how to decorate and how to organize is normal for anyone that’s moving into a new home, and a luxury senior apartment is no different.
Looking for a couple of tips on what to do? Let us help! Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
1.) Keep it Safe.
Adding in safety features into your new apartment is something that you should consider if you haven’t thought about it yet. While there are additional safety precautions and 24 hour emergency response here at our Madison Heights senior apartments, it’s not a feature you want to have to use. After all, it doesn’t feel like home if you constantly have to have emergency services come in and out of your apartment!
If you’re worried about staying safe, just make sure to invite a space that allows you to do so. Keep walkways wide enough for wheelchairs to roll through, make make sure that there is no clutter on the floor or anything else blocking the walkways you frequently use. This is especially important for nighttime, when you can’t always be bothered to turn on the lights in the dark.
Actually, adding little nightlights is another easy and cost-efficient way to make your space more safe. Motion sensor lights or simple nightlights in hallways, bathrooms, and other high-traffic areas can help prevent falls that might not have occurred if the spaces were more well-lit.
2.) Downsize and declutter.
Making the downsize from living in a large family home to a small Madison Heights senior apartment can be quite the undertaking. It’s difficult to make the decisions on what to keep, what to donate, what to toss – but without the space of a large home, then a lot of those decisions have to be made.
One of the most important things you should do when moving is declutter, declutter, declutter. So many random things are kept in our homes that we accumulate over the years, so that when we move, we often tend to have a massive pile of things that we haven’t used in years, haven’t touched in just as long, or just simply don’t need anymore. You aren’t going to need that old copy of Windows 95. Promise.
Having fewer belongings means that you have the time to focus on other things. Collect experiences instead of objects. Use this opportunity in your golden years to get out and try something new or spend time with your family, not with your things.
But take your time. If you have the ability to do so, don’t sell your house right away and go through each room of your home, giving a lot of thought as to what exactly you want to do. And, when you’re ready to sell and finally feel comfortable with your choice, use one of our many realtors in the area to make the transition smooth.
Plus, here’s an added bonus: having fewer things makes it easier to clean and keep your apartment organized. And honestly, nothing is better than making it easier to clean.
3.) Utilize natural light and proper indoor lighting.
Sometimes, small spaces can tend to look or feel darker than they are because of our furniture or curtain choices. Something you can do to make a room feel brighter and larger is to utilize natural light and well-placed light fixtures. Skip the blackout curtains and go for something more light and see-through, and don’t be afraid to open those windows during the day! If you have a green thumb, bring along your potted house plants as well. These are always sure to liven up a space!
If your apartment doesn’t have the kind of natural light that you’re hoping for, then getting some lamps or other light fixtures could brighten up the space as well. The light not only brightens up and opens up the room, but we tend to need that additional light as we age as our vision may start to suffer.
4.) Use bright colors and patterns.
A bright pop of color can completely transform a room from something drab into an accent or feature for your apartment. Making some bold, fun design choices can give you the opportunity to express yourself in your new apartment that can make it feel even just a little bit more like home.
While your senior living community might not allow major face-lifts like paint, removable wallpaper is a great, easy, and affordable option. You can also use that opportunity to display artwork or large family photos, breaking up the stark white of your apartment walls with eye-catching mementos that might even give you something to talk about with your new neighbors!
If designing your walls seems like a little too much of a commitment, try bringing pops of color into your apartment in other ways instead. Things like bright throw pillows, rugs, or even kitchen appliances can liven up the space and make it feel more warm and inviting, just like home.
5.) Make sure to add in those personal touches.
Sometimes, the hardest thing about moving into a senior community is the feeling of being separated from your family. A senior community might not feel as easily accessible to your loved ones, even if you know in your mind that it is. (Especially here at the Reserve at Redrun. We have an entire guest suite for friends and family – how cool is that?)
By mixing your personal touches and mementos into your decorating choices, it’s easy to bring that family feeling into your new home. Show off your kids’ or grandkids’ awards or artwork by hanging up floating shelves or shadow boxes. Get custom frames to house some of the larger pieces you’d like to display. Digital picture frames also make a nice addition; it’s something small that can house many different pictures of your family that you can change whenever you want.
Reserve at Redrun
Here at the Reserve at Redrun, we strive to make sure that all of our residents feel like they never left home. From our services and our amenities to our family and friends guest suite, our luxury senior apartments may be exactly what you need to find your new home. For more information, contact us here.
