Moving into a retirement home can be an overwhelming process, no matter how much you looked forward to it. The best thing you can do is to personalize your retirement home to feel homey and comfortable in there, which will help you embrace the change.
We have listed down a few decorating tips to help you make a retirement home your new home.
Decide What To Take And What Not To Take
If the retirement home is not as big as the home you were living in, do not carry all the items. Consider donating and selling a few things that you may not require. Unnecessarily carrying extra things will only overcrowd your new home.
Do Not Leave Behind Sentimental Items
While it is necessary to carry fewer items, do not leave your sentimental items behind because that will make your new house look less homey. Bring pictures of all of your good memories, the artwork your grandchild gave you, fridge magnets purchased while you traveled the world, etc. You can also bring your favorite nautical signs with you that you can use as your house decor.
Less Is More
While decorating your space, do not overstuff the home. Try to retain your pieces of furniture to create your previous home’s feel rather than buy all new furniture pieces and be conscious of the space it will occupy. If you feel the pieces of furniture are oversized, you can measure the room and get smaller furniture that would fit. Also, make sure the furniture pieces are comfortable and not too low, as you will have a difficult time getting up.
Keep Walkways Clear
Keeping walkways clear is extremely important as there is a chance of tripping if you are not careful. Check all the electric chords and unsecured rugs.
Arrange Things For Easy Accessibility
Arrange things for your required needs so that you do not have to search for things frequently. Being well-organized will make your stay comfortable. Place your phone near the couch and the bed for ease of access.
Paint The Walls Bright
Bright colors always make the room look bigger and brighter. As your eyesight might change with age, it is always advisable to paint the walls with soothing light paints to increase your visibility.
Design The Bathroom With All Safety Measures
The bathroom needs to be really safe to use as we frequently hear of bathroom accidents. Install grab bars near the toilet and shower, avoid installing bathtubs as they can be really slippery and risky, place anti-skid mats in the shower and wash area.
Use Round Furniture
Pieces of furniture with a sharp corner can cause injury while moving around if you are not careful. A better idea is to place round furniture or the ones with soft edges to prevent such injuries.
Make Sure The House Is Well-Lit
Adequate lighting in the house is essential. Also, make sure that switches are accessible from both sides of the corridor.
Be Prepared For An Active Social Life
After retirement, you should be prepared for an active social life as retirement homes come along with a wide community of people who are usually quite friendly. Retirement communities like The Villages Florida have a population of over 125,000, so you can be sure that you will have an extremely happening social life. Therefore, make your living hall functional for a social gathering. Add guest seating and a music system in the room, and decorate it with your family portraits to give your retirement home a personal touch. Click here for more ideas on retirement communities.
These tips can help you transition your new house into the home you have always wanted. Once you are done decorating your home, you can relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy this new chapter of your life while you can look forward to unfolding the new things which await you.