How Can I Make My Assisted Living Space Feel Like Home?

How Can I Make My Assisted Living Space Feel Like Home?

Moving to an assisted living facility can feel scary for a lot of reasons. Fear of change, fear of the unknown, a loss of independence. We don’t have control over many of those factors—they exist whether we want them to or not. 

People also fear that moving to an assisted living facility (ALF) means living in a drab space with no sense of comfort or warmth. This is one fear that can be addressed. In this article we’ll help you figure out how to create the comfortable, inviting space you want and need.

How Do You Want to Use Your Space?

Before you make your move, think about how you will use your new living space. It’s worth it to spend time reflecting on your priorities. Some things to consider:

• How much time do you envision spending in your room as opposed to joining in scheduled activities?
• Will you prepare your own meals or use the dining plan?
• What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
• Will you enjoy having family and friends visiting your residence?
• Which belongings do you want displayed?
• Which items do you need or want to access daily?

Keeping What’s Essential 

There are many ways to organize a move. You can do one room at a time or start by removing items you know you don’t want. Think again about how you want to use your new space. If you start with what’s essential to you, it’s easier to let go of the rest.

It’s not easy to whittle down our own belongings. Ask for help—it’s much easier to have someone else present during the process. The best person to help may not be a close family member. A friend or a professional senior move manager will be more impartial. 

Create a Floor Plan

As soon as you know where you’ll be moving, ask for the dimensions of your new place. Use that information to make a floor plan. You’ll see quickly which of your larger items will reasonably fit in your new space. 

This is not an easy process. People often get frustrated when they see how little will fit in their new space. It’s a hard reality. Creating a floor plan can make your move easier in several ways:

• Deciding what to keep and what to part with are easier when you see what can fit.
• You’ll be able to imagine what your new home will look like when you see it all laid out. You’ll feel less anxious if you know what to expect.
• Moving day will go more smoothly. Imagine having large pieces of furniture moved in, only to have them moved out again because they don’t fit. That’s chaos you don’t need on moving day.

Creating a floor plan—including the furniture layout—will also help you plan where your smaller items will fit.

Add Your Favorite Colors

One of the easiest ways to personalize your space is through the use of color. Most ALFs have white or light-colored walls. Think of those as a blank canvas—a neutral backdrop that won’t clash with your favorite colors. 

You can add splashes of color through:

• Artwork
• Bedding—comforters or duvets, sheets, pillow shams
• Upholstered furniture
• Throw pillows, cozy blankets

Think about what makes you feel most at home. Do you like warm, rustic colors that make you think of the mountains? Pastels colors that feel relaxed and serene? Bold colors that show your energy and spunk? Colors affect our moods—use them to create the mood you want to set. 

Use Bookshelves for Display

Bookshelves are ideal for displaying favorite items. The things we choose to display show our unique selves. They should bring us joy and comfort when we see them and let others know what we love. 

Whether you’re a sports fan, a musician, a naturalist, or a great cook, save some space on your bookshelves to show off your passions. 

Some design ideas that showcase your stuff in their best light:

• Group similar objects together. Think glass figurines in a row, or a glass bowl full of golf balls.
• Leave some parts of the shelf empty. Empty space says there’s room for more. Too many things in one place makes a space feel crowded.
• Move items towards the front half of the bookshelf. They’re less likely to be living in the shadows and will be easier to see. 

Choose Favorite Photos

Photos are a great way to keep people and places we love close to our hearts. Think about where you want to keep your most precious photos. Some options are:

• Framed photos to display on shelves or tables
• Framed photos on the walls. Group photos together in one or two high-traffic areas so you can see them often.
• Photo books to keep handy so you can look through them when you want to.
• A digital frame. The frame runs through photos that are loaded digitally. They can hold 100s of photos or more. Loved ones can add new photos remotely.

Use Blank Walls for Display

When someone walks into your place, the first things they will notice are what you hang on the walls at eye level. Show off your favorite photos and artwork, awards, movie posters, framed newspaper articles that have personal significance, etc. They’ll be great conversation starters when people come to your room. 

Add People

Just because you have a smaller place, that doesn’t mean you have to give up having loved ones come to visit. You don’t need much space to sit and chat or play cards. You could host your own movie night and snuggle up with your colorful throw blankets. 

Need help making your assisted living residence feel like home? We help with all of it—downsizing, creating a floor plan, and making your new place feel like your own. Call today and talk with one of our certified Senior Move Managers.