Are you a decorator, caregiver, or someone who wants to make a senior citizen’s apartment more inspiring? If so, you’re in luck. Today, we’ll be discussing how to decorate a senior citizen’s apartment. Keep reading for tips and ideas.
When it comes to decorating a senior citizen’s apartment, it’s essential to keep things simple. However, too much clutter can be overwhelming and lead to accidents. Here are some tips for creating a safe and comfortable environment.
1. Start With The Basics
First things first – you need to make sure that the space is accessible for them to navigate to prevent falls. So get rid of flimsy furniture, dangerous decorations, and other items that can cause injury if mishandled.
Make sure the space is organized and easy to navigate. For example, arrange furniture to allow plenty of open space and easy access to all apartment areas.
When decorating any space, it’s essential to start with the basics. In the case of a senior citizen’s apartment, this means focusing on functionality first and form second.
2. Make a List of Preferences, Styles, and Colors
If you want your aging parents to enjoy their new home, consider the senior citizen’s needs and preferences when decorating.
If you want to create the look and feel of a specific space, your design ideas must fit with those preferences. Following their preferences will help make their homes more personal in every way possible.
Ask questions like “What colors do they prefer?” or even “Do any particular types of furniture strike them as being cozy?”
We should ask these things before starting decorating a senior citizen apartment.
3. Select Friendly Colors
Senior citizens often respond well to bright colors and bold patterns. These can help inject life into a room and make it more inspiring. However, it’s essential to use these sparingly, as too much stimulation can be overwhelming.
For those living in senior citizen apartments, it is essential to take care when decorating so as not to cause any eye strain or glare.
Light paint colors are more friendly on the eyes and provide minor discomfort from looking at them for long periods compared with darker shades.
Darker shades can make people feel tired after only a few minutes inside their own homes.
4. Add an Indoor Garden for Fresh Air
What better way to brighten up a senior citizen’s apartment than with some plants? Not only do they provide fresh air, but they also give your home decorating an elegant and welcoming touch.
Introducing plants can easily add life and color to their home without taking up too much space.
An Indoor Hydroponic Garden is the perfect way to enjoy gardening indoors all year long. With a hydroponic system, you’ll never have to worry about soil moisture levels or pesky pests again; add water and nutrients and let your garden grow.
A hydroponic plant is a perfect housewarming gift for a senior who loves to garden.
5. Manage the Electrical Cords
Sometimes, it’s challenging to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and function. One way you can do this is by hiding cords that aren’t in use, so they don’t take up precious counter space or compete visually with other items on display for attention!
Please keep all of your cables hidden, so they’re out-of-sight and not a pain for the eyes when decorating an apartment or house as well.
6. Clear the Clutter – Keep Things Simple
As mentioned before, it’s essential to keep things simple when decorating a senior citizen’s apartment. Avoid excessive clutter and stick to a minimalistic design scheme.
Less is more! Keeping your senior’s living space neat and clean is the first step to making it a home. Luckily, you can do this with some simple organization tricks that will have them feeling less overwhelmed when decorating for their new place.
Maintaining an ordered space will help keep the elderly happy with how they feel about themselves and provide much-needed peace from dementia symptoms like wanderlust or memory loss.
7. Keep it Bright and Cheerful.
Seniors often feel down as they age, so creating a bright and cheerful space to lift their mood is essential. In addition, cheerful colors will make them feel more inviting when they enter their new home!
The best way to make a small space feel bigger is by using light-colored furniture and drapes.
8. Use Theme Bedding to Create Charm
Choose bedding that reflects your senior’s personality. The right bedding can help pull a room together. In addition, decorating with your senior’s favorite themes and characters will help them feel more at home when moving into their new apartment or house.
Add Personalization to Create Personality
One of the best ways to make a senior citizen apartment feel truly homey is personalizing it. Make sure it goes well with the rest of your home decor but allows them to show off their interests and tastes!
9. Choose Neutral Colors for Furniture
Keep furniture in neutral colors that are easy to clean and don’t show dirt easily. In addition, neutral colors will make it easier for you when dusting or vacuuming because the paint won’t distract from your cleaning efforts.
10. Use Functional Furniture with Plenty of Storage
A must for any senior has enough storage space. It would be best to design your apartment to keep belongings organized, making life more manageable. Ensure there is plenty of storage so seniors can keep their belongings organized.
Older adults need to have the right furniture with plenty of storage. In addition, they want their belongings organized so they don’t feel overwhelmed and lose track of their belongings.
It’s equally important to think about what will be helpful for them down the line if they get around less easily later on. For example, consider buying furniture with easy-to-reach drawers, cabinets mounted at eye level, and storage spaces underneath tables or chairs.
Add a Cozy Fireplace
Decorative Throws
Storage Ottoman
11. Install Motion Sensor Lights
Install motion sensor lights, so it’s easier for them to find their way around at night.
12. Safety First
First things first – you need to make sure that the space is accessible for them to navigate. So get rid of flimsy furniture, dangerous decorations, and other items that can cause injury if mishandled.
Install accessible features such as grab bars to help prevent falls.
13. Comfort over Beauty
Older people don’t have a ton of energy to spare, so you want the furniture in their new home to offer comfort and support. Do not worry about getting matching sets or anything else that requires a lot of energy – go for something simple.
14. Space for Hobbies and Interests
If your parents enjoy art, perhaps try putting up some canvases and allowing them to display their artwork?
Put up a few shelves, and they can put figurines or other collectibles out for display.
If your parents like reading, you could set up a dedicated reading area – perhaps with an extra-large comfy chair and table. Put bookshelves in the living room corner for easier accessibility, or let them take over one whole wall.
15. Add Some Personality
You don’t want everything to look generic, so consider mixing things up by purchasing personalized items. Some possibilities: framed pictures of family members; decorations from their hometown; souvenirs from their past adventures; or even something they made themselves.
16. Share the Decorating Fun
They might not be able to do everything themselves, but remember that they should still feel like the apartment is their home. So let them help with the decisions on what goes where.
They may even have some great ideas since they live there daily; try not to rush through the process to avoid getting tired.
If all else fails, ask them what kind of stuff makes them happy; most people are more than willing to say what they want.
17. Things to Avoid
Here are a few things to avoid so you can keep your senior loved ones safe in their new place.
- Please don’t use anything that’s flimsy or has broken parts because it could cause injury when they mishandle it.
- Never leave an object out in the open, especially if there is any risk of children getting hold of it.
- Do not place objects on the top ledge of windows because they could fall.
- Do not use candles or anything that produces open flames because it can cause a fire hazard.
- Don’t leave electrical cords out in view without proper containment because it can be an entrapment risk should your loved one get tangled up in it while walking around. Also, this can cause a short circuit and electric shock.
- Do not place rugs on the floors because they could slip out from under your loved one when they step on them, which leads to a fall.
- Don’t use glass items for storage or decoration, especially if seniors have children or grandkids that visit often.
- Never hang decorations off the ceiling because seniors could get concussions if they bump their heads while walking below it.
- Never hang decorations too low because seniors could hit their head against them when passing through the room, which can cause a concussion or other serious injury.
Video: Decorating for Senior Citizens
Final Thoughts
When it comes to home decorating, seniors have unique needs and preferences. However, there are some key things that you need to keep in mind when planning their new living quarters.
One is that they may not do as much physical work on their own, so furniture items should be made accessible. For example, a recliner chair would make an excellent choice if they can’t stand up quickly or get around well anymore.
There are plenty of ways to make a senior citizen’s apartment feel like home, and with a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, you can create a space that is both safe and comfortable. So get started on those renovations today.
We hope these tips help you create a safe and comfortable environment for your loved one. Happy decorating!