decorating your retirement home
Moving is never an easy process. Especially so if you’ve lived in your own home most of your adult life. However, the time comes when it just makes sense to downsize to a space that suits your needs as a retiree. Where you are no longer in need of a large multiple-bedroom, multilevel living space. Whether you are moving to a retirement community or simply to a smaller, more conveniently located home or apartment, the way you decorate your new residence could make the difference between longing to move back to your old house or feeling right at home in your new place.
What to Keep for your Retirement Home
As you sell and give away household items you no longer need, set aside a select few of your favourite items. Having elements of your previous home increases your comfort level when you move into your retirement living space. Keep your favourite easy chair, recliner or love seat. If you are worried about your favourite seating looking worn or if the furnishing is not as supportive as it once was, you can have a look at reupholstery. Hang on to one or two of your favourite lamps. If you have a large set of china and flatware, keep four to six place settings – for dinner with friends or family — rather than the entire set. You also may wish to keep a small chest of drawers, one high-quality area rug, framed family photos and photo albums along with a few of your favourite knickknacks and books. If you are, however, excited about the change and are ready to ditch everything but family memories to start fresh, go for it.
What to Buy
Since your new home will be smaller than your previous home, you will need to buy or get certain items made to accommodate the decreased space. Before shopping, visit your new living space with a measuring tape and notepad. Measure the space for an easily accessible entertainment centre, an apartment-sized kitchen or dining room table and chairs and a new sofa. Measure the dimensions for a new bed, especially if you need a speciality bed to accommodate your current health needs.
Personal Touches for your Retirement Home
If your community management permits, install curtain rods and hang curtains that feature your favourite colours and/or designs. Ideally, purchase new curtains or have new ones made, since the curtains hanging in your previous house might be faded and could have collected dust or mildew over the years, which you don’t want in your new home. Plus, your old curtains might not fit your new windows. You can also install borders along the top edge of your walls to give the retirement living space a homey feel. If you are unable to make such home improvements yourself, hire a professional like us at Mary’s Interiors to make sure you get the look and feel you want and are happy with.
Mary Interior Decorators has extensive experience with bespoke furnishings and curtaining. With 45 years in the business, we are confident that we can bring your home interiors to life. No matter where you choose to settle down for your retirement, you should be able to showcase your home in a way that makes it look its best. Whether you already know exactly which curtains, furniture and accessories you want, but need help tying the pieces together, or have no idea where to begin, we can help! Contact us by calling 011 268 0329 or emailing us on nikos@marysinteriors.co.za.
