Senior Style – Decor for the Over 60 Crowd

Life is a never-ending cycle. As we get older, we need to make changes to our lives and lifestyles to make things easier. Unfortunately, while many homes are suitable for young families, seniors may struggle with stairs, bathroom setups, or even the house’s layout. Therefore, changes must be made to ensure that seniors stay safe and comfortable, whether they are a senior living independently or in an assisted living setup. Here are some senior-friendly decorating methods: 

1 – Keep It Simple

You most likely have already hit your retirement age or approaching retirement if you’re in your senior years. Sooner or later, you’ll spend much of your time at home. Therefore, you must make that home as minimalistic as possible. Frankly, most of us have many items in our homes that we probably used years ago, but we don’t want to let go. 

Your home should be a sanctuary where you can comfortably rest and move around freely. Go through everything in your home and reorganize, arrange and donate every unwanted item in your home. Doing a declutter may be too much work, but with the help of junk removal experts, all this work becomes more manageable. Furthermore, a less cluttered home is way easier to clean. 

2 – Fix The Floors

As you upgrade your home, always put safety as your top priority. First, take care of any loose and unsightly cords and rugs that may cause you to trip. Ceramic tiles are beautiful and easy to clean but are safety hazards to seniors since you can easily slip, leading to severe injuries. Therefore, polished floors and ceramic tiles should be out of the picture. 

Vinyl floors and rubber flooring are suitable solutions for seniors since they are slip-resistant and easy to maintain. Fixing the floors may take more money and time. Therefore, in the meantime, you can wear anti-slip shoes while indoors and buy more anti-slip rugs for your homes. 

3 – Setup Good Lighting

Some seniors develop eyesight problems as they age. Therefore, it’s crucial to have adequate and well-distributed lighting across your home. Good lighting makes it generally safe for you to move around, not stumble upon obstacles, read medicine labels or books easily, etc. 

First, it’s necessary to optimize natural lighting by expanding the windows or using suitable window treatments which keep the light optimal to enhance your mood all day. If the architecture of your home doesn’t let in natural light, you can place large mirrors strategically across the room to reflect light. 

For artificial lighting, ensure that all walkways are well-lit, not forgetting the cupboards and wardrobes. Use string lights, pendant lighting, under-cabinet, walkway lighting, or wall sconces to add style and warmth. Seniors shouldn’t strain to locate items or move around their homes. Consult your local electrician to help you decide on the best lighting for your home and how to best fit it in. 

4 – Add an Extra Spark with Bright Accessories

Color has a way of reflecting who you are without speaking out. For example, you are more likely to notice an individual who wears brightly colored clothing all week. You can choose to do this with your beddings, throw pillows, statement rugs, photo frames, artwork, carpet, wallpaper, drapes, etc. You can get these in different colors and patterns as long as you don’t overdo it and they strike a balance in your home’s overall look.

5 – Add A Touch of Nature

Natural plants bring in a lovely visual style that’s hard to overlook. They’ve been known to have significant health benefits and are great air purifiers. Some people may not know the best choice of plants because of architectural concerns mostly involving sunlight. A local gardener can advise you on the best plants to add to your home without worrying about any of these. 

People who have no gardening background or those who are not green thumbs may find it stressful to maintain natural plants. Instead, you can opt for artificial plants, which will only need dusting, and if you need a change of color, you can replace them anytime.

6 – Change the Furniture

The furniture in question first should be multifunctional and well-arranged so that seniors can move around them freely without tripping. Most older furniture is not multifunctional, but with a creative and evolving world, this has been made possible to reduce clutter. For example, some couches also act as storage spaces underneath. 

While actualizing this, purchase raised furniture pieces, especially for the bed and seats with good cushioning to support your back. With these, you’ll feel a change in balance, and you won’t strain when you need to sit, stand or lie down.

7 – Repaint the Walls

If your home leans more on the darker color scheme, it’s time to switch to more soothing colors. Painting is the easiest hack around for any home revamp. A bright home will also enhance the mood of its occupants, and it will also improve the overall visibility of the room. 

The old paint should be covered with a primer while cracks are sealed to ensure that the new coat looks consistent and smooth. A professional painter knows how best to do the repainting job by following the proper procedure. Use the best quality paint, preferably the colors green and blue, as these are soothing. 

Alternatively, if you want to keep changing the colors or have a longer-lasting outline, you can use wallpapers instead of an entire home repaint. Wallpaper is more expensive but lasts much longer than paint, and you can change the style anytime you want. Stripping wallpaper off is easy as long as the right chemicals and tools are used to prevent damaging the walls.

These adjustments can help you revamp your space to your liking. Above all, as you make these modifications, always keep in mind that besides the beauty they add to your home, your safety should always come first.

About the Author

Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.