For many older adults considering a move to independent living at a retirement community, the one thing that often gives them pause is living space. They simply can’t see themselves moving into a one-bedroom senior apartment.
They’ve lived most of their adult lives in larger homes — how could they manage with so much less space?
Those seniors may be surprised to discover how easy it is, once they consider how much space they’re not even using in their current homes. They may live in multibedroom, multibathroom, two-car garage homes with a full basement. Yet they’re really only using the kitchen, the living room, one bedroom and one bathroom.
But they’re continuing to heat, cool, maintain and clean the entire house. And those things cost money and time.
So let’s consider the benefits of choosing a one-bedroom apartment at a senior living community. Then, let’s explore how seniors can make a one-bedroom apartment feel more spacious, more comfortable and more like home.
The advantages of a one-bedroom senior living apartment
Less living space doesn’t mean less life. Usually, it’s the opposite: Less space to worry about means more freedom overall to enjoy life, especially when you choose to move to a retirement community. How so?
- One-bedroom apartments are more affordable. Apartments at retirement communities are priced by size. So studios and one-bedroom senior living apartment floor plans are the least expensive options; larger two- and three-bedroom floor plans are more expensive. Not only do you pay more in your entrance fee, your monthly service fees are higher, too.
- However, if you sell your larger home and move into a smaller one-bedroom apartment, you’ll have more money left over to add to your retirement savings.
- One-bedroom apartments require little to no maintenance. Smaller spaces require less maintenance and housekeeping. And when you move to a retirement community, maintenance and housekeeping are a thing of the past: The community has maintenance and housekeeping staff to take care of all that for you.
- You’re rightsizing your life. Think back to our aforementioned multi-bedroom home. You may have needed all that space once, when you were raising a family. Ask yourself how much of your home you really use now. When you choose a one-bedroom apartment, you have exactly what you need, with no wasted space.
- One-bedroom senior living apartments are designed specifically for older adults. Your current home probably wasn’t designed with wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. Nor was it outfitted with grab bars in the bathrooms, zero-entry showers to reduce dangerous falls, or special flooring to reduce tripping and slipping hazards. Many independent living apartments have some or all these features so that you can safely and comfortably age in place.
In addition, if you choose a one-bedroom apartment at a retirement community, you may never miss the extra space. That’s because you’ll probably spend more time outside your apartment than in it.
- Independent living communities provide you with access to dozens of amenities. Most retirement communities offer a host of amenities like a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, multiple dining venues, creative arts studio, library, theater, gardens, salon and spa, billiards rooms and more. And every resident is welcome to enjoy these amenities as much and as often as they wish, regardless of their apartment size.
- You have a built-in community of friends and neighbors. There are people just outside your door who have similar life experiences and interests as you, which provides you with many opportunities to connect and make new friends with your neighbors.
This all may sound great, but there’s still the small matter of making a one-bedroom feel comfortable, homey and most important, spacious.
Five helpful one-bedroom-apartment decorating tips
- Choose furniture that can serve multiple purposes. Furniture that has storage space built in immediately cuts down on extra clutter. Find a table that can function as a desk and a dining table, or buy cubes that serve as a coffee table and bonus seats when guests are over. Choose a bed with built-in drawers or benches and ottomans with space to hide away extra blankets or sweaters.
- Go vertical. Take bookcases and cabinets all the way up to the ceiling to make a room feel bigger. Make ceilings look higher by placing a drapery rod close to the ceiling — about 2 inches below the crown molding. Also, curtains that blend with the walls create an unbroken line, making a room feel much larger.
- Utilize mirrors. Mirrors create the illusion of more space, so place a mirror opposite a window. It will bounce light around the room, making the room feel airier. The bigger the mirror, the better.
- Brighten up with lighting. Small spaces can often end up feeling dark due to small windows. Make up for the lack of natural light by adding plenty of light sources in every room, from the kitchen to the bedroom.
- Keep your floor uncluttered. Even the most well-decorated small room doesn’t work if you can’t move through it. Rather than floor lamps, try sconces and wall lights. Swap out nightstands for floating shelves to keep the floor clear of obstacles and create space for extra storage beneath, if needed.
One final tip: Start looking at one-bedroom spaces.
The best way to know whether a one-bedroom senior living apartment is right for you is to tour one. You’ll see the space, get a better idea of the floor plan layout and square footage, visualize your furniture in each room and how your artwork could be hung on the walls.
Best of all, you’ll be able to see the retirement community’s services and amenities, and talk to some of the residents who already call the community home.
Get started by reaching out to our senior living experts at Friendship Village. We’ll set up your personal tour of Friendship Village in Sunset Hills or Chesterfield, and give you a tour of our one-bedroom apartment options. Simply contact us to get started!