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Decorating The New Space
By Senitra Horbrook
When it comes to decorating a newer, smaller home, finding what
works for you is more important than spending a lot of money to
recreate all the latest trends.
“Utilize what you already own. Once in the space, make a list
of things you might need and shop for those things,” said Holly
Williams, owner of Inviting Interiors in Cherry Hill, NJ. “By
adding color, window treatments, plants, and a few new
accessories, you’ll create a cozy feeling in a new space and
make yourself at home.”
The first step toward decorating your new home actually happens
before you move out of your old home.
“When people have lived in a home for a very long time, they
will have way more belongings than will fit into the next space.
They need to take a realistic look at their current belongings
and assess what will and will not work in the new space,” said
Williams, who helps seniors downsize and decorate a new home.
Start by separating what absolutely does not have to go to the
new house and donate those items. Memorable keepsakes like
family pictures, quilts, and memorabilia collected through the
years are important to keep. If you’re computer savvy, you can
sell things on Craigslist.org, which Williams says is better
than eBay because it’s local and no shipping is necessary.
People can come by and pick up whatever they buy from
Craigslist.
Once an entire home full of belongings has been whittled down
enough for a smaller space, furniture placement is one of the
most important factors to consider. Ideally, you should take
accurate measurements of the room to make sure your belongings
will fit in the new space. Remember that traffic patterns should
be kept open. “Whenever you come into the home, there shouldn’t
be obstacles in your way, especially for older people,” Williams
said. “It takes awhile to get acclimated to a new place.”
Decorator Teresa Tocco, of Absolute Living Today in Mount
Laurel, NJ said that one of the most common issues for seniors
decorating a new home is figuring out the floorplan. She
suggested finding a focal point in a room – for example, the
television, the fireplace or
a painting. “How do you want to use the space
functionally?” she said. “For an entertainment area, the TV is
the focal point. Other times, the fireplace is the focal point.
As a decorator, I pull that out of them – what they want to use
the room for.”
Williams said that the least expensive thing you can do that has
the biggest impact is painting. “One of the easiest ways to take
a space that is all white walls and make it your own is by
choosing colors you
love and applying it to the wall,” she said.
Painting a room with warm colors or earth tones like tan, brown,
blue or green can create a sense of peaceful well-being.
“Everyone generally relates to those colors. They typically work
with most people’s belongings as well as adding to a space for
very little
money,” she said.
Williams suggests seniors keep lighter colors on the walls
because some seniors have declining eyesight.
“Lighter colors reflect light,” she said. “Even on a dark
day, the space will be cheerful.”
Since most downsizers are bringing a houseful of furniture, many
decorators suggest buying only a few new items. “I always
encourage people to get new linens when they move. It’s part of
the “freshen up” mentality. If you bring all of your old stuff,
you won’t feel like you’re in a new place,” Williams said.
“Donate the old and purchase new bedding, bath towels, and
kitchen towels. It creates a feeling of ‘Ok, this is my new
home’ and that you are resettled. Change can be invigorating.
People need change and a lot of time people will keep
the same old bedding forever.”
Williams also recommends buying new window treatments or plants
– real or faux. “A lot of people like to take care of real
plants, especially older people,” she
said. “Plants bring life into the space.”
When it comes to window treatments, natural woven shades are not
that expensive compared to custom drapery, according to Tocco.
Wood blinds or roller shades are less expensive options for
window
treatments.
Tocco is not a big fan of slipcovers, but says they can be good
if you don’t have the money to reupholster. She also suggests
new area rugs, throw pillows, blankets, paintings, and picture
frames. “People have a tendency to want photos. There’re neat
frames out there today – wire, art deco,
traditional,” she said. “You can create a nice design on the
wall, using
wall space instead of tables.”
Visit
www.myinvitinginteriors.com
or
www.absolutelivingtoday.com .
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